Joe Biden revealed in an interview that his decision to withdraw from the presidential contest was influenced by pressure from within his own party, notably from Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders. The President, who had previously shown support for Kamala Harris as his chosen successor, explained that internal party unrest had diverted focus away from his campaign efforts.
At the age of 81, Biden maintained that he had been in a close race against Donald Trump before his withdrawal, and refuted the notion that his departure was due to any major health concerns. “My Democratic colleagues in both the House and Senate felt that my continuation in the race would be detrimental to their own electoral prospects,” Biden shared with CBS News, marking his first public comments since exiting the race.
Biden expressed concerns that staying in the race would have kept the focus on why figures like Nancy Pelosi had voiced opposition against him, which he viewed as a significant distraction. Reports suggest that Pelosi, the former House Speaker, had been a key figure in the drive to persuade Biden to step down, even showing him polling data indicating his likely defeat against Trump.
In his statement announcing his exit from the race, Biden subtly acknowledged the political pressures he faced but emphasized that his decision was made in the best interest of the country, aiming to unite the Democratic Party and safeguard American democracy. Although he did not specify individuals, it was reported that Pelosi, along with Senate and House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, had urged him to withdraw.
During his CBS News appearance, Biden expressed his desire to be remembered as a president who demonstrated the effectiveness of democracy, a factor in his decision to leave the race. “Defeating Trump is the most crucial thing I can do for the country,” he stated, dismissing the idea that a poor performance in a presidential debate, marked by moments of confusion, was triggered by a serious health issue. Biden, who previously contemplated serving only one term, noted his age-related challenges publicly for the first time.
Following Biden’s debate mishaps and other public gaffes, calls for his resignation intensified. Despite ending his campaign, Biden assured CBS that he remained committed to preventing a large-scale conflict in the Middle East, highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Biden, seen relaxing in Delaware a day before the CBS interview was aired, also mentioned his plans to support Harris’s campaign, particularly focusing on Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
Despite the tension and criticism surrounding his campaign and leadership style, Pelosi, who has since stepped down as Speaker but remains influential, expressed her respect and affection for Biden, emphasizing her primary motivation was to prevent Trump’s return to the White House.
