The 81-year-old caused a stir by announcing on his X account that he would not seek re-election and would instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate against Donald Trump.
This decision followed mounting public pressure from leading Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, who raised concerns about Biden’s age and mental fitness after a problematic debate on June 27.
In his first interview since the announcement, conducted by CBS News’ Bob Costa on August 11, Biden revealed that the pressure from fellow Democrats played a significant role in his decision. He also mentioned former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with whom he had not been in touch for some time.
Biden noted, “The polls showed it would be a close race, potentially coming down to the wire. Some of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate believed my candidacy might hurt their chances. I was concerned that if I stayed in the race, the focus would shift to questions about Nancy Pelosi and other distractions.”
He continued, “When I first ran, I saw myself as a transition President. I’m hesitant to even say my age out loud, but things evolved quickly, and that vision didn’t come to fruition. The critical issue for me remains preserving our democracy. Despite the honor of being President, I believe it’s crucial to focus on defeating Trump.”
Biden, who has maintained a low profile since his withdrawal, expressed concerns about the potential lack of a peaceful transfer of power in January 2025. “If Trump wins, I’m not confident at all,” he said, later correcting himself to say, “If Trump loses, I’m not confident at all. He means what he says about a potential bloodbath or stolen election. Look at what’s happening now with local election officials and vote counting.”
Biden also described Trump, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, as “a genuine danger to American security.” He added, “Mark my words, if he wins… watch what happens.”
