Biden huddles with democracy scholars and historians ahead of Jan. 6 anniversary

President Joe Biden had an off-schedule lunch with unnamed scholars and historians Wednesday as the third anniversary of Jan. 6 comes into view.

Biden had no events listed on his public schedule, but the lunch was announced just before 2 p.m. Eastern time.

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“This afternoon, President Biden had lunch with a group of scholars and historians to discuss the ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said.

The Biden campaign has made threats to democracy a central piece of its campaign messaging for 2024, openly comparing former President Donald Trump to dictatorial figures like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

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Names of the scholars were not provided, and few other details were released about the luncheon.

“I don’t have a list [of names] to share at this time,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked who attended the meeting. “This is something that he tends to do, especially as we head towards an important day like Jan. 6. It is something that is commonly done. He’s met with a diverse group of historians before. I don’t have a list to provide to you at this time.”

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have held speeches to mark the first and second anniversaries of the Capitol riot, which Republicans have generally tried to downplay in the years since it took place. On Saturday, Biden is planning to deliver a speech on democracy near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Jean-Pierre also did not elaborate when asked if specific policy changes were needed to secure democracy going forward.

“I don’t have any policies to announce or preview for you at this time,” she said. “The president has always been clear — I’ve been clear from this podium as well — what happened on Jan. 6 was unprecedented, an attack on our core principles and an attack on our democracy. … But I just don’t have, as far as policywise in strengthening our institutions, I don’t have anything to share at this time.”

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She did say the president believes in free and fair elections and that a fair election will be held this fall.

“[Biden] believes in having a democracy that works,” she said. “That is something that he has spoken to. But I don’t, as far as our policies for our institutions, announcing any new policy, I don’t have anything to announce at this time.”