Biden says he regrets abandoning re-election bid – WaPo
US President Joe Biden has privately expressed regret over his decision to withdraw from the 2024 election, believing he could have defeated Donald Trump, according to the Washington Post.
The president has also acknowledged missteps in leadership, including policy decisions and communication challenges, the paper reported on Saturday. Along with some of his aides, Biden feels he should have stayed in the race despite the challenges that prompted his withdrawal, the article claims, citing White House sources.
According to the news outlet, these sentiments have surfaced in recent private conversations. Biden’s decision to step aside in July followed a televised debate with Trump that drew criticism and heightened concerns about his age and cognitive abilities.
He has publicly admitted that his performance during the June 27 event was subpar, stating he “screwed up” as he struggled to clearly articulate his policies.
This decision cleared the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee; she was subsequently defeated by Trump in the November election.
In addition to his regrets about withdrawing, Biden has privately expressed dissatisfaction with his choice of Merrick Garland as Attorney General. He has voiced frustration with the Department of Justice’s perceived delays in prosecuting Trump. According to sources, Biden believes that if the Justice Department had acted faster on allegations against Trump, ranging from attempts to overturn the 2020 election to mishandling classified documents, it could have led to a politically damaging trial before the election.
Biden has also criticized the Justice Department under Garland for its “aggressiveness” in investigating his son, Hunter Biden, the media reported, citing unnamed sources.
Hunter Biden was convicted in June of lying about his long-standing drug addiction when purchasing a handgun. In a separate case, he pleaded guilty in September to multiple tax offenses, with sentencing scheduled for this month. On December 1, Joe Biden pardoned his son despite previously pledging not to intervene, arguing that Hunter had been prosecuted “selectively and unfairly” due to their familial ties.
These revelations come amid broader reflections by Biden on his presidency.
Earlier this month, he admitted to certain missteps, including the decision not to place his name on Covid-19 relief checks, which he believes cost his administration recognition for its economic efforts.
In a recent podcast, the president also discussed challenges posed by the evolving media landscape. He noted that the proliferation of information sources has made it difficult to effectively convey his administration’s accomplishments in an environment where audiences often choose news that aligns with their perspectives.
