After leaving race, Biden calls disastrous 2024 debate performance not very consequential
Biden’s view of the debate
In an interview published Wednesday, Biden said he did not consider the debate consequential. He said he had expected a second debate, which never took place. “I don’t know anybody who hasn’t made a mistake in a debate,” Biden, 83, told People. He added that the absence of another debate did not change his assessment.
A campaign under pressure
Biden spent nearly a month trying to persuade fellow Democrats that he could run against Trump again. He eventually ended his campaign, but has not publicly acknowledged that he was ill-prepared for the debate or should not have run again.
Legacy and forthcoming memoir
Biden’s comments renew attention to his decision to seek re-election when polls showed Americans did not want him to. He has continued to prompt a national reassessment of that choice.
The People interview came ahead of a memoir due to be released Tuesday. Biden is seeking to repair a legacy affected by Trump’s 2024 victory and later actions rolling back some of Biden’s policy achievements.
Key points
- Biden called his 2024 debate performance “not very consequential” in a People interview.
- The debate led to widespread Democratic pressure for Biden to leave the race.
- Biden eventually ended his campaign but has not publicly conceded he was unprepared.
- The interview appeared ahead of a memoir set for release Tuesday.