Former President Joe Biden, in his first television interview since dropping out of the 2024 White House race, issued a stark warning about Republican candidate Donald Trump, calling him a ‘genuine danger to American security.’ In a pre-taped interview with CBS News broadcast on Sunday, Biden stated, ‘Mark my words, if he wins… this election, watch what happens. He’s a genuine danger to American security. Look, we’re at an inflection point in world history… and democracy is the key.’
Biden, at 81 years old, has maintained a low profile since withdrawing from the race following a perceived lackluster performance in a debate against Trump. The debate raised concerns about Biden’s age and mental abilities. However, in the brief television interview recorded at the White House last week, Biden appeared frail but mentally sharp. He acknowledged his shortcomings in the debate but emphasized that his health is sound, stating he has ‘no serious problem.’
Explaining his decision to exit the race, Biden revealed that other Democratic Party politicians seeking re-election feared he would negatively impact their chances. He stressed that his primary focus is preventing Trump’s return to power. ‘A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the (election) races,’ Biden said. ‘A critical issue for me still is – not a joke – maintaining this democracy. I have an obligation to the country to do what is the most important thing we can do, and that is – we must, we must, we must defeat Trump.’
Biden expressed pride in his achievements regarding job creation, investment, and COVID recovery efforts. He pledged to actively campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has replaced him on the ballot. ‘I’m going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most,’ he stated.
Biden’s age had become a prominent topic in the 2024 campaign. The Democratic party’s prospects of winning have significantly improved since his withdrawal, with Harris experiencing a surge in support that has left Trump struggling.
The outgoing president shared that he had initially intended to serve only one term after winning in 2020 but was convinced to remain in office. ‘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, but things got moving so quickly, it didn’t happen,’ Biden told CBS’s Robert Costa.
Trump’s limited campaign schedule has come under scrutiny. In contrast, his running mate, J.D. Vance, has been actively engaging in Sunday morning political talk shows. Appearing on CNN, ABC, and CBS, Vance faced questions regarding white supremacist attacks on his family, childcare, asylum seekers, and abortion. In a heated exchange with CBS’s Margaret Brennan, Vance complained about the number of questions directed at him about abortion. ‘I’m still trying to get a clear answer,’ Brennan retorted. Vance also claimed that Harris holds significant influence within the Biden administration. ‘If she’s not calling the shots, Dana, who is?’ he asked CNN’s Dana Bash.
