Biden Expresses Concern Over Trump’s Return, Backs Harris for Presidency in First Interview Post Withdrawal

In first interview since dropping out, Biden says Trump danger to US

In his first interview since bowing out of the 2024 presidential race, President Joe Biden articulated his reasons for stepping aside and voiced his growing concern over the possible return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office.

Biden: “We must, we must, we must defeat Trump”

Speaking candidly, Biden shared his concerns that his continued participation in the race could potentially cause damage within the party and distract from the main objectives. He was also of the opinion that his presence in the race would allow the media to shift the focus onto irrelevant debates, thereby causing a distraction from the primary goal of defeating former President Donald Trump. He stated, “And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic. You’d be interviewing me about ‘Why did [former speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi say…’ ‘Why did so-and-so…’ And I thought it’d be a real distraction”.

Biden backs Harris for Presidency

The 81-year-old leader subsequently pulled out from his re-election bid and has backed Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential presidential candidate. Polls have shown that Harris currently leads Trump by 42 percent to 37 percent in the race for the November 5 election. Despite these promising figures, some within the party remain skeptical of Harris’s ability to defeat Trump.

Gaza Conflict: Biden hopes for a ceasefire

Apart from discussing the elections, Biden also considered the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. He remains hopeful for a ceasefire, remarking, “The plan I put together, endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the UN Security Council, et cetera, is still viable. And I’m working literally every single day – and my whole team – to see to it that it doesn’t escalate into a regional war. But it easily can”.

However, Biden’s support for Israel during its conflict with Gaza reportedly adversely affected his popularity. Despite a number of nations urging Israel and Hamas to urgently resume talks to reach a ceasefire, a deadly attack on a Gaza school has reignited calls for the US to halt its unwavering support for Israel, including weapons transfers.

A Decades-long conflict takes a deadly turn

The attack on a school in Gaza by Israel tragically resulted in over 100 Palestinian fatalities and multiple injuries. This recent assault has led to increased calls to end US support to Israel, with voices being raised against arms supply that is supposedly fuelling atrocities in the Palestinian territory. The US, on the other hand, has defended its affiliation with Israel by blaming the Hamas for using schools as operating bases. The US also urged Israel to take appropriate measures to minimize civilian harm.

The war between Israel and Gaza has claimed 39,790 lives so far, and left 92,002 injured. Despite the grim toll, the US has committed to provide Israel with $3.5bn for purchasing US weapons and military equipment, reflecting their continued support for the nation.