Former President Joe Biden made his first live television appearance since leaving office to discuss the circumstances that led to President Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election.
According to Newsmax, Biden accepted responsibility for Trump's win during an interview on ABC's "The View," stating he was "in charge" when the Republican candidate secured his victory last November.
The former president's candid discussion touched on several factors that contributed to the Democratic Party's defeat, including his decision to step down as the nominee in July 2024. Biden defended his timing, emphasizing his desire to prevent party division. The shift in Democratic leadership resulted in Vice President Kamala Harris taking over as the party's presidential candidate.
During the interview, Biden expressed strong support for his former vice president while acknowledging the obstacles she faced. He specifically addressed the gender-based discrimination that emerged during her campaign.
Biden said:
Not because I didn't think the vice president wasn't the most qualified person to be president. She is. I wasn't surprised because they went the route of a, the sexist route, whole route, 'This is a woman, she's this, she's that.'
The former president also highlighted the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public sentiment. He suggested that the health crisis significantly affected people's outlook and optimism, which may have influenced voting patterns.
The interview focused on Joe Biden’s heavily criticized showing during the June 27 debate with Donald Trump, which played a major role in his choice to exit the presidential race.
Despite making several clear errors during the debate—such as mistakenly saying he "beat Medicare" and confusing the "Paris Peace Accords"—Biden dismissed doubts about his mental sharpness. His wife, Jill Biden, stood by him and emphasized his record.
She said that one debate shouldn’t be seen as a reflection of his entire presidency.
The former president attributed his debate performance to having a "terrible night" rather than cognitive decline, directly challenging assertions from both Republican and Democratic critics.
Biden emphasized the profound effect of the pandemic on the American electorate's mindset. He suggested that many observers had underestimated how deeply COVID-19 affected public attitudes.
The discussion revealed Biden's perspective on how pandemic-related challenges shaped voter decisions. He noted that the widespread uncertainty and anxiety stemming from the health crisis created an environment that influenced the election's outcome.
Former President Joe Biden's appearance on "The View" marked his first live television interview since departing the White House in January 2025. During the conversation, he addressed the complex factors that contributed to President Donald Trump's victory, including the impact of his debate performance, the challenges faced by Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on voter sentiment. While accepting responsibility for the election outcome, Biden maintained his position that his withdrawal from the race was necessary to preserve Democratic Party unity.
