Obama says 'demonizing' political opponents creates 'dangerous climate' while Biden vilifies 'extreme MAGA'

Former president Barack Obama gave a speech at Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Detroit campaign rally on Saturday, where he warned of "demonizing" political rhetoric creating a "dangerous climate," seemingly at odds with some of President Joe Biden's rhetoric against "extreme MAGA Republicans."

"When we don't just disagree with people but we start demonizing them, making wild crazy allegations about them, that creates a dangerous climate," Obama said to the crowd, before adding that politicians need to combat this problem.

"And if elected officials don't do more to explicitly reject that kind of rhetoric, if they tacitly support it, or encourage their supporters to stand outside voting places armed with guns, dressed in tactical gear, more people can get hurt," he added.

As Obama said this, he was interrupted by a man shouting from the crowd, to which Obama shouted back, "You wouldn't do that at a workplace! You wouldn't just interrupt people in the middle of a conversation! It's not how we do things… and this is part of the point I want to make."

The former president's words seem to directly go against the current president's, as Biden has made multiple statements characterizing Donald Trump supporters and Republicans as "extreme."

During a May 10 speech, Biden repeatedly used the phrase "ultra MAGA" in reference to "Republicans who seem to control the Republican Party" and blaming inflation on the "ultra MAGA agenda."

In a September 1 speech, Biden referenced a quote from Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Luttig, who said "Donald Trump and his allies and supporters are a clear and present danger to American Democracy," during the Jan. 6 hearings.

"...respected conservatives, like Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Luttig, has called Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans, quote, a 'clear and present danger' to our democracy," the president said during his remarks on the "Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies," Biden continued.

Just weeks later, a North Dakota man was charged with killing a teenager with his SUV, admitting to intentionally hitting him after a political debate, claiming the teen was part of a Republican "extremist group."