Former President Joe Biden said he would have declined to seek a second term in 2024 if he had known he had cancer, revisiting a campaign he ended weeks after debating Republican Donald Trump.
Biden made the comment in an interview with People magazine before the release of his White House memoir. He said, “I would’ve not gone forward,” referring to his reelection bid.
Democrats’ concerns about Biden’s age and ability to defeat Trump intensified after the June 2024 debate. Biden was 81 at the time. He said he expected another debate and did not consider the first one consequential.
Several weeks after the debate, Biden ended his campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. She won the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Trump.
Biden also argued that he remained capable of serving while in office, saying his experience and relationships with international leaders equipped him for the job. The interview came before the scheduled Nov. 17 release of Promise Me, America, his account of his presidency. EconoTimes previously covered Biden’s treatment and memoir appearances.
