In a recent interview published on Wednesday, President Biden admitted that he may not have had the energy to serve another four years in office, though he still maintained that he could have won re-election had he chosen to stay in the race.

Biden Acknowledges He Might Not Have Been Able to Serve Four More Years

The 82-year-old president, who withdrew from the campaign for a second term in July amid mounting pressure from anxious Democrats concerned about his performance in debates against former President Donald Trump, insisted that he was still capable of leading the country through the end of his term.https://wordpress.com/

“So far, so good,” he told USA Today. “But who knows what I’ll be like when I’m 86?”

This was a concern many Democrats had raised privately for months, especially after the televised debate in June, where a frail Biden appeared to struggle to finish sentences, occasionally seeming confused or blank.

Up until that point, and for weeks after, Biden and his inner circle insisted that he still had enough vitality to beat Trump, despite polling showing significant doubts, even among Democrats. Even after Vice President Kamala Harris, standing in for Biden, lost to Trump, Biden remained confident he would have prevailed.

“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” Biden commented in the interview. However, when asked if he could have handled the extraordinary demands of the presidency at 86, the oldest president in U.S. history, Biden admitted doubts he seldom reveals. “I don’t know,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2020 election, which he won, Biden stated, “When Trump was running again, I really thought I had the best chance of beating him. But I also wasn’t planning to be president at 85 or 86. So, I did talk about passing the baton.”

He added, “But I don’t know. Who knows?”

In the same interview, Biden acknowledged that he was considering granting preemptive pardons to some of Trump’s perceived adversaries to shield them from potential retribution under a future Trump administration. Figures like former Representative Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the U.S. pandemic response, were mentioned as part of the consideration.

Biden shared that, during a meeting with Trump after the election, he attempted to persuade Trump not to seek revenge against his enemies. “I tried to make clear there was no need for that, and it was actually counterproductive for him,” Biden said, noting that Trump simply listened without much response.

Biden’s decision to seek re-election will likely be one of the most significant choices of his presidency, potentially shaping his legacy. By initially insisting he could serve into his mid-80s, he went against his 2020 promise to be a “bridge” to a younger generation, delaying the party’s ability to groom a successor. When he eventually dropped out, there was little time for a full competition to replace him, leaving Kamala Harris to step up with just 107 days to campaign before the general election. She ultimately lost to Trump by a narrow margin of 1.5 percentage points in the popular vote.

This has led to growing dissatisfaction within the Democratic Party, with many blaming Biden for Trump’s return to the political stage. “I don’t think there’s any doubt our country would have been better off if President Biden had decided not to run for re-election,” said Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado shortly after the election, echoing sentiments held by many within the party.

Biden’s age and physical capabilities have been a recurring issue throughout his presidency. His close aides have consistently asserted that he remains mentally sharp, capable of asking incisive questions, processing information, and making sound decisions, even though his physical appearance has shown the effects of aging, and he sometimes struggles to articulate his thoughts.

While his physical frailty, including a slower gait and softer voice, has made it harder to project authority, those around him insist it hasn’t diminished his ability to lead. In fact, his recent interview with USA Today marked the first time he has granted an interview to a major mainstream newspaper after four years in office, reflecting how the White House has carefully managed his public appearances.

In contrast to most recent U.S. presidents, Biden has given far fewer interviews and press conferences, making this interaction with USA Today notable. Despite occasional difficulty in being heard due to his soft-spoken responses, the interview lasted nearly an hour, during which Biden appeared engaged and articulate.

During the interview, Biden argued that his experience has been an asset in international diplomacy. “I think the only advantage of being an older guy is that I’ve known every major world leader for a long time,” he said. “I had a perspective on each of them, and that’s helped me navigate the changing dynamics, whether it’s in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or the Far East.”

Biden also expressed frustration with the spread of misinformation and Trump’s ability to lie without consequence, as well as disappointment at how long it has taken to showcase the benefits of his infrastructure policies. Despite these challenges, he remained optimistic that his presidency will be remembered for its achievements.

“I hope history remembers that I came in with a plan to restore the economy and re-establish America’s leadership in the world,” he said. “That was my hope. Who knows? I hope history records that I did it with honesty and integrity, and that I said what was on my mind.”