Key takeaways from Joe Biden and Jill Biden's interview on ‘The View'
Former President Joe Biden blasted President Donald Trump's first 100 days and defended his own performance as president during an appearance Thursday on ABC's 'The View,' his first live television interview since leaving the White House in January.
In the joint interview with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, the former president discussed his ongoing rivalry with Trump and his continued relationship with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who he said still seeks his advice.
The Bidens had strong words for Democratic leaders, who they said bought into the idea he needed to drop out of the presidential race after his disastrous June presidential debate. They also dismissed reports and upcoming books that claim the former president experienced cognitive decline while in office.
The interview comes as the Bidens are reemerging into public life at a time when the Democratic Party is searching for new leaders and a cohesive strategy for taking on Trump. The former president did an interview with BBC News this week and the former first lady is now chairing a women's health initiative for the Milken Institute.
'I'm trying to figure out what's the most significant and consequential role I can play, consistent with what I've done in the past,' the former president said, adding that he's writing another book.
The appearance also marks the pair's efforts to defend the former president's reputation from criticism that his decision to run for a second term – and remain in the race as long as he did – led to Harris' defeat.
Here are three takeaways from the interview with the Bidens:
The Bidens pushed back on suggestions he experienced significant cognitive decline in his final year in office.
'They are wrong,' Biden said. 'There is nothing to sustain that.'
'I said when I got out of the race, I was still going to be president. I think I did a pretty damn good job the last six months,' he said.
But it was his wife, Dr. Biden, who offered the more forceful defense of his time in office and disputed suggestions she had insulated her husband in his final years in office.
'The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us, and they didn't see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean, he'd get up, he put in a full day, and then at night he would, I'd be in bed, you know, reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings, working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop,' she said.
Biden admitted his performance at the CNN debate against Donald Trump last June amounted to a 'terrible night,' but argued the suggestions he was unable to do the job of president did not reflect the broader sentiment of the Democratic Party.
'The Democratic Party at large didn't buy into it,' Biden said, pointing to winning Democratic primaries in 2024 despite running largely uncontested in most of those contests. 'But the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did.'
Asked if she was too close to the situation to accurately assess her husband's ability to serve a second term, Dr. Biden said: 'I did not create a cocoon around him.'
The former first lady also said hearing people describe her as Lady MacBeth was 'very hurtful, especially from some of our so-called friends.'
Biden sidestepped a question about his current relationship with former President Barack Obama and instead attempted to provide more of an explanation for his decision to bow out of the race.
'The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn't want to have a divided Democratic Party. It's a simple proposition. And so that's why I got out of the race,' he said. 'I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interest, my personal interest. I'm not being facetious. I'm being deadly earnest about that.'
One question facing the Democratic party is whether Harris will run again, either for governor of California next year or president in 2028.
Asked if Harris has told him what she plans to do next, President Biden said he speaks with Harris frequently – as recently as Wednesday – and that she does seek his opinion on topics.
'She's got a difficult decision to make about what she's going to do,' he said. 'I hope she stays fully engaged. I think she's first rate, but we have a lot of really good candidates as well.'
Looking back to the last election, the former president said he wasn't surprised that Harris lost – not because she wasn't qualified, but because the Trump campaign 'went the sexist route' throughout the campaign.
'I've never seen quite a successful and consistent campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldn't lead the country, and a woman of mixed race,' the former president said.
At one point the panel brought up a past Harris appearance on 'The View,' during which she said there wasn't anything she could think of that she would have done differently than he did. The former president denied reports that he encouraged there to be no daylight between her campaign and his administration.
'I did not advise her to say that,' he said. 'I think that was used in a way that is contrary to what she meant.'
Biden and Trump's longstanding rivalry came up throughout the interview.
'He's had the worst 100 days any president's ever had,' the former president said. 'And I would not say honesty has been a strong point.'
Asked why Trump continues to mention him, the former president said: 'I beat him.' He repeated his assertion that he could have beat Trump if he'd stayed in the race
Throughout the conversation, Biden defended his record. At one point he was asked if he takes responsibility for Trump's victory and for not pushing to pass border security legislation earlier in his presidency.
'Yes, I do, because look, I was in charge, and he won,' Biden said. He then criticized Trump for pushing Republicans to vote against bipartisan border legislation.
The panel also asked about Trump's interest in the former president's use of an autopen to sign pardons for his family, which Trump has said are 'void' and 'vacant.'
'Oh, he's vacant,' the former president said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Braveboy wins special election for new Prince George's County Executive
The Brief A special election is being held in Prince George's County Tuesday as residents decide on the next county executive. The election was triggered by the departure of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November. Voters are choosing between two candidates: Democratic State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Republican Jonathan White. PRINCE GEORGE'S CO., Md. - Voters headed to the polls in Prince George's County on Tuesday for a special election to choose a new county executive. The race was between two candidates: Democratic State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy and Republican Jonathan White. Polls closed at 8 p.m. Just before 9 p.m., it was announced that Braveboy had won the election and she delivered a victory speech. READ MORE:Prince George's County Election Day: Voters to elect new County Executive Big picture view The election was triggered by the departure of former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, whose move to a higher office — in the U.S. Senate — set off a chain reaction of vacancies and resignations across local government. The winner of the election will serve the remaining two years of Alsobrooks' term. Whoever wins will inherit a series of major challenges. This year alone, Prince George's County has seen the Washington Commanders announce plans to return to D.C., the cancellation of the new FBI headquarters project and confirmation that Six Flags will close at the end of the year. Braveboy previously told FOX 5 that she views these issues as opportunities and is especially concerned about the impact on federal employees in the county. "I recognize how critical the federal government has been to the success of Prince George's County," she said. "But that is not our only success. What we have to do now is shift. We have to pivot, and we have to grow our commercial tax base and bring more industry into Prince George's County." "It affects everything," she added. "It affects also our tax base, because a lot of these federal government employees are also homeowners. They own property here in Prince George's County, so we are very concerned about our federal employees." Like Alsobrooks, Braveboy currently serves as Prince George's County State's Attorney. However, Alsobrooks did not endorse her, instead backing another candidate in the Democratic primary. What they're saying Election officials say they have seen strong turnout through early voting and mail-in ballots. Still, turnout in special elections—especially in June—can be a challenge. But many voters say they believe showing up to the polls is part of their civic duty. "I care about who is going to be our county executive, so it's important as taxpayers as we move along," one voter said. "We have to support our candidates. We have to make sure voting counts. It's a privilege to make sure we do it every year," another voter added. "Democracy. Representation. And in order to have representation, you have to participate," another told FOX 5. Some voters stressed that local elections matter just as much as national ones. "Local elections, in my opinion, are almost more important—or just as important—as voting in national elections," one resident said. "I teach my kids about the election to understand it's our right to vote. It's given to us," said one parent. What's next Braveboy was considered the front-runner in the race and held her rally in Lanham Tuesday night. FOX 5 reached out to Republican Jonathan White, who responded by email that he was not available for an interview.
42 minutes ago
Trump administration rescinds Biden-era guidance requiring hospitals to perform emergency abortions
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday it is rescinding Biden-era guidance that uses a federal law to require hospitals to stabilize patients in need of emergency care -- including by providing an abortion. In July 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance that, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), doctors must perform abortions in emergency departments -- even in states where the procedure is illegal -- particularly if it serves as a "stabilizing medical treatment" for an emergency medical condition. Emergency medical conditions included, but were not limited to, "ectopic pregnancy, complications of pregnancy loss, or emergent hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia with severe features." EMTALA, which was passed in 1986, ensures that emergency patients receive services and treatment regardless of ability to pay. Hospitals that refuse to provide "necessary stabilizing care" or "an appropriate transfer" can face civil monetary penalties. The HHS guidance was one of the attempts of the Biden administration to preserve abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for abortion rights. However, HHS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rescinded the guidance, as well as an accompanying letter from former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, saying they "do not reflect the policy of this Administration." "CMS will continue to enforce EMTALA, which protects all individuals who present to a hospital emergency department seeking examination or treatment, including for identified emergency medical conditions that place the health of a pregnant woman or her unborn child in serious jeopardy," a press release from the agency read. "CMS will work to rectify any perceived legal confusion and instability created by the former administration's actions," the press release continued. Abortion rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, criticized the administration and accused President Donald Trump of walking back on a campaign promise not to interfere with abortion access. "By rescinding this guidance, the Trump administration has sent a clear signal that it is siding not with the majority, but with its anti-abortion allies -- and that will come at the expense of women's lives," Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, deputy director of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement. "The ACLU will use every lever we have to keep President Trump and his administration from endangering our health and lives." The Biden administration's guidance has faced legal challenges in the past. In January 2024, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas hospitals and doctors are not required to perform emergency abortions despite the guidance.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Burlington mayor signs amended resolution to clean up downtown, gives $10,000 to relocate Food Not Cops
BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Burlington mayor Emma-Mulvaney Stanak signed on Monday night the city council's Resolution 8.1, which aims to help businesses in the city's downtown area, especially in the Church Street Marketplace, by calling for among other things clearer signage and a stronger police presence. Read the full resolution hereDownload The most controversial part of the resolution proved to be a clause calling for the removal of the Food Not Cops (aka Food not Bombs) food distribution center from the marketplace's garage. Democratic members of the city council have said the food distribution attracts the same people who engage in anti-social behavior in the neighborhood, including drug use and theft, while Progressive members have protested based on a lack of presented evidence. City Council passes resolution for downtown issues The Burlington City Council currently has a 7-5 Democratic majority, and the resolution passed on May 19 with a clause with softened language requiring a proposal to relocate the center, rather than a full relocation, by July 14. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, who is a Progressive, announced at last night's city council meeting $10,000 in city funding to ease the relocation and help Food Not Cops find a new place to operate. In a statement Tuesday, the mayor had mixed feelings about the outcome of the council's deliberations. 'My administration has worked for nearly a year to build relationships with Food Not Cops and with community partners in an effort to find a mutually beneficial path forward. 'The debate around Resolution 8.1, and the insistence upon placing a deadline on these efforts has only hindered our ability to make progress on this work.' Small businesses express concern about conditions in Downtown Burlington But some city council members said they felt like a compromise had already been reached, and were glad to be able to move forward. 'I mostly want to thank the mayor for dealing with this head-on,' said councilor Sarah Carpenter. 'I'm saddened we couldn't get to language… but think we're on a really good path.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
