President Joe Biden reportedly believes he would have secured victory against Donald Trump in the 2024 election had he not withdrawn from the race following a widely criticized debate performance. This claim comes amid differing opinions on the impact of his withdrawal.
Trump, however, dismisses Biden's assertion, stating that Biden's performance was a significant factor in his downfall. Speaking to reporters at a New Year's Eve event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump conveyed that Biden was lagging behind and that his debate showing effectively eliminated his chances of winning.
The debate in question took place in June, during a period when Biden's approval ratings were low and he trailed behind Trump in multiple polls. Biden's performance was so heavily criticized that it sparked calls for him to end his reelection bid. Subsequently, Biden decided to end his campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.
Despite ultimately exiting the race, a report from The Washington Post suggests that Biden and some of his aides believe he would have been successful if he had remained. The report also noted Biden acknowledging that his poor debate performance was a crucial misstep.
