Joe Biden’s faltering voice betrayed frailty in his first post-presidency interview, aired Wednesday on BBC Radio 4’s Today program. The 82-year-old former president, speaking from Wilmington, Delaware, struggled to justify his delayed exit from the 2024 presidential race. His mumbled responses and long pauses raised fresh doubts about his mental sharpness.
According to Daily Mail, Biden announced the end of his reelection bid on July 21, 2024, after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. In the interview, pre-recorded Monday, he claimed his administration’s successes made it hard to step away sooner.
Harris, left with just 106 days to build her presidential bid, lost to Trump in November 2024. Biden insisted, “I don’t think it would have mattered,” when asked if an earlier exit would have changed the outcome. His defiance ignored widespread Democratic frustration and polling that suggested he faced a crushing defeat.
Biden’s presidency, often clouded by concerns over his cognitive decline, faced renewed scrutiny in the interview. He whispered, coughed, and paused awkwardly, reinforcing doubts about his fitness for leadership. Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, called the performance a “disgrace” and evidence of Biden’s mental deterioration.
Cheung further lambasted Biden, stating, “He has clearly lost all mental faculties.” The former president’s choice of a foreign outlet like BBC for his first post-presidency broadcast interview sparked criticism among conservatives. Many saw it as a snub to American media and a sign of elitist detachment.
Biden framed the interview as a reflection on the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end in Europe. He expressed alarm over declining U.S. relations with European allies under Trump’s leadership. His comments revealed a lingering obsession with globalist alliances, which many Americans view as secondary to domestic priorities.
Biden took aim at Trump’s provocative statements about annexing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. He also ridiculed Trump’s idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, exclaiming, “What president ever talks like that?” Such rhetoric, Biden argued, undermines American values of freedom and opportunity.
Yet Trump’s supporters see these ideas as bold assertions of national sovereignty, not reckless overreach. Biden’s criticism, delivered in a frail whisper, lacked the conviction to sway working-class voters who back Trump’s America-first agenda. His remarks felt like a tired defense of a fading globalist order.
Biden voiced “grave concern” over the potential collapse of post-World War II alliances. He warned that abandoning these partnerships could weaken America’s global standing. However, many Americans, weary of endless foreign entanglements, question the value of such alliances in today’s economy-driven world.
On Russia’s war in Ukraine, Biden called it “foolish” to believe Vladimir Putin would halt aggression if given territorial concessions. His stance reflects a commitment to prolonged foreign conflicts, which clashes with the priorities of Americans struggling with rising costs at home. Trump’s push for pragmatic deal-making resonates more with working families.
Biden admitted he intended to serve only one term when elected in 2020, aiming to pass the torch to a new generation. Yet he clung to power, citing the rapid success of his agenda. This self-congratulation rang hollow to critics who saw his presidency as a period of economic strain and cultural division.
Democrats widely blamed Biden’s late withdrawal for Harris’s defeat, believing an earlier exit could have given her a stronger chance. Biden countered, “We left at a time when we had a good candidate. She was fully funded.” His refusal to accept responsibility frustrated party loyalists and independents alike.
Biden claimed he could have defeated Trump in a 2024 rematch. This assertion defied polling and public sentiment, which pointed to a landslide loss. His detachment from reality underscored concerns about his judgment during his final months in office.
Biden’s interview performance, marked by incoherent moments, fueled accusations of elder abuse from Trump’s camp. Cheung remarked, “Sadly, this feels like abuse,” suggesting Biden’s handlers exploited his diminished capacity. The spectacle left many Americans questioning the dignity of his post-presidency.
Ultimately, Biden’s interview revealed a man out of touch with the nation’s pulse, clinging to a legacy few celebrate. His defense of a late exit and criticism of Trump’s vision failed to resonate with a country eager for strength and sovereignty. As Trump charts a new course, Biden’s whispers fade into irrelevance.
