Biden Denies Decline, Discusses 2024 Withdrawal

Former President Joe Biden, in a series of interviews, denied allegations of cognitive decline and asserted he remained fully capable during his presidency. Biden said his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race was motivated by a desire to avoid dividing the Democratic Party, though he believed he could have defeated Donald Trump in a rematch. He blamed his widely criticized debate performance on illness and explained that party leadership, not the broader Democratic base, pressured him to exit. Biden attributed Kamala Harris' election loss in part to sexism and racism from the Republican campaign and expressed continued support for her future in politics. Both Biden and his wife Jill refuted claims about his mental decline, with Jill emphasizing his work ethic. Biden also criticized Trump's first 100 days in office as the worst of any president and maintained that his administration improved the country.