Biden Makes Surprising Admission Days Before Trump Takes Office

The Washington Post has reported that President Biden is becoming increasingly resentful of his decision to suspend his presidential campaign this past summer.

Sources familiar with the president’s mindset indicate that Biden remains convinced he could have secured victory had he stayed in the race, despite his poor debate performance in June and declining approval ratings, which ultimately pushed him to withdraw.

Following the June 27 debate, where Biden appeared hesitant and fatigued, a wave of pressure from Democratic lawmakers and influential donors urged him to step aside. Prominent Hollywood figures, including George Clooney, also began withdrawing financial support for his reelection bid.

In response to former President Barack Obama’s call for an “open process,” Biden officially exited the race on July 21 and promptly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

Although Biden still believes he could have won the election, he has been careful not to blame Harris in conversations with his team, according to the Washington Post. Harris, however, made history as the first Democrat to lose the popular vote since 2004, falling to Trump by over 2.2 million votes.

“How to govern at this moment to set the U.S. up for long-term success has one answer, and how to govern to deal with midterm and presidential elections in the very short-term might have a different answer. The president went with doing the things that really put America in a strong position,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told the Post when asked about Biden’s perspective on the election loss.

Biden has reportedly expressed regret over appointing Merrick Garland as attorney general, according to several insiders who spoke to the outlet. While Biden acknowledged his underwhelming debate performance, he also lamented not taking a more aggressive stance on prosecuting political rivals, including then-candidate Donald Trump. Advisors had encouraged him to select Garland as a “consensus pick” for the role, citing his likelihood of easy Senate confirmation.

The president is also said to be deeply frustrated with Garland’s decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted on federal gun and tax-related charges. Earlier this month, Biden pardoned his son, adding another layer of controversy to his administration’s challenges.