Mood of Dismay at the White House as Biden Reflects on Legacy and Election

As President Joe Biden approaches the end of his term, aides describe a disheartening mood within the White House that has been characterized as "draining" during these final weeks leading up to Donald Trump's inauguration. Sources have indicated that Biden feels could have won the 2024 election but chose not to run, worried about the possibility of Trump returning to office.

Prominent Democratic donor Joe Kiani shared insights regarding Biden's mindset, suggesting that the president believed in his ability to win a rematch against Trump, expressing reservations about running mainly out of concern for the implications of a potential loss. Biden’s stance is not seen as a criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose team believes that with more time on the campaign trail, outcomes might have changed in her favor during the election.

After an underwhelming debate performance in June, Biden withdrew from the 2024 race just weeks later, leaving Harris short on time to mount her campaign against Trump. The vice president suffered a significant defeat, trailing in key battleground states and finishing the popular vote behind Trump by over two million votes.

While grappling with these political challenges, Biden is concurrently working on establishing his legacy, reflecting on the past five decades of his political career. He has incorporated historical reflections into White House events and is beginning to outline plans for a presidential library in Delaware.

White House Spokesperson Andrew Bates emphasized that the president is focusing his energy on delivering results for American families rather than dwelling on past electoral outcomes. Bates noted Biden's respect for Harris’s campaign efforts and reiterated the strong partnership they maintain.

Furthermore, Biden has privately acknowledged moments of regret regarding his presidency, particularly about appointing Merrick Garland as attorney general and his response to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. He has expressed feelings of having “screwed up” during his debate with Trump, though he does not regret participating in the electoral process.