Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Friday said he would have defeated Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential elections, but he decided to withdraw from the race midway for the sake of the unity of his Democratic Party.
During a press conference at the White House, a reporter asked him, “Mr. President, do you regret your decision not to run for re-election? Do you think it made it easier for your predecessor to succeed you now?” ” ,
Mr Biden responded, “I don’t think so. I think I could beat Trump, could beat Trump and I think Kamala (Harris) could beat Trump, could beat Trump.”
“It was not so – I thought it was important to unify the party and when the party was worried about whether I would be able to continue, even though I thought I could win again, I thought it was better to unite Party,” he added.
He also said that becoming US President was the “greatest honor” of his life.
He said, “But I did not want to be the person who causes a party to lose elections which was not united. And that is why I stepped away. But I was confident that it could win.”
The 82-year-old leader withdrew from the US presidential race against Donald Trump after his disastrous performance in the presidential debate in June.
After much criticism from leaders of his own party, Mr Biden decided to withdraw from the race midway and endorsed his running mate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
However, Ms Harris lost to Mr Trump and the November 5 elections resulted in a clean sweep for the Republican Party, which not only recaptured the White House, retained its majority in the House of Representatives but also won the majority in the Senate.
‘Kamala Harris capable of contesting elections again in four years’
Joe Biden said Kamala Harris is “capable” of running for president again in four years, adding that the decision would ultimately be up to her.
“I think it’s a decision she can make considering she’s able to run again in four years. That will be his decision,” he told reporters.
Mr Biden made history in 2020 by appointing Ms Harris as the first Indian American, African American and woman as Vice President of the US.
Mr Biden will also give a televised farewell address to the nation on January 15, five days before Donald Trump returns to power.
