In an interview published Wednesday, President Joe Biden expressed confidence that he could have defeated President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 election but was uncertain about his ability to serve a full second term.
“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” Biden told USA Today when asked if he believed he could have won had he not dropped out of the race in July.
Biden stated that, based on the polls he had seen, he still thought he could have beaten Trump. However, he acknowledged uncertainty regarding his ability to complete a second term, saying, “I don’t know.”
Before Biden withdrew from the 2024 race, some polls had shown him trailing Trump or the race being close.
When Biden announced his exit from the campaign in July, he said, “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term."
He immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee for 2024, later stating in a prime-time address that he thought "the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation."
Biden's decision followed increasing pressure from within his own party, including from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to drop out of the race. This pressure intensified after a poor debate performance in late June raised questions about Biden's health, age, and cognitive abilities.
Some Democrats later wished Biden had withdrawn earlier or not run for re-election at all.
In his interview, Biden reflected on his experience, saying, "The only advantage of being an old guy is that I’ve known every major world leader for a long time." He added that his long-standing relationships with world leaders had given him valuable perspectives, helping him navigate global changes, including in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the Far East.
Ultimately, Trump won the election with 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, and a popular vote margin of 49.8% to 48.3%.
