Biden says Supreme Court is ‘out of kilter’ as he warns of second Trump term

President Joe Biden on Saturday criticized the Supreme Court as “out of kilter” at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles as he teamed up with former President Barack Obama to warn of a second Donald Trump term.

Biden specifically argued the next four years could see openings on the Supreme Court, potentially leading to the appointment of more conservative justices if Trump is reelected.

“The idea that if he’s reelected he’s going to appoint two more flying flags upside down,” Biden said in an apparent reference to a flag that once flew outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito. Asked by television host Jimmy Kimmel if he considered this the scariest part of a second Trump term, Biden responded, “It is one of the scariest parts.”

“The Supreme Court has never been as out of kilter as it is today, I mean never,” the president said, discussing the ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and how Justice Clarence Thomas said other rulings could be reconsidered, including contraception. Someone in the crowd interjected, “including gay rights,” to which Biden responded, “Not on my watch.”

Biden’s comments came as he sat on stage at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles for a roughly 35-minute conversation with Obama and Kimmel.

“We don’t have to just vote against something in this election,” Obama said. “We have someone to worry about. And there’s a whole agenda that we should be concerned about. But we can take pride in affirming the extraordinary work that Joe has done. We want to make sure we build on that and pass it on to the next president.”

Obama lamented how some in the country have “normalized behavior that used to be disqualifying,” referencing Trump’s recent conviction in his criminal hush money trial.

“We have the spectacle of the nominee of one of the two major parties siting in court and being convicted by a jury of his peers on 34 counts,” Obama said to applause. “His foundation is not allowed to operate because it was engaging in monkey business. … You have his organization being prosecuted for not paying taxes,” Obama said.

Biden interjected, “He paid none.”

Obama urged “those who are conservatively pre disposed” – who may not agree with Democrats – to consider the “core values” that shaped the country, like “basic honesty.”

“There are certain standards and values we should stand for,” Obama said. “Joe Biden has stood for those values and continues to and the other guy doesn’t and that in and of itself is not something that we can ignore or pretend is a difference that doesn’t exist.”

In another warning about Trump, Biden said “Institutions matter. What he did on January 6, and now he’s literally saying if he doesn’t win there’ll be a bloodbath. It’s outrageous, what he’s talking about is outrageous.”

Kimmel asked Obama how he felt about Trump saying he’s done more for Black people than any president in history. Obama replied “One thing he did, for example, was make them feel even better about the first Black president.”

The joint appearance came at the end of a star-studded fundraiser that the Biden campaign said raised $28 million, a record for Democrats.

The Biden campaign has been looking to boost his financial war chest amid signs Trump is narrowing the money gap. Biden has led Trump in fundraising for most of the year, but the former president has seen a significant influx in cash come his way since securing the Republican nomination in March. Trump outraised Biden for the first time in April.

George Clooney and Julia Roberts opened up the night’s program. Barbra Streisand introduced first lady Jill Biden while Jason Bateman, Jack Black, Kathryn Hahn and Sheryl Lee Ralph also entertained the crowd.

When Kimmel asked Biden about “Trump amnesia,” Biden said: “All you got to do is remember what it was like” during Trump’s four years. He pointed to Trump recommending people inject bleach to cure Covid-19. When Kimmel joked that it “worked for me,” Biden said “It worked for him. It colored his hair,” in an apparent reference to Trump.

As he spoke about a potential second Trump term, Kimmel asked Biden, “What are some things a president can do to, let’s say, a talk show host who has been making fun of him every single night?”

“Ever heard of Delta Force?” Biden joked before striking a more serious tone, “The idea that he’s actually threatened retribution. This is the United States of America. Did you ever think you’d ever, ever, ever hear anything like this? Retribution, that’s what he’s going to do, he’s going to get back at people,” he said.

Kimmel also noted how Biden has said he wanted to restore the soul of the country. “It looks like we might need an exorcism. Is that why you visited the pope?”

“Yeah,” Biden said.