President Biden used his first in-person appearance on a late-night talk show to take a shot at his predecessor — saying he doesn’t want to “emulate” former President Donald Trump when asked about issuing executive orders to force through gun reform efforts.
Biden took the jab after host Jimmy Kimmel questioned the possible use of executive orders on the hot button issue, quipping that “Trump passed those out like Halloween candy.”
The president replied that he has issued executive orders within his power.
“But what I don’t want to do — and I’m not being facetious — I don’t want to emulate Trump’s abuse of the constitution and constitutional authority,” Biden added.
The commander-in-chief then took aim at Republicans.
“I also get asked, ‘look the Republicans don’t play it square, why do you play it square?’” Biden said. “Well guess what, if we do the same thing they do, our democracy would literally be in jeopardy and that is not a joke.”
Biden’s visit to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is his first in-person late night show appearance. Last December the president appeared virtually on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.
It’s also one of the few sit-down interviews the president has given recently — notably with a comedian and left-leaning talk show host and not a journalist. Biden hasn’t given an on-the-record, sit-down interview to a reporter in about four months.
