Politics

Biden still believes he could have beaten Trump — but shockingly admits he’s not sure he’d have survived another term

President Biden has insisted he could have beaten his rival Donald Trump in the 2024 election — while acknowledging he may not have survived another four years in the Oval Office.

In an interview with USA Today published Wednesday, Biden, 82, said that while it was perhaps too boastful of him to say so, he was convinced he could have triumphed in a rematch against the Republican nominee.

“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes, based on the polling that…,” the oldest-ever president began to answer, before being interrupted by USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page during a rapid-fire round of questions.

In an interview with USA Today published Wednesday, Biden, 82, said that while it was perhaps too boastful of him to say so, he was convinced he could have triumphed in a rematch against his Republican opponent. Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to the Wall Street Journal, Biden never spoke with his veteran pollster John Anzalone during the entirety of the 2024 campaign, with the survey junkie passing on his notes only in memos to aides.

Page noted in her write-up of the interview that the president kept index cards on his desk full of “talking points and statistics,” but said “he glanced at them only once.”

“Do you think you would’ve had the vigor to serve another four years in office?” she also asked.

“I don’t know. That’s why I thought when I first announced, talking to Barack [Obama] about it, I said I thought I was the person,” Biden answered.

“I had no intention of running after [son] Beau died — for real, not a joke,” he went on. “And then when Trump was running again for re-election, I really thought I had the best chance of beating him.

“But I also wasn’t looking to be president when I was 85 years old, 86 years old. And so I did talk about passing the baton. But I don’t know. Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?” Biden added.

“I don’t know. That’s why I thought when I first announced, talking to Barack [Obama] about it, I said I thought I was the person” to beat Trump, Biden said. AP

Biden has held the fewest press conferences of any commander-in-chief since at least President Ronald Reagan — but spilled plenty of fresh details in his USA Today sit-down about his scrapped re-election effort, plans for the final days of his lame-duck term and his legacy.

Democrats ousted Biden as presumptive nominee in a July coup following his disastrous June 27 debate against Trump.

The incumbent spoke haltingly and with a raspy voice throughout the forum, descending at times into incoherence with statements such as “We finally beat Medicare.”

Biden spoke haltingly and with a raspy voice throughout the June 27 showdown on CNN, descending at times into incoherent answers such as “We finally beat Medicare.” REUTERS

Post-debate polls showed Trump surging ahead of Biden, though no Democratic alternative appeared ready to take on the Republican nominee — including Vice President Kamala Harris.

Internally, the situation was far more dire.

Biden’s pollsters and top advisers met with Senate Democrats at their campaign headquarters in Washington, DC, a few weeks after the debate.

On July 21, he finally exited, endorsing Harris, 60, to take his place at the top of the ticket. AFP via Getty Images

According to the New York Times, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) pushed for the president to submit to cognitive testing and announce the results publicly to prove he had the mental fitness for another four years.

Some medical experts who specialize in treating Parkinson’s disease even believed Biden’s slow, “shuffling gait” exhibited some of “the classic features of neurodegeneration” — as the president’s verbal stumbles also increased in regularity.

Internal polls further showed younger voters, a key demographic for Democrats, shifting toward Trump, the Times reported in August.

Internal polls further showed younger voters, a key demographic for Democrats, shifting toward Trump, Biden’s advisers told Senate Democrats in a meeting in early July, the Time reported. Josh Morgan, Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Congressional Dems — including House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — and deep-pocketed donors like Hollywood star George Clooney quickly began calling for Biden to step aside, which he did on July 21.

With Biden’s endorsement, the 60-year-old Harris took his place at the top of the ticket, forestalling an unprecedented “mini-primary” or floor fight at the Democratic convention in Chicago.

The veep went on to lose all seven critical swing states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — to Trump, who will return to the White House on Jan. 20.

Biden’s exit interview with USA Today also revealed that he was still mulling pardons for potential targets in a second Trump administration — including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Getty Images

Biden also revealed Wednesday that he was still mulling pardons for potential targets of a second Trump administration — including former Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney and ex-White House COVID czar Dr. Anthony Fauci.

“A little bit of it depends on who he puts in what positions,” the 46th president explained. “I was very straightforward with Trump when he got elected. I invited him immediately to the White House. I spent two hours with him. He talked about, he was very complimentary about some of the economic things I had done. And he talked about — he thought I was leaving with a good record, kind of thing. I tried to make it clear that there was no need, and it was counterintuitive for his interest to go back and try to settle scores.”

“And did he give you an answer on what he was going to do?” Page inquired.

Ex-White House COVID czar Dr. Anthony Fauci could also be in line for a presidential pardon from Biden before he leaves office. Getty Images

“Well, he didn’t. But he didn’t say, ‘No, I’m going to…’ You know. He didn’t reinforce it. He just basically listened,” Biden replied, later noting that he has not decided yet whether to grant pre-emptive pardons for Cheney or Fauci.

The president already announced a blanket pardon for his son Hunter for tax and gun felonies, as well as any crimes potentially committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024.

“I think there are certain people like, if he were to, I don’t want to name their names. I’ll tell you off the record,” he added, later saying somewhat incoherently: “But there are other parties that we’re following through on to determine that, rectifying some of the, correcting powder-cocaine difference, things like that.”

Page noted in her write-up of the interview that the president kept index cards on his desk full of “talking points and statistics,” but said “he glanced at them only once.” Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Asked about his legacy, Biden demurred.

“Historians will talk about [how] great the impact was, but it didn’t [have] any immediate impact on people’s lives,” he assessed. “I think we would’ve been a hell of a lot better off had we been able to go much harder at getting some of these projects in the ground quicker.”

Biden also claimed that he “meant” it when he said he wasn’t going to pardon his son several times before the election — before announcing the sweeping pardon last month — but claimed that “two factors” came to light later that made it necessary.

“Number one, that he had paid all his taxes. He paid them late,” the president claimed, though Hunter Biden had already paid off all of his tax delinquency in 2021, his father’s first year in office. AFP via Getty Images

“Number one, that he had paid all his taxes. He paid them late,” the president claimed, a reference to Hunter Biden having already paid off all of his tax delinquency in 2021.

However, Biden also entirely forgot in which years the tax crimes occurred.

“This was back in ’80, I mean excuse me, in 2000 and… What year was it? Anyway, long time ago,” he added. “And that he paid it all. And that there were hundreds of people with only 3, 4, or $500,000 who were being, moving on civilly.”

“And then the second thing I found out was that on this purchasing a gun, at the time, you have to sign a form if you’re under the influence of anything. Well, I don’t even know whether they got straight on the signing of the form. But the point was, no one’s ever been tried on that. Nobody,” he also claimed, wrongly.

The rapper Kodak Black, one of several defendants to face jail time for writing false information on a gun-purchase form, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for writing down a wrong Social Security number on his firearm application.

Former Baltimore police commissioner Darryl De Sousa, who was prosecuted by the same team that worked under special counsel David Weiss on the Hunter cases, also spent 10 months in jail after being accused of skipping out on just $67,000 in taxes.

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to not forking over $1.4 million to the IRS on income he earned between 2016 and 2019. He was likely facing just three years in prison.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top