Susan Page Reveals Biden’s Striking Admission: ‘I Don’t Know’ If I’d Have Had the Vigor for Four More Years
USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page hosted a “Girls’ Night” event celebrating two female members of the Trump administration. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Veteran journalist Susan Page shared with MSNBC on Wednesday what she called “the most striking admission” from her exclusive interview with outgoing President Joe Biden. With just days remaining in his presidency, Biden reflected on his one-term tenure as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to retake office on January 20.
Speaking with Andrea Mitchell, Page discussed her sit-down with Biden, which appeared in USA TODAY. Mitchell noted the rarity of such an interview, saying, “He’s not even holding a news conference, which is traditional — which is not great for the White House press corps. But here you are, and there are some big headlines here.”
Mitchell pointed to one particularly noteworthy comment Biden reportedly made to former President Barack Obama at Ethel Kennedy’s funeral. “He’s suggesting he could have actually won the election?” Mitchell asked.
“He said he believed he could have won the election in November if he had stayed on the ballot,” Page confirmed. “Which is a striking admission. But the more striking one, Andrea, I thought, was when I asked him, ‘Do you believe you would have had the vigor to complete four more years in what many people think is the toughest job in the world?’ And he said, ‘I don’t know.’
He said, ‘Who the hell knows?’ and, ‘I don’t know who I will be at 86 years old,’ which would be the age he would be leaving.” Mitchell pressed further, asking, “So, why would he have chosen to run again without the confidence that he could have completed his term?”
Page acknowledged the contradiction: “Yes, it’s at odds with the assurances he gave American voters when he was running. So that is a good question to ask, and it’s too bad we don’t have a news conference to follow that up.”
Biden’s presidential campaign ended prematurely following a disastrous debate performance in which he struggled with his words. Vice President Kamala Harris took his place as the Democratic nominee just four months before the election but was decisively defeated by Trump.
As Biden prepares to leave office, his candid remarks about his own capabilities and decisions add a revealing note to the conclusion of his presidency. The absence of a final press conference leaves lingering questions about his reflections and legacy unanswered.
