Biden reflects on his legacy and high stakes of 2024 election in THIS recent interview

In a candid interview with CBS's "Sunday Morning," President Joe Biden opened up about his recent decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, citing the need for the Democratic Party to concentrate fully on preventing former President Donald Trump from reclaiming the White House. This was Biden's first interview since stepping away from his re-election bid last month.

President Biden revealed that he made his decision in late July at his family home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, just weeks after a debate with Trump that had stirred concerns within Democratic circles. Reflecting on the tight polls at the time, Biden shared, "The polls we had showed that it was a neck-and-neck race, would have been down to the wire." He further explained that several Democratic colleagues feared his continued candidacy might harm their chances in the upcoming elections. "I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic... I thought it'd be a real distraction."

NEW: President Biden says Ku Klux Klan members took their hoods off when Trump was in office because they ‘knew’ they had an "ally" in the White House.

This man is losing it.

"Every other time the Ku Klux Klan's been involved they've worn hoods, so they're not identified."… pic.twitter.com/aAyMkJq4sH

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 12, 2024

The transition president

Biden acknowledged his initial intention of serving as a "transition President," recognizing his age as a factor. "But things got moving so quickly, it didn't happen," he added. Despite the honor of holding the presidency, Biden emphasized the critical issue of maintaining democracy, stating, "I think I have an obligation to the country to do what [is] the most important thing you can do, and that is, we must, we must, we must defeat Trump."

Family support and reflection on Beau Biden

Biden also shared a poignant moment after announcing his decision to the nation on July 21, when he was joined by his family. Recalling their support, he said, "They said they were proud, and it mattered to me a lot." The conversation turned to his late son, Beau Biden, whom he thinks of often, especially when faced with difficult decisions. "Whenever I have a decision that's really hard to make, I literally ask myself, 'What would Beau do?'"

Charlottesville and the fight for democracy

Biden traced his decision to run in 2020 back to the 2017 white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, which he described as a turning point. "I knew then, I knew I had to do something. And that's why I decided to run because democracy was literally at stake." Biden expressed deep concerns about the implications of a second Trump term, particularly regarding the peaceful transfer of power.

Looking ahead: Israel-Hamas conflict

As his presidency nears its end, Biden was also asked about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful for a ceasefire, stating, "Yes. It's still possible... I'm working literally every single day – and my whole team – to see to it that it doesn't escalate into a regional war. But it easily can."