Interview Key Points

Decision to Run for President

Biden reflects on the pivotal moments and motivations behind his decision to run for the presidency, particularly in 2020.

Initial Polls and Democratic Concerns: Polls indicated a close race, and some Democratic colleagues feared Biden's candidacy would negatively impact their elections.
Distraction and Transition Presidency: Biden was concerned about becoming a distraction and initially saw himself as a "transition president" in his first run, but circumstances shifted.
Protecting Democracy: A primary driver for his decision was the critical need to maintain and protect American democracy.
Defeating Trump: He felt a strong obligation to the country to do everything possible to defeat Donald Trump.

The interview touches on Biden's personal life, his family's support, and the profound influence of his late son, Beau.

Family's Pride: Biden's children and grandchildren expressed pride in his presidency, which was deeply meaningful to him.
Remembering Beau: He frequently thinks of his late son, Beau, especially when facing difficult decisions, and believes Beau should have been the one interviewing him.
Beau's Promise: Biden recounts a conversation with Beau before his death, where Beau made him promise to stay engaged and continue fighting. This promise influenced Biden's decision to run after Beau's passing.

The white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville in 2017 are identified as a defining moment that solidified Biden's resolve to run for president.

"Very Fine People on Both Sides": Biden was deeply troubled by Donald Trump's response to the Charlottesville events, particularly his statement that there were "very fine people on both sides."
Democracy at Stake: This incident convinced Biden that democracy was literally at stake and that he had to take action.
Trump's Allyship with Extremists: Biden perceives Trump as having emboldened extremist groups like the KKK, who felt they had an ally in the White House.

Biden expresses significant doubts about the peaceful transfer of power following the 2025 election, regardless of the outcome.

Lack of Confidence: He is not confident in a peaceful transfer of power if Trump wins, and also expresses a lack of confidence if Trump loses, suggesting Trump means what he says about election outcomes.
"Bloodbath" Rhetoric: Biden takes Trump's statements about a potential "bloodbath" seriously.
Undermining Election Processes: He highlights efforts to place individuals in local election districts who will manipulate vote counts.
Conditional Love of Country: Biden states that one cannot claim to love their country only when they win.

The interview briefly touches upon ongoing international conflicts and the possibility of a ceasefire.

Israel-Hamas War: Biden discusses managing the war between Israel and Hamas.
Ceasefire Possibility: He believes a ceasefire is still possible before the end of his term and that the current plan, endorsed by international bodies, remains viable.
Preventing Regional Escalation: A key focus is preventing the conflict from escalating into a regional war.

Biden defends his administration's ambitious agenda and highlights key achievements.

"Going Big": He recalls telling senators in 2021 that they were "going big," referencing FDR's portrait.
Demonstrating Democracy Works: A central theme is proving that democracy is functional and effective.
Job Creation and Economic Investment: Biden points to the creation of 16 million new jobs and over a trillion dollars in private sector investment.
Bottom-Up Economic Growth: He reiterates his long-held belief in building the economy from the middle out and bottom up, rejecting "trickle-down economics."

Biden confirms his commitment to campaigning for Vice President Harris and her running mate.

Active Campaigning: He states he will be out on the campaign trail and will do whatever Kamala Harris believes will help the most.
Positive Assessment of Running Mate: Biden expresses strong personal regard for Harris's running mate, describing him as "real," "smart," and a "hell of a guy" he has known for decades.

Biden directly addresses skepticism regarding his health and his ability to campaign effectively.

"Watch": He tells those with doubts to "watch" his campaign activities.
Acknowledging a Bad Day: He admits to having a "really bad day" during a debate due to illness but asserts he has no serious health problems.
Campaign Tour Plans: He outlines plans for campaigning in Pennsylvania and other states, collaborating with Governor Shapiro.

In a room filled with historical significance, Biden articulates how he wishes his presidency to be remembered.

Proving Democracy's Efficacy: His primary legacy desire is to be remembered for proving that democracy can work.
Economic Recovery and National Unity: He highlights the significant economic recovery, American global economic leadership, and the effort to pull the nation together.
Restoring the Soul of America: Biden reiterates his initial campaign goals: restoring the soul of America, building the economy from the middle out and bottom up, and bringing the country together.
Subtle Recognition of Achievements: He notes that the impact of his administration's work is now becoming more apparent, even if not always directly attributed to him.

Biden emphasizes the grave danger he believes Donald Trump represents to American security and democracy.

Genuine Danger: He unequivocally states that Trump is a "genuine danger to American security."
Inflection Point in History: Biden views the current period as a critical inflection point that will shape the next six decades.
Proposing Supreme Court Term Limits: As a measure to address what he sees as the Supreme Court being "out of whack," he proposes limiting terms to 18 years.
Disregard for Institutions: He criticizes MAGA Republicans for their disregard for the political institutions that hold the country together and define democracy.