President Biden admitted to being pressured by Democratic colleagues to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in his first interview since announcing his decision. Speaking with CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa, Biden said his exit was motivated by a desire to prevent former President Donald Trump from returning to the White House. “The polls we had showed that it was a neck-and-neck race, would have been down to the wire,” Biden said.
“But a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races. I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic.”
Biden emphasized the high stakes of the upcoming election, expressing doubts about a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses to Vice President Kamala Harris in November. He means what he says,” Biden said of Trump.
“All the stuff about, ‘If we lose, there’ll be a bloodbath.
Biden pressured to end campaign
It’ll have to be a stolen election.'” The President added that a Trump victory would pose a “genuine danger to American security.”
Reflecting on his decision to run in 2020, Biden recalled feeling compelled to defend American democracy against the rise of white supremacy following the violent aftermath of the 2017 Charlottesville rally.
He criticized Trump for emboldening extremist groups during his presidency. Despite stepping down from the race, Biden plans to campaign actively for Harris, particularly in Pennsylvania. He praised Harris’ newly announced running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, calling them “a hell of a team.”
On the international front, Biden expressed cautious optimism about achieving a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“The plan I put together, endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, etcetera, is still viable,” he told Costa. The President also highlighted his administration’s achievements, including job creation and economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic. We created 16 million jobs,” Biden noted.
“We’ve had the private sector invest over a trillion dollars in the American economy.”
When asked how he hoped history would remember him, Biden said, “He proved democracy can work.” He cited the nation’s recovery from the pandemic and economic accomplishments as key parts of his legacy while acknowledging that more work remains.
