Former U.S. President Joe Biden has said he does not regret the timing of his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election. In a recent interview with the BBC, Biden shared his thoughts on stepping aside and handing over the campaign to his former Vice President, Kamala Harris.
Biden Stepped Down in July 2024
Biden officially ended his re-election campaign in July 2024. At the time, there was strong pressure on him to allow a younger candidate to step in and lead the Democratic party. Critics had said he should have dropped out earlier, giving the new candidate more time to campaign and connect with voters.
But Biden disagrees with that view.
“I Don’t Think It Would Have Mattered”
In his interview, Biden said, “I don’t think it would have mattered”, when asked whether an earlier decision would have helped the Democratic campaign more.
Biden explained that when he left the race, Kamala Harris was ready. “She was fully funded,” he said, referring to the fact that she inherited the Biden-Harris campaign’s financial support, giving her a strong foundation.
Reflecting on the Tough Decision
Biden admitted that choosing to run again and then stepping aside was not easy.
He said that the success of his administration made it hard to walk away. “What we had set out to do, no one thought we could do,” Biden said, reflecting on his presidency. “We’d become so successful in our agenda, it was hard to say, ‘Now, I’m going to stop.’”
He continued by saying he had always planned to pass leadership to the next generation, but things moved quickly, and making the decision was difficult.
No Regrets About the Exit
When asked if he regrets his decision, Biden said firmly, “No, I think it was the right decision.” He admitted it was tough, but he believes it was the correct choice in the end.