President Joe Biden has expressed regret about not staying in the 2024 Presidential race after dropping out early, ending in Trump's victory against Vice President Kamala Harris.
The New York Post reported that Biden's decision to withdraw from the race came after a challenging debate on June 27, where his performance raised doubts about his continuity in the race. Observers noted that Biden appeared incoherent and stumbled frequently during his answers, which significantly affected his polling figures.
Subsequently, Vice President Kamala Harris assumed the mantle as the Democratic candidate. Thanks to a historically bad campaign, she was unable to secure victory, and Donald Trump was elected, set to be inaugurated on January 20.
In a series of private and public statements, President Biden has been reflective but cautious about assigning blame for the election outcome. He has specifically refrained from criticizing Vice President Harris or her campaign strategy.
In an interview with CBS News, Biden pinpointed the involvement of key Democratic figures such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who, he noted, pushed him towards stepping down from the candidacy. Pelosi and others feared that Biden’s continued run might negatively impact the broader Democratic performance in the 2024 elections.
Although expressing regret, Biden has been open about the challenges that influenced his decision. During a September appearance on "The View," he confidently stated that if he had remained in the race, he believed he could have defeated Trump.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, among others, voiced criticisms regarding Biden’s initial decision to run, highlighting a departure from his promise to serve as a transitional, one-term president. This promise was intended to ready the next generation for leadership, reflecting a forward-thinking approach that some saw as inconsistent with his later candidacy.
Biden's governance style, described by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as being measured in decades, sometimes clashed with the rapidly shifting landscape of modern politics. Sullivan elucidated that while Biden thought long-term, political cycles operated on much shorter, four-year horizons.
Interviews and statements during Biden’s term reveal multiple acknowledged missteps, including his handling of the pandemic and certain administrative appointments.
Notably, Biden expressed regret over appointing Merrick Garland as attorney general, given the controversies surrounding Garland’s prosecution of Biden's son, Hunter, and perceived leniency towards Trump concerning the January 6 investigations.
The administration also admitted that more could have been done to uplift Americans economically and socially during the challenging pandemic period. This concession points to a broader reflection on the effectiveness of their governance strategies during times of crisis.
Adding to his candid reflections, Biden has openly admitted to personal gaffes that may have impacted his public and political standing.
His debate performance, which he acknowledged was poor, was specifically noted along with his broader confession of making errors in judgment throughout his term, referring to some of these mistakes as moments where he “screwed up.”
Furthermore, Biden criticized himself for not capitalizing on the distribution of pandemic relief checks, a move he felt could have enhanced his approval ratings had his administration taken explicit credit for it. S
uch candid admissions are unusual for a sitting president and highlight the personal and professional challenges Biden faced during his tenure.
These revelations and reflections open up a dialogue on the complexities of presidential politics, especially when involving incumbents with longstanding careers in public service juxtaposed against fast-paced, high-stakes electoral cycles.
As Biden concludes his term, these insights offer a rare glimpse into the deliberations and regrets that punctuate the end of his presidential journey.