In an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, President Joe Biden asserted, “No one is more qualified (than me)” to be president or win the upcoming election.
The 81-year-old Biden’s performance in the June 27 debate against his 78-year-old Republican rival has sparked concerns among some Democrats about his candidacy. Four Democratic congressmen have already called for Biden to withdraw from the race for the White House.
Acknowledging his subpar performance in the previous teleconference with Donald Trump, Biden emphasized that it was an isolated incident due to a cold he was suffering from at the time.
When Stephanopoulos asked if he had watched the debate afterward to evaluate his performance, Biden replied, “I don’t think so, no.”
The journalist also broached the subject of the cognitive test that Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded Biden take. In response, Biden stated that his daily responsibilities as president are equivalent to a cognitive test.
Stephanopoulos inquired, “Are you the same person today as you were when you took office 3.5 years ago?”
“In terms of successes, yes,” Biden answered. “I was the guy who put together a workable Middle East peace plan, expanded NATO, and grew the economy. Every single achievement was an idea I had or fulfilled.”
Despite polls showing him trailing Trump in both the general election and in certain states, Biden dismissed concerns from some Democrats that remaining in the race is not in the best interest of the party or the country.
When asked if he would resign if he believed he couldn’t beat Donald Trump, Biden replied, “Depending on the Almighty coming down and telling me, I might do it.”
Regarding potential pressure from Democratic leadership to resign, Biden said, “Everybody said I should stay in the fight. Nobody said I should go.”
When Stephanopoulos pressed him on what he would do if Democratic allies expressed concern about losing the House and Senate if he stayed in the race, Biden firmly stated, “I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen.”
This interview with ABC News was Biden’s first televised appearance since the June 27 debate. ABC News extended an invitation to Trump for a matching interview opportunity, but his team declined.
