Former President Joe Biden has admitted to bearing some responsibility for the Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2024 presidential election, marking a rare moment of self-criticism even as he defended his overall legacy. Speaking Thursday during an appearance on “The View,” Joe Biden reflected on the stunning loss that saw former President Donald Trump return to the White House, defeating Biden’s one-time running mate, Kamala Harris.
“Yes, I do,” Joe Biden said when asked if he accepted responsibility for voter discontent over key issues like immigration and inflation. “Because look, I was in charge and he won, so I take responsibility.” Despite this acknowledgment, Biden was quick to pivot to defending his administration’s accomplishments, attributing failures in part to Republican obstruction. He cited Trump’s role in derailing a bipartisan border security bill last year and suggested he could have done more to promote his achievements before leaving office.
Joe Biden lamented that many of his policies were designed for long-term impact, with benefits that may not have been immediately visible to voters by the time they went to the polls. “We didn’t advertise well enough,” he admitted, “and I own that.”
Joe Biden Claims He Could Have Defeated Trump if He Had Stayed in the Race
In the same interview, Biden confidently asserted that he would have defeated Trump had he remained the Democratic nominee. “I think I could’ve beaten him,” Joe Biden said, echoing sentiments he’s shared in past interviews. Nonetheless, he stood by his decision to step aside, emphasizing his desire to avoid deepening divisions within the Democratic Party.
Joe Biden also addressed Harris’ loss to Trump, saying he wasn’t surprised by the outcome but not because he questioned her qualifications. “Not because I didn’t think the vice president was the most qualified person to be president,” he clarified. Instead, he attributed her defeat to the “sexist route” taken by her opponents, compounded by lingering public frustrations from the COVID-19 pandemic’s fallout.
The former president revealed he has remained in regular contact with Harris as she considers her political future. “She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do,” Biden noted, hinting at Harris possibly pursuing another national or state-level office. He expressed hope that she “stays engaged” in public life, while acknowledging that the Democratic Party has “a lot of really good candidates” waiting in the wings.
Joe Biden Defends Record, Denies Cognitive Decline Allegations
Throughout Thursday’s interview, Biden vigorously defended his tenure and disputed critiques of his leadership, particularly surrounding his late withdrawal from the 2024 race. His decision to bow out followed a widely criticized debate performance against Trump, which intensified concerns about his age and mental fitness.
“The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” Biden explained, rejecting claims that he was pressured to step aside due to cognitive decline. “There’s nothing to sustain that,” he insisted, pointing to legislative wins and executive actions achieved in his administration’s final months.
Biden conceded that his debate against Trump had been a “bad, bad night,” but argued that polling afterward still showed him trailing Trump by only single digits. He also dismissed reports that he pressured Harris to avoid publicly distancing herself from him after his exit. “I did not advise her” to declare that she and Biden had no policy differences, Biden said, blaming the media and Trump’s campaign for weaponizing her remarks in attack ads.
Biden Launches Fresh Attacks on Trump’s Presidency
While accepting some blame for Trump’s victory, Biden did not hold back in his criticism of his successor’s leadership since returning to office. “He’s had the worst 100 days any president’s ever had,” Biden declared, pointing to what he described as chaotic foreign policy stances and erratic decision-making in the White House.
He reiterated concerns voiced earlier in the week during an interview with the BBC, where he condemned Trump’s positions on global alliances, Russia, Ukraine, and climate change. Biden suggested Trump’s fixation on attacking him stems from lingering resentment over the 2020 election. “I beat him,” Biden said simply, brushing off Trump’s continued antagonism.
Responding to Trump’s claim that pardons issued by Biden — including to members of his own family — were invalid because they were signed using an autopen, Biden quipped, “Oh, he’s vacant,” dismissing the accusation as baseless and unserious.
Looking Ahead: Biden Urges Party Unity, Hopeful for Democratic Future
Despite the challenges facing the Democratic Party after the 2024 loss, Biden closed his interview on an optimistic note, calling for unity and resilience. He urged Democrats not to lose faith in their broader mission, emphasizing the importance of staying mobilized for future elections at every level of government.
“We’ve got good people,” Biden said, underscoring his belief in the next generation of Democratic leaders. While Harris’s future remains uncertain, Biden stressed the need for an “open, vigorous” debate about the party’s direction, encouraging supporters to focus on shared values rather than internal rivalries.
With speculation swirling over whether Biden himself might remain an influential figure in Democratic politics or fully step back from the public sphere, the former president left the door open for continued engagement. “I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he pledged, signaling that even in political retirement, he sees himself playing a role in shaping the party’s path forward.
