During an exclusive interview with USA Today, President Joe Biden expressed confidence that he could have won a second term against Donald Trump, but also acknowledged his own concerns about aging and stamina. At 82 years old, Biden reflected on the challenges of serving in office as he grows older. "So far, so good," he remarked, contemplating the potential difficulties of serving as president at 86.
The interview, which is Biden's only exit dialogue with a print publication, touched on his interactions with Trump, including the discussion of pre-emptive pardons for several of Trump's critics. Biden described Trump as receptive during their meeting post-election, where he advocated for moving beyond grievances. The president noted that his decisions on pardons depend on who Trump appoints to his cabinet.
Biden defended his controversial decision to grant a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who faced serious legal troubles. Despite familial challenges and criticisms regarding his leadership, he maintained that based on polling, he believed he had a solid chance against Trump. "I really thought I had the best chance of beating him," he said, although he expressed hesitation about leading the country well into advanced age.
The interview has brought attention to Democratic leadership sentiments, where prominent figures like Nancy Pelosi have suggested that Biden’s early exit from the race could have changed party dynamics significantly leading to the election.
