Janice R. Andrews
During a Friday press conference, President Joe Biden made a surprising remark, stating that both he and Vice President Kamala Harris “could have and would have” defeated Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The statement raised eyebrows, especially since Harris had already participated in the race and lost.
When asked about his decision to withdraw from the election following a challenging debate performance, Biden appeared confused, saying:
“I would have beaten Trump, could have beaten Trump, and I think that Kamala could have beaten Trump and would have been Trump.”
Despite the slip, Biden elaborated on his decision to step aside, emphasizing party unity.
“I thought it was important to unify the party. When the party was worried about whether or not I was going to be able to move, even though I thought I could win again, I thought it was better to unify the party. It was the greatest honor of my life to be President of the United States, but I didn’t want to be the one responsible for a divided party losing the election. That’s why I stepped aside, but I was confident she could win.”
Backlash Over Biden’s Statement
The president’s remarks quickly sparked criticism and confusion, especially on social media, with some pointing out the discrepancy in his claims, as Harris’s loss is already a matter of record.
A video clip of Biden’s comments, shared on Twitter by Collin Rugg, gained widespread attention. Rugg captioned the clip:
“Someone should tell him that Kamala did in fact run and did not win.”
Biden Reflects on His Decision
In a separate interview with USA Today’s Susan Page earlier in the week, Biden reiterated his belief that he could have defeated Trump but voiced concerns about the demands of another term.
“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes, based on the polling that …” Biden began before being interrupted. When asked about his energy for another term, the 82-year-old said:
“I really thought I had the best chance of beating him. But I also wasn’t looking to be president when I was 85 or 86 years old … Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I’ll be like at 86?”
As Biden prepares to leave office, his comments have added another layer of complexity to the political conversation surrounding the post-election landscape.
