Former President Joe Biden said in an interview released Wednesday that he stayed in the 2024 presidential race for so long because he had been “so successful” in implementing his agenda.
In his first interview since leaving the White House, Biden defended his decision to seek re-election, boasted about his record in office, and criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. During the discussion with the BBC, Biden doubled down on his decision to stay in the presidential race as long as he did and insisted that the race’s outcome would not have changed had he dropped out earlier.
“I don’t think it would have mattered. We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she was fully funded,” he said. “And what happened was… I had become, what we had set out to do, no one thought we could do, I had become so successful in our agenda, it was hard to say, ‘Now I’m going to stop now.’”
At the time of his decision, Biden’s popularity was underwater. He was trailing in the polls, and there were increasing questions about his health after he appeared disjointed during his first debate with Trump.
“I meant what I said…I’m preparing to hand this to the next generation. The transition government. But things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away. It was a hard decision,” he added.
Biden also attacked the Trump administration’s foreign policy, saying that Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s criticism of European countries freeloading off the United States was unfounded. He said that he was concerned about the future of NATO.
“It’s a grave concern. I think it would change the modern history of the world,” Biden said. “Look, we are not the essential nation. We’re the only nation in a position to have the capacity to bring people together, lead the world. Otherwise you’re going to have China and the former Soviet Union, Russia stepping up.”
Biden also criticized Trump’s statements about making Canada the 51st state and potentially acquiring Greenland.
“What the hell is going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are. We are about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation,” Biden said.
Last month, Biden gave his first speech since leaving office, criticizing the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency project.
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[[{“value”:”
Former President Joe Biden said in an interview released Wednesday that he stayed in the 2024 presidential race for so long because he had been “so successful” in implementing his agenda.
In his first interview since leaving the White House, Biden defended his decision to seek re-election, boasted about his record in office, and criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. During the discussion with the BBC, Biden doubled down on his decision to stay in the presidential race as long as he did and insisted that the race’s outcome would not have changed had he dropped out earlier.
“I don’t think it would have mattered. We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she was fully funded,” he said. “And what happened was… I had become, what we had set out to do, no one thought we could do, I had become so successful in our agenda, it was hard to say, ‘Now I’m going to stop now.’”
At the time of his decision, Biden’s popularity was underwater. He was trailing in the polls, and there were increasing questions about his health after he appeared disjointed during his first debate with Trump.
“I meant what I said…I’m preparing to hand this to the next generation. The transition government. But things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away. It was a hard decision,” he added.
Biden also attacked the Trump administration’s foreign policy, saying that Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s criticism of European countries freeloading off the United States was unfounded. He said that he was concerned about the future of NATO.
“It’s a grave concern. I think it would change the modern history of the world,” Biden said. “Look, we are not the essential nation. We’re the only nation in a position to have the capacity to bring people together, lead the world. Otherwise you’re going to have China and the former Soviet Union, Russia stepping up.”
Biden also criticized Trump’s statements about making Canada the 51st state and potentially acquiring Greenland.
“What the hell is going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are. We are about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation,” Biden said.
Last month, Biden gave his first speech since leaving office, criticizing the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency project.
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