On Friday, outgoing President Joe Biden expressed confidence that he could have defeated Donald Trump in the presidential race if he had chosen to stay in the contest. He explained that his decision to step aside was made with the goal of maintaining unity within the Democratic Party.

When asked if he regretted not seeking re-election or if stepping down to let Kamala Harris take over would have made it easier for Trump to win, Biden replied, “I don’t think so. I believe I could have beaten Trump, and I think Kamala (Harris) could have too.” In July 2024, months before the election, Biden announced his withdrawal, endorsing Harris as the party’s candidate. This move came amid criticism over his performance in a presidential debate with Trump and concerns about his health.

At 82 years old, Biden emphasized the importance of party unity ahead of the election and acknowledged concerns about his ability to win. He stated, “It wasn’t about me. I thought it was important to unify the party, and when the party was worried about whether I could still win, I believed stepping aside was the best choice.” He added that he did not want to be the cause of a divided party losing the election.

Biden also expressed confidence in Harris’s abilities, stating she could potentially run for president again in four years, though he noted that decision would ultimately be up to her.

As for his future plans after leaving office on January 20, Biden made it clear that he would not retreat from public life, saying, “I’m not going to disappear.”

When questioned about whether he intended to pardon himself or any members of his family, especially in light of his son’s recent pardon, Biden firmly stated he had no plans to pardon himself, asserting that he had done nothing wrong.