US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, citing concerns that an internal Democratic battle over his candidacy would divert attention from the crucial goal of defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. In his first interview since stepping aside, Biden, 81, addressed speculations surrounding his health and debate performance, emphasizing his commitment to party unity and the broader political landscape.
Biden clarified that health was not a significant factor in his decision, dismissing concerns about his physical and mental acuity. He attributed his lackluster debate performance to being unwell at the time, downplaying suggestions that age was a primary concern. Instead, Biden highlighted his apprehension that his continued candidacy would create unnecessary friction within the Democratic party, potentially jeopardizing their chances in the general election.
“We must, we must, we must defeat Trump,” Biden stressed in his interview with CBS News, underscoring the paramount importance of preventing a Trump presidency. He explained that remaining in the race could have led to internal party divisions and distractions, diverting focus from the central objective of challenging Trump.
According to Biden, several Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate voiced concerns that his presence on the ticket might negatively impact their own electoral prospects. He worried that media attention would become fixated on internal Democratic disagreements and criticisms, exemplified by speculation surrounding former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s alleged push for his withdrawal following the debate on June 27th. While Pelosi has not explicitly confirmed these reports, they contributed to the growing narrative of internal party unease regarding Biden’s candidacy.
While acknowledging some instances of misspeaking during the pre-recorded interview, Biden appeared more composed and articulate compared to his debate performance. He reiterated that illness, and previously mentioned jet lag and fatigue, were factors affecting his debate showing. Ultimately, the mounting pressure culminated in his announcement on July 21st that he would be exiting the race.
Following Biden’s withdrawal, a potentially divisive contest for the Democratic nomination was averted as party support swiftly consolidated behind Vice-President Kamala Harris. Notably, Harris had been polling favorably, outperforming Biden in opinion surveys, suggesting she was well-positioned to lead the Democratic ticket.
Biden reflected on his initial presidential run in 2020, recalling his intention to serve as a “transition president,” bridging the gap to a new generation of leadership. “When I ran the first time, I thought of myself as being a transition president. I can’t even say how old I am. It’s hard for me to get it out of my mouth,” he remarked, hinting at an awareness of age-related considerations in his political trajectory.
Image: US President Joe Biden cycling in Delaware, reflecting his active lifestyle and attempts to dismiss health concerns surrounding his decision to step down.
Broader US Election Context
The political landscape extends beyond Biden’s decision, with other significant developments in the US election cycle. Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has defended a controversial plan for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants if elected alongside Donald Trump. Vance asserted that a Trump administration would prioritize deporting 1 million undocumented individuals, despite estimates indicating approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the US.
Vance also clarified past remarks regarding voting rights, explaining that suggestions about additional votes for parents were merely a “thought experiment” in response to Democratic proposals to lower the voting age. He emphasized that these comments were not intended as a policy proposal and affirmed his lack of support for granting extra votes to parents.
On the Democratic side, Vice-President Kamala Harris advocated for the elimination of taxes on tips during a campaign event in Nevada, echoing a similar proposal supported by Trump. Nevada, a crucial battleground state, has a substantial workforce in the hospitality and tourism sectors, making this issue particularly relevant to its voters.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, addressed claims of smaller-than-expected rally crowds by accusing the Harris campaign of circulating a “fake photo” of a rally crowd. However, independent media reports and visuals from the Detroit event in question demonstrated significant turnout for the Democratic nominees.
Biden’s Stark Warning About Trump and the Future of Democracy
In the CBS interview, Biden revisited his motivation for entering the political arena – the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia incident where far-right activists converged, resulting in violence. He directly accused Trump of emboldening racist and far-right elements.
“Every other time the Ku Klux Klan has been involved they wore hoods so they’re not identified,” Biden stated. “Under his presidency, they came out of those woods with no hoods, knowing they had an ally.” This pointed critique highlighted Biden’s deep-seated concerns about the potential resurgence of extremism under a Trump administration.
Furthermore, Biden expressed serious apprehension regarding the post-election period, stating he was “not confident at all” about a peaceful transfer of power should Harris defeat Trump. He voiced concerns about potential violence if Trump were to lose, citing Trump’s rhetoric, including the controversial “bloodbath” comment.
“He means what he says,” Biden cautioned. “We don’t take him seriously. He means it. All the stuff about, ‘If we lose, it’ll be a bloodbath’.” Biden characterized Trump as “a genuine danger to American security,” emphasizing the gravity of the political stakes.
While Trump’s campaign has clarified that the “bloodbath” remark referred to the economy and auto industry, critics argue that his broader rhetoric fuels division and undermines democratic norms. Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged and has hinted at potential challenges to the upcoming election results. He has also pledged to pardon individuals convicted for involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot.
Despite stepping down from the presidential race, Biden affirmed his commitment to campaigning for Kamala Harris and expressed his intention to actively participate in the election efforts. He mentioned discussions with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about campaigning in Pennsylvania, his birth state, and indicated his willingness to campaign in other states as well.
“I’m going to be campaigning in other states as well. And I’m going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most,” Biden concluded, signaling his continued engagement in the political arena and his dedication to supporting the Democratic ticket.
