President Biden has granted his first interview as president to a nationwide newspaper – USA As we speak on January 5, with simply two weeks to go earlier than his time period ends. Naturally, reporter Susan Web page was as mild as a member of the family. [Down to the alert-Biden photo.] It was syrupy-soft, or tender as a child butt.
That is how the newspaper story started:
WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden, each reflective and defensive as he mentioned his legacy, instructed USA TODAY he believes he may have received his reelection bid − however is not positive he would have had the vigor to finish 4 extra years within the Oval Workplace.
“Thus far, so good,” he stated. “However who is aware of what I will be after I’m 86 years previous?”
Thus far, so good???? Web page gently waited 9 paragraphs to return to that challenge: “Issues in regards to the age and acuity of America’s oldest president flared together with his faltering efficiency in a televised debate with Trump in June.”
This line was extra comical: “Biden warned that Trump risked upending the financial good instances if he enacts among the insurance policies he advocates.” Oh positive, the voters actually backed your tackle the “financial good instances.”
The identical gush got here within the print version. See this headline/picture combo:
“EXIT TONGUEBATH” https://t.co/5NtJmWc4xz
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) January 8, 2025
Web page tried to color Biden as “engaged and loquacious” throughout their time collectively:
By an interview that stretched for almost an hour, Biden was engaged and loquacious, although at instances he spoke so softly that it was troublesome to listen to him. On his desk have been index playing cards that appeared to have speaking factors and statistics, however he glanced at them solely as soon as, on the finish, as if to verify he had talked about the objects most necessary to him.
That is code for “thanks for the interview, I upheld my half to faux you are completely on high of it.”
Web page additionally let him make wild claims, akin to: “His lengthy expertise has been an asset in dealing with international affairs, Biden stated.” And there was this:
That the White Home agreed to this interview is an indication that, whereas Biden continues to be ready to command the world’s consideration, he needs to make the case that he has cast a sturdy and constructive legacy. The underlying message: The affect of his presidency can’t be pretty judged primarily by controversies over his well being, his on-again-off-again presidential bid and his determination to grant a sweeping pardon for his son.
“I hope that historical past says that I got here in and I had a plan tips on how to restore the economic system and reestablish America’s management on the earth,” Biden stated. “That was my hope. I imply, you recognize, who is aware of? And I hope it data that I did it with honesty and integrity, that I stated what was on my thoughts.”
That is the place the “honesty and integrity” headline gush oozed from.
And to wrap it up: “His largest disappointment, Biden stated, was his failure to successfully counter misinformation, together with that from Trump.” Which means Democrats didn’t win.
In an interview in regards to the interview, Web page described getting a cookie from Biden. She earned that. Beneath is a transcript of most of Web page’s questions, which establishes the candy gentleness [hit expand]:
It is a pure time to consider your legacy as you are getting ready to go away, and that’s in fact a really large subject. I needed to ask you, when historical past assesses your tenure right here, what do you assume will most endure?
When you consider your legacy, is there a component that you simply assume has been ignored? That is not getting the eye it deserves?
You discuss your financial successes on jobs and on progress on avoiding a recession which, lots of people thought that wasn’t attainable. However one motive that Donald Trump received in November was the help he managed to get from working class voters, voters with out a faculty schooling, voters who’ve been a part of the Democratic coalition, voters who you as Scranton Joe have lengthy recognized with. Why do you assume Democrats misplaced a lot of their help in November?
There’s many issues of your legacy been such large successes, however a part of the economic system that has proved I feel to be extra troublesome is inflation. And I ponder if you happen to assume you have been paid too little consideration early on to warnings about inflation with the American Rescue Plan or failed to acknowledge quickly sufficient how a lot this was affecting so many Individuals’ lives.
Are you involved that when Trump’s in workplace, he will attempt to reverse [Biden policies]?
Is there a single factor that does your biggest concern about what President-elect Trump will do when he is in workplace?
You have talked about these fairly important main items of laws and different issues that you’ve got completed. I ponder, is there a factor that is been essentially the most disappointing to you, the one factor that is been most disappointing that you’ve got been unable to do?
You stated one thing generic and one thing particular. So generically, the lack to fight mistruths. Was there one thing particular that you simply needed to say as nicely?
….Mr. President, your time period will not be over but. You are still doing issues on daily basis. A few of your supporters have inspired you to challenge preemptive pardons to folks like Liz Cheney and Anthony Fauci, who Trump has threatened to focus on. Will you do this?
Talking of pardons, each father or mother can perceive why you’d need to shield your son. Do you may have any issues that your pardon of Hunter units a precedent for future presidents? One which is perhaps open to abuse?
…’
PAGE: Three fast questions. You can reply them in a single phrase.
BIDEN: Certain.
PAGE: Do you imagine you could possibly have received in November?
BIDEN: It is presumptuous to say that, however I feel sure, based mostly on the polling that…
PAGE: Do you assume you’d’ve had the vigor to serve one other 4 years in workplace?
BIDEN: I do not know. That is why I assumed after I first introduced, speaking to Barack about it, I stated I assumed I used to be the particular person. I had no intention of working after Beau died – for actual, not a joke. After which when Trump was working once more for reelection, I actually thought I had the perfect probability of beating him. However I additionally wasn’t trying to be president after I was 85 years previous, 86 years previous. And so I did discuss passing the baton. However I do not know. Who the hell is aware of? Thus far, so good. However who is aware of what I will be after I’m 86 years previous?
