- Joe Biden says he could have defeated Donald Trump
- He noted he was unsure if he would’ve had the stamina for another 4-year term
- Biden said Trump had been complimentary of his economic record
Joe Biden says he could have defeated Donald Trump
In an exclusive interview with USA Today, US President Joe Biden expressed confidence that he could have defeated Donald Trump in a potential re-election bid. However, the 82-year-old acknowledged uncertainty about whether he would have had the stamina to serve another four-year term.
“So far, so good,” Biden remarked when asked about his health, before adding, “But who knows what I’m going to be when I’m 86 years old?”
During the wide-ranging interview, Biden revealed he is still contemplating pre-emptive pardons for prominent Trump critics, including former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney and former health official Dr Anthony Fauci.
Biden shared details of an Oval Office meeting with Trump after the November election, in which he addressed the idea of pardons directly. “I tried to make it clear there was no need, and it was counterintuitive for his interest to go back and try to settle scores,” Biden said. He noted that Trump did not argue but “just basically listened.”
Biden also disclosed that Trump had been “complimentary” of his economic performance during their post-election conversation. “He [Trump] thought I was leaving with a good record,” Biden said, reflecting on the exchange.