Biden at peace if he loses to Trump: "As long as I gave it my all"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Biden indicated in an interview with ABC News Friday that he would be at peace if he lost to former President Trump "as long as I gave it my all."
Why it matters: Biden is under growing pressure to step aside as the Democratic nominee in the wake of his disastrous debate performance last week, especially given the stakes of a potential Trump second term.
- Many Democrats believe Biden has been an excellent president — but that his refusal to give up power at his advantaged age could risk throwing the country into turmoil after November's election.
- His interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, broadcast Friday evening, is unlikely to quell those concerns.
What they're saying: "If you stay in and Trump is elected and everything you're warning about comes to pass, how will you feel in January?" Stephanopoulos asked Biden.
- "I'll feel, as long as I gave it my all, and I did as good a job as I know I can do, that's what this is about," the president responded.
- At other points in the interview, Biden repeatedly denied that his approval rating could be as low as 36%, that elected Democrats want him to step aside, and that the presidential race is anything but a "toss-up."
The bottom line: Asked if anything could convince him that he was on track to lose to Trump and should step down, Biden responded with a smile: "It depends on if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that."
