President Joe Biden on Wednesday used harshly critical terms when describing the far-right segment of the Republican Party, calling the “MAGA crowd” the “most extreme political organization that’s existed in American history—in recent American history.”

During a speech on the economy, Biden made several mentions of MAGA, which is a reference to former President Donald Trump‘s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan and political movement. Biden also criticized an economic plan proposed by Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida, saying it would raise taxes on middle-class Americans. Instead, Biden called for increasing the tax burden on the wealthy.

Scott’s plan also includes a proposal to finish the wall on the nation’s shared border with Mexico and name it after Trump.

“It’s a MAGA agenda all right. Let me tell you about this ultra-MAGA agenda: It’s extreme, as most MAGA things are,” Biden said of Scott’s plan.

The economic plan by Scott, who is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, was released in February. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has also been critical of Scott’s so-called “11-Point Plan to Rescue America,” rebuking its call to raise income taxes on many Americans.

“Under this new plan, this tax plan, the ultra-MAGA agenda, while big corporations and billionaires are going to pay nothing more, the working-class folks will pay a hell of a lot more,” Biden said.

He added, “There’s no reason why a billionaire should be paying a lower tax rate than a teacher or a firefighter. And that’s in sharp contrast to what today’s Republican Party is offering. And if they hadn’t put this in print, you’d think I was making it up.”

As the Democrats face a tough challenge going into this year’s midterm elections, Biden has noticeably grown more combative in his messaging about the GOP.

During an April 22 speech in Seattle to mark Earth Day, Biden referenced leaked audio of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California condemning Trump for the January 6, 2021, riots on the U.S. Capitol.

“This ain’t your father’s Republican Party. Not a joke,” Biden said. “All you got to do is look what has been played this morning about the tape that was released.”

“This is the MAGA party now…These guys are a different breed of cat,” Biden added in the Seattle remarks. “They’re not like what I served with for so many years. And the people who know better are afraid to act correctly, because they know they’ll be primaried.”

On Wednesday, the president was also asked about the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that indicates Roe v. Wade could soon be overturned.

“This is about a lot more than abortion,” Biden said, adding, “What are the next things that are going to be attacked?

Original Article: Biden Ramps Up His Anti-MAGA Rhetoric (newsweek.com)