In a wide-ranging Oval Office interview with The New Yorker, President Biden expressed confidence in his re-election in 2024, explained his rationale for running for a second term despite questions about his age, and doubted former President Donald Trump. Mr. J. Trump said he would accept the results of the November election.
Biden has given fewer interviews with major news outlets than his predecessor, polls show, and faces dissatisfaction with voters in his own party and widespread dissatisfaction with his national leadership.
But he suggested to The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos that he is the most powerful Democrat to challenge Trump in November, saying he is “the only person who has ever defeated him.”
“And I will beat him again,” he added.
Biden suggested that neither he nor his voters could afford to miss the election, asking a rhetorical question: you do? “
His answer appeared to mark a slight change from December when he was asked whether he thought other Democrats had a chance of defeating Trump.
“Probably 50 people,” Biden replied. “I’m not the only one who can beat him. But I will beat him.”
The latest national poll by The New York Times and Siena College shows Mr. Biden leading his rival among registered voters, 48% to 43%, with Mr. Trump in the lead. . But Biden said the news media has underestimated him before and is underestimating him again.
“First of all, remember in 2020 I said I couldn’t win. And have you told me what this red wave is going to be in 2022?” Biden said in an interview with The New Yorker. He said this: The interview was conducted in January and published Monday as part of a longer profile. “And we said there would be no red wave. And we said we’d have another bad one in 2023, right? And we won every race.”
“I think the same thing will happen in 2024.”
One of the biggest hurdles for the 81-year-old Biden remains voters’ perception of his age. Osnos, who has conducted multiple high-profile interviews with Biden over the years, said the president’s voice is now “thin and stiff and his body language has slowed, but in our conversations it seems like his mind hasn’t changed.” “Ta” he wrote. Additionally, he continued, “He never got his name wrong or his dates wrong.”
Another challenge is Israel’s war in Gaza. Biden’s support for Israel during the conflict is chipping away at his support among Arab Americans, young voters and progressives. In an interview with The New Yorker, the president walked a tightrope on the issue, saying, “I don’t want to see Palestinians killed,” but asked for patience from disgruntled Democrats.
“I think they need to understand what would happen if they came to their states and neighborhoods and saw what happened with Hamas and give this a little bit of time,” he said. said.
The president has called for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, but no agreement has yet been reached. On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris vocally supported an “immediate ceasefire.” This is an apparent escalation by the White House as pro-Gaza Democrats organize a protest vote against Biden in the presidential primary.
Biden also said he doubts Trump, who has extensive criminal cases, including charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, will concede the race if he loses in November. He said no.
“A loser, a loser, is never gracious,” the president said. “I think he’ll do anything to win. If — and when — I will win, I think he will contest. No matter what the result is. ”