The 2024 U.S. presidential election took a surprising turn for many. Former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, the former president, shared his honest thoughts on why this happened. In a recent interview, Biden said he wasn’t surprised by the loss, and he believes it had a lot to do with sexism and racism.
Biden Says Harris Was the Right Candidate
When asked on The View whether he was shocked by Harris’ loss, Biden said, “I wasn’t surprised—not because I thought she couldn’t do it. She’s absolutely qualified to be president.” He added that the way people judged Harris wasn’t fair. He explained that the attacks on her were not about her ability or her experience, but rather about her being a woman and a person of mixed race. “It really was a campaign that kept sending the message that a woman—especially a woman of colour—couldn’t lead the country,” Biden said.
The Role of Sexism and Racism
Biden believes that Harris was targeted unfairly throughout the campaign. He said the criticism was often about her gender and race, rather than her leadership skills or political ideas. According to him, this kind of negative messaging made it harder for voters to see Harris as a strong candidate.
The Impact of COVID and Changing Attitudes
Biden also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic played a big role in how people felt about politics. “The pandemic had a huge negative effect on how people think, how hopeful they feel, and how they trust leaders,” he explained. He feels that this emotional and mental shift affected how voters made their decision in 2024.
Why Biden Stepped Down and Endorsed Harris
Biden decided to step down from the 2024 race after a tough debate with Trump. On July 21, he officially left the race and endorsed Harris to take his place. Biden said it was a very hard choice to make. He had completed many goals during his presidency and felt proud of his achievements. However, he had always planned to pass on the leadership to a younger generation.
He told the BBC in another interview, “I meant it when I said I was preparing to hand things over. But things moved so fast, it became hard to walk away.” Biden also mentioned that whether he stepped down earlier or later wouldn’t have made a big difference. He strongly believed Harris was a “good candidate.”
What’s Next for Kamala Harris?
When asked if he had spoken with Harris recently, Biden said she had asked for his advice about her next steps, but he didn’t share any details. It seems that while her path forward is still being decided, Harris is thinking carefully about her political future.