President Biden reportedly believes he could have won re-election against Donald Trump.
Sources within the White House told the Washington Post that President Joe Biden privately regrets withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, believing he could have defeated Donald Trump. The article, published Saturday, states that Biden, along with some advisors, feels he should have remained in the contest despite the challenges that led to his withdrawal.
According to the Post, this sentiment has been expressed in recent private conversations. Biden’s decision to exit the race in July followed a televised debate with Trump that generated criticism regarding his age and cognitive abilities.
Biden publicly acknowledged a subpar performance in the June 27th debate, stating he “screwed up” in articulating his policies. This cleared the path for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee; she ultimately lost to Trump in November.
Beyond his withdrawal regrets, Biden has also privately voiced dissatisfaction with Attorney General Merrick Garland, expressing frustration over what he perceives as the Department of Justice’s slow pace in prosecuting Trump. Sources say Biden believes swifter action on allegations against Trump, including attempts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents, could have resulted in a damaging pre-election trial.
Furthermore, the media, citing unnamed sources, reports that Biden has criticized the Justice Department’s “aggressiveness” in investigating his son, Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden was convicted in June of making false statements about his drug use to purchase a handgun. He also pleaded guilty in September to multiple tax offenses, with sentencing scheduled for this month. On December 1st, President Biden pardoned his son, despite previous pledges not to intervene, citing what he called “selective and unfair” prosecution due to their familial relationship.
These revelations are part of a broader period of reflection by President Biden on his presidency.
Earlier this month, Biden acknowledged missteps, including not putting his name on COVID-19 relief checks, a decision he believes cost his administration credit for its economic policies.
In a recent podcast, the president also discussed the challenges presented by the evolving media landscape, noting the difficulty of effectively communicating his administration’s achievements in a fragmented news environment where audiences often seek out information confirming their existing views.