First Lady Jill Biden made a previously unannounced speech at Pittsburgh Pride 2024, held in Allegheny Commons Park on Saturday. During her speech, she branded former President Donald Trump “dangerous” to the LGBT community.
Jill Biden reportedly met with members of the crowd prior to her speech, according to TribLive reporter Renatta Signorini, who posted a photo to the social media platform X showing two members of the crowd holding Biden-Harris campaign signs.
“First lady Jill Biden spent time meeting with people in the crowd at Pittsburgh Pride on the North Side,” reported Singorini, adding that the First Lady was then addressing the crowd.
First lady Jill Biden spent time meeting with people in the crowd at Pittsburgh Pride on the North Side. She’s addressing the crowd now. pic.twitter.com/P6LY850ni0
— Renatta Signorini (@ByRenatta) June 1, 2024
During her remarks, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported Jill Biden described Trump as “dangerous” to LGBT Pennsylvanians.
She urged the Pittsburgh Pride attendees, “We cannot let him win,” and claimed their “fundamental rights are at stake,” in the 2024 election.
“We will secure a future so that people in all places can feel the freedom and pride that we feel here today. I hope you know that I love you and your president loves you.”
In addition to comments about Trump, video posted to YouTube by CBS Pittburgh revealed that Jill Biden made a series of claims about Republicans and their policies.
“A book ban. A court decision. A ‘Don’t say gay’ law. One group of people loses its rights, and then another, and then another.” Jill Biden claimed, “Until one morning, you wake up and you no longer live in a democracy.”
The First Lady’s speech came on the heels of Trump’s controversial conviction in the New York hush money trial.
Trump maintained his innocence and described the trial as “rigged” and “unfair” in a Friday press conference after previously declaring voters will determine the “real verdict” on Election Day moments when the guilty verdict was reported.
On Sunday, Trump told Fox and Friends Weekend that he is willing to serve time in jail or house arrest following the conviction.
“I’m okay with it,” said Trump. “You don’t beg for anything, it’s just the way it is.”
A snap poll of U.S. voters, commissioned by The Daily Mail, found Trump’s favorability ratings increased by six percent after the New York conviction was announced. Trump is currently leading President Joe Biden in Pennsylvania by 2.3 percent in the Real Clear Polling average of polls.
Jill Biden’s speech at Pittsburgh Pride comes after the Biden campaign announced an “eight-figure” investment to reach black voters. Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris began the effort with a speech at Girard College in Philadelphia last week.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Jill Biden” by Pittsburgh Pride.
