Biden 'violence and chaos' remark was quote, not a threat to Trump voters | Fact check

The claim: Biden threatened ‘violence and chaos’ to ‘control MAGA patriots’

A Dec. 2 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) includes a montage that appears to show President Joe Biden endorsing violence against supporters of former President Donald Trump.

The montage features a clip of Biden at a podium saying, "The more chaos, violence – the better it is."

The post's caption reads in part, “Biden THREATENS ‘VIOLENCE and CHAOS’ to control MAGA Patriots!”

It then advertises a free Trump 2024 flag if users cover shipping costs.

The post received more than 1,000 shares in a week.

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Our rating: False

The Biden clip featured in the post is taken from an August 2020 speech in which he paraphrased a Trump adviser who said "violence" and "chaos" would support Trump's campaign. There is no record of Biden threatening violence against Trump supporters.

Biden was paraphrasing remarks from Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway

The brief clip of Biden speaking about violence and chaos was taken from an August 2020 campaign speech in Pittsburgh. The full context of the video shows the then-Democratic presidential nominee was quoting a Trump adviser, not threatening Trump’s supporters.

“One of his closest political advisers in the White House doesn’t even bother to speak in code,” Biden says in the speech. “She just comes out and she says it. Quote: ‘The more chaos, violence, the better it is for Trump’s re-election.’”

The remark appears to be a rough paraphrase of a comment Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway made on "Fox & Friends" about former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg earlier that week.

"I guess Mayor Pete knows full stop that the more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best for public safety and law and order," Conway said.

Fact check: Biden was quoting Walmart US CEO when he said 'end of quote' during speech

Biden’s speech centered on his claims that Trump encouraged violence in the U.S., as reported by outlets including USA TODAY and The Washington Post.

There is no record of the president calling for violence against Trump supporters. Biden has called for Americans to reject violence on multiple occasions.

USA TODAY has debunked an array of false claims stemming from Biden’s speeches, including that a video shows authentic footage of Biden speaking slowly at a news conference, that a video shows a crowd yelling profanities at him during his remarks and that Biden said there is a “new world order.”

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Lead Stories also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

• CNN, Aug. 31, 2020, Facebook video 

• USA TODAY, Aug. 31, 2020, Biden hits back on Trump’s attacks: ‘Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters?’

• Washington Post, Aug. 31, 2020, Biden calls Trump ‘a toxic presence’ who is encouraging violence in America 

• Fox News, Aug. 27, 2020, Kellyanne Conway slams Buttigieg: He and Biden should go to Wisconsin to see violence on the ground

• New York Times, Aug. 27, 2020, Conway says the more violence erupts, ‘the better it is’ for Trump’s re-election prospects 

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Biden threatened Trump supporters | Fact check