The Most Important Task for the US Is Defeating Trump
Harris and Walz: "A Really Good Team"
Dismissal of Age and Health Controversies
President Joe Biden, who has decided not to seek re-election in the upcoming U.S. presidential election this November, warned that former President Donald Trump poses a "real threat to U.S. security."
In an interview with CBS News' "Sunday Morning" aired on the 11th (local time), President Biden stated, "Look at what would happen if he wins the election. He is a real danger to U.S. security." When asked if he was confident that a peaceful transfer of power would be possible, he replied, "I have no confidence at all if Trump loses (the election)."
President Biden added, "We are at a turning point in world history," and "The decisions we make over the next 3 to 4 years will determine the shape of the next 60 years. Democracy is the key." Regarding the federal Supreme Court, which was reshaped with a conservative majority during former President Trump's tenure through the appointment of numerous conservative justices, he described it as "a mess" and explained, "That is why I proposed limiting the term of justices to 18 years."
The interview was partially released last week ahead of its full broadcast on the same day. This is the first time President Biden has given an interview to the media since announcing his decision not to seek re-election on the 21st of last month.
When asked about his reason for withdrawing from the presidential race, he said, "Many of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought I would hurt them in the election," adding, "If I continued to run, that would become a major issue, and I thought that would be a real distraction." He continued, "The most important issue remains preserving democracy," emphasizing, "I felt I had a duty to do the most important thing I could for America, which is to definitely defeat Donald Trump."
When asked how he hopes history will remember him, he said, "Democracy helped us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and achieved the greatest economic recovery in American history," adding, "When I announced my candidacy in 2020, I said I would do three things: restore the soul of America, build a bottom-up economy rather than a top-down one, and unite the country. No one thought it was possible, but we did it." He also joked, "My biggest mistake was not putting up a sign that said 'Joe did it.'"
Regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, he said, "I have known him for decades. He is a great and truly smart person," and described Vice President Harris and Governor Walz as "a really good team."
He also mentioned Josh Shapiro, the governor of the northern battleground state of Pennsylvania, saying, "We have to win in my home state of Pennsylvania. I will campaign with him in Pennsylvania and in other states," and added, "Vice President Harris will do everything she can to help."
Addressing concerns about his age and his loss to former President Trump in the TV debate at the end of June, he said, "I had a really bad day that day because I was sick," but dismissed any serious health issues, saying, "There is no serious (health) problem."
Additionally, when asked about the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas before his departure from office, he said, "It is still possible," emphasizing, "My entire team and I are literally working every day to prevent the war from expanding in the region."
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