According to a report, Joe Biden believes he could have triumphed over President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 election if he hadn’t been edged out by fellow Democrats.
Earlier this year, Biden was pressured to withdraw from the race and was replaced by Kamala Harris after struggling in a debate against a lively Trump and facing disappointing poll numbers. His performance did not instill confidence among his supporters, leading to Harris stepping up with only three months to present a compelling message to the public.
Trump, naturally, seized the opportunity and won decisively, leaving Biden to reflect on his dismissal with bitterness, as reported by the Washington Post. He believes that with his campaign focused heavily on democracy, he could have succeeded, per sources close to the 82-year-old.
Biden’s aides informed the publication that while he has been cautious about criticizing Harris or her campaign, he feels he should have remained in contention.
In a striking statement, Trump’s staunch ally and controversial former Representative Matt Gaetz concurred, at least in an effort to criticize Harris as well. “Honestly, he would have performed better than Harris. Voters perceived her as insincere,” he posted on X in reaction to the report.
The Post also noted that Biden has acknowledged privately that he failed in certain areas.
He reportedly regrets selecting Merrick Garland as attorney general since Garland was slow to take action against Trump regarding the January 6 riots. A strong conviction could have significantly hindered Trump’s campaign, potentially allowing Biden to secure consecutive terms.
Furthermore, some allies suggested he misread the political climate. Biden focused on his message of restoring traditional democracy, while many Americans were more concerned about how he planned to address the economy.
“The president has been thinking on a timeline of decades, whereas political cycles are typically four years,” stated Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, during an interview with The Post.
The Biden administration did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Nor did it try to explain how Biden’s evident mental decline – evident to all in the now infamous debate – would have played a part in defeating Trump.
