Donald Trump "a real danger to American security": Joe Biden
It represents a real danger to American security. Look, we are at a turning point in world history...and democracy is key. »
US President Joe Biden, in his first televised interview since withdrawing from the campaign, said he acted under pressure from his fellow Democrats and to see Donald Trump defeated.
Explaining his surprise departure in new detail, Biden said his party colleagues running for re-election feared he would hurt their chances because his age and mental abilities dominated the campaign.
Donald Trump "a real danger to American security": Joe Biden
“Mark my words, if he wins… "This election, look what's going on," Biden said (File)
Washington:
American President Joe Biden, in his first televised interview since the withdrawal of the election, said that he acted under the pressure of his fellow Democrats and for a determination to see Donald Trump defeated.
Explaining his surprise departure in new detail, Biden said his fellow re-election contenders feared he would hurt their chances as his age and mental abilities dominated the campaign.
Biden, 81, was derailed by the end of his bid for a second term on July 21 after his poor debate performance against Trump sparked a Democratic backlash against him.
In the brief television interview, filmed at the White House last week and broadcast on Sunday, the president appeared fragile but persuasive, admitting again that he had failed in the debate, but insisting that in terms of health, there was no " It wasn't a serious problem."
"A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought I was going to hurt them in the (election) races," he explained.
"I was afraid that if I stayed in the race, this would be the topic that I would be interviewed about," he continued. He pointed the finger at former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a party heavyweight whose refusal to explicitly support his campaign was seen by many as decisive.
"You have to interview me because Nancy Pelosi said (something) ... I think that would be a real distraction," Biden said.
"A crucial issue for me is always - this is not a joke - the preservation of this democracy.
"I have an obligation to the country to do what is the most important thing that we can do, and that is - we must, we must, we must defeat Trump."
Help Harris
Biden said he was proud of his record on jobs, investment and post-Covid recovery - and vowed to campaign hard for Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him on the ballot. "I will do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help as many people as possible," he said.
Democrats' hopes of winning have been boosted by Biden's withdrawal, as Harris enjoys a surge in support that has left Trump and Republicans struggling.
The outgoing president said he expected to serve only one term when he won in 2020, but was persuaded to push for a second.
"I consider myself an interim president — I can't even say how old I am. It's hard for me to say — but things moved so quickly that it didn't happen," he told CBS's Robert Costa. As Harris holds large rallies in key states, Trump's agenda is under scrutiny, and his running mate, J.D. Vance, who filled the Sunday morning political shows.
Speaking on CNN, ABC and CBS, Vance answered questions about child custody, asylum seekers and abortion.
In a tense exchange with CBS's Margaret Brennan, Vance complained that he had asked "six questions about abortion."
"I'm still trying to get a straight answer," Brennan replied.
He also claimed that Harris was the one who "ran the show" in the Biden administration.
"If she doesn't run the show, Dana, who will?" he told CNN's Dana Bash. Biden, in his CBS interview, warned that Trump poses "a real danger to American security."
"Mark my words, if he wins ... watch what happens," he said. "It represents a real danger to American security.
"Look, we're at a turning point in world history ... and democracy is the key."
