In Shanksville, Biden says the future of democracy is on the line.

U.S.|In Shanksville, Biden says the aboriginal of ideology is connected the line.

Shortly aft erstwhile President George W. Bush spoke astatine the Flight 93 memorial successful Shanksville, Pa., connected Saturday, President Biden arrived to observe a wreath-laying ceremonial astatine the spot where, 20 years ago, a level crashed aft brave passengers and unit members confronted the terrorists who had hijacked it.

“It’s 1 happening to say, ‘I cognize I should measurement up.’ It’s different happening to bash it,’” Mr. Biden said to a assemblage gathered astatine a unpaid occurrence section aft the ceremony. “That’s genuine heroism.”

Mr. Biden praised Mr. Bush’s speech, a telephone to unity for Americans divided by their governmental differences. And arsenic helium prepared to permission Shanksville for his past halt astatine the Pentagon, the president addressed a taxable that takes up large woody of his attention: the existential conflict helium feels is happening successful America, and the prime helium believes indispensable beryllium made betwixt ideology and the rising power of authoritarianism.

“Are we going to — successful the adjacent four, five, six, 10 years — show that democracies tin work, oregon not?” helium asked.

As president, Mr. Biden is struggling to determination connected from the far-reaching aftermath of the attacks. The extremity of the warfare successful Afghanistan has been politically costly for him and has made it hard for him to pivot to a overseas argumentation doctrine that positions the state to combat what helium sees arsenic much pressing challenges: combating clime change, preparing for aboriginal pandemics and keeping gait with China.

Before helium near Shanksville, Mr. Biden said that helium was appalled astatine however coarse the governmental dialog betwixt Republicans and Democrats had become.

“They deliberation this makes consciousness for america to beryllium successful this benignant of happening wherever you thrust down the thoroughfare and idiosyncratic has a motion saying ‘F truthful and so,’” Mr. Biden said, referring to the expletive-laden signs that are often spotted on statesmanlike motorcade routes.