Biden appears to dig at Trump with tweet about ‘peace and harmony’ as predecessor surrenders to court

President may face the man he defeated in 2020 again in the 2024 election

President Joe Biden may have taken aim at his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, with a tweet about a Jain holiday referencing his desire to live with “peace, truth, and harmony” as Mr Trump departed Trump Tower for his arraignment on Tuesday afternoon.

“Jill and I wish a happy and prosperous Mahavir Jayanti to all those observing,” Mr Biden wrote on Twitter. “Today, we recognize the values of Mahavir Swami and strive to live with peace, truth, and harmony.”

Mahavir Jayanti is among the most important religious observances in Jainism, celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavir.

Mr Biden has thus far declined to comment publicly on Mr Trump’s indictment, and while the tweet recognising Mahavir Jayanti is not about Mr Trump either, some felt the timing of the tweet was conspicuous. Mr Trump was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in Manhattan on charges related to a hush-money payment made prior to the 2016 presidential election to adult film actor Stormy Daniels.

In other tweets from his official White House account on Tuesday morning, Mr Biden’s attention appeared focused on issues aside from his political rival’s legal fate.

“A month ago, I released my budget to invest in America and lower costs,” the president wrote in one tweet. “House Republicans still haven’t shared theirs. Instead of making threats about catastrophic default, they should lay out their budget and show the American people what they value.”

Another tweet sent on Tuesday morning trumpted the administration’s work to build out the country’s manufacturing capacity and not having to “rely on other countries to make the things we need here at home.”

“Some folks didn’t think we could do it,” Mr Biden wrote in the tweet. “But, by investing in America, we’re changing our future.”

Mr Biden and Mr Trump have a history that dates back to the presidential election three years ago, when Mr Biden unseated Mr Trump. The former president was impeached shortly after the election for teh second time, this time for his role in perpetrating in what experts have described as an attempted self-coup to remain in power.

Mr Biden and other political leaders frequently tweet well wishes and reflections to mark religious holidays in all of the world’s major religions, including Mahavir Jayanti. Some, however, remarked that the timing of the tweet — sent at 1:10pm EST — was reminiscent of the behavior supporters have used to meme Mr Biden as “Dark Brandon” to celebrate his successes.