During an outdoor fundraising event with donors before a Democratic rally in Maryland on Thursday, President Joe Biden used his bully pulpit to brand about half of the nation’s supporters of former President Donald Trump as semi-fascists.

Biden at the fundraiser stated, in reference to the former president Trump’s catchphrase “We’re seeing now either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA agenda,” “Make America Great Again” It’s not only Trump; it’s on the verge of fascism.

Later, at the open event, Biden once more used venomous language to criticize MAGA Republicans.

“Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans have made their choice. To go backwards, full of anger, violence, hate and division. MAGA Republicans don’t just threaten our personal rights and economic security. They are a threat to our very democracy. They refuse to accept the will of the people. They embrace — embrace — political violence. They don’t believe in democracy.”

Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, justified her boss’ comments about his political rivals on Friday.

She told reporters that while Biden respects conservative Republicans, he cannot respect individuals who support Trump and the MAGA movement, and that he was making this point clear for the electorate.

Look, I was very clear when, when laying out and defining what, you know, MAGA Republicans have done. And you look at the definition of ‘fascism,’ and you think about what they’re doing in attacking our democracy, what they’re doing in taking away our freedoms, taking away — wanting to take away our rights, our voting rights. I mean, that is what that is; it is very clear. And that’s why he made that powerful speech that you heard from him last night. And he has not shied away from saying that. You have heard him — maybe not use that specific word, but you have heard him certainly use that definition.”