Former first lady Jill Biden declared Tuesday that former President Joe Biden would have beaten Donald Trump in the 2024 election if he hadn't withdrawn from the race. Despite Trump's decisive victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, winning all major swing states and the popular vote, Jill Biden expressed her belief on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Jill Biden's Statement on Morning Joe
When asked by co-host Willie Geist if her husband still believes he could have defeated Trump, Jill Biden responded, "I believe he would have beat Donald Trump in that election." She made the comments while promoting her memoir, "View From The East Wing."
The Decision to Run Again
Biden discussed her husband's difficult decision to seek re-election. She noted that after the Democratic Party's strong performance in the 2022 midterms, many supporters urged him to run again. "People, everywhere I went, 'Joe's got to do it again! He's got to run! He's got to run!'" she recalled. However, the age question was a constant concern, with Biden himself wondering, "Am I too old?"
Despite these doubts, polling indicated that among Democrats, Biden was the only candidate who could potentially beat Trump. "And so that's why Joe decided to continue on," she said.
No Regrets on Withdrawing
When asked if Biden regrets dropping out, Jill Biden said she would never want her family to endure that painful experience again. "It was so painful, not just for us, not just for me and for Joe, but we have children and grandchildren," she explained. She added that she wouldn't want to put her family through that again.
Uncertainty About a Second Term
In a separate part of the interview, Jill Biden expressed uncertainty about whether her husband could have served a full second term, given his cancer diagnosis. She did not elaborate further on the health concerns.
