Biden Says He Wasn't Surprised by Harris' Loss to Trump in 2024 Election

In his first televised interview since leaving office, former President Joe Biden expressed that he was not surprised by Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, attributing the loss partly to a campaign that exploited sexist and racial biases against Harris. Biden emphasized that Harris was highly qualified to be president but noted the effectiveness of Trump's strategy in undermining perceptions of her leadership capabilities as a woman of mixed race. He also cited the lingering negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on voter attitudes and optimism. Reflecting on his own role, Biden admitted responsibility for the defeat but highlighted legislative achievements and blamed Trump for blocking bipartisan border security efforts that could have helped his campaign. Additionally, Biden criticized Trump's first 100 days in office for damaging key alliances like NATO. Throughout the interview, Biden indicated ongoing communication with Harris and acknowledged her facing difficult decisions about her political future.