The hosts of ABC’s “The View” gave new meaning to the word “fawning” when President Joe Biden joined their table for a Wednesday interview — his first since his Vice President Kamala Harris, now his party’s presidential candidate, squared off with former President Donald Trump on the debate stage.
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg announced the president’s arrival, referring to Biden as one of the “most substantial presidents” in recent history and claiming that he had led Americans “out of the dark.”
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Whoopi Goldberg introduces Biden by proclaiming he “stepped up to lead us out of the dark” and that he’s “the most substantial presidents of the past half century.” pic.twitter.com/1fuGnEJgcT
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) September 25, 2024
“After 50 years of proud public service, President Joe Biden stepped up to lead us out of the dark,” she said. “A very divisive era, and became one of the most substantial presidents of the past half-century. We are beyond honored to welcome the 46th President of the United States to our table, President Joe Biden.”
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Biden’s first question framed him as a hero, with co-host Sara Haines claiming that he’d been “putting his country first ahead of any personal ambition” when he stepped back from the 2024 race and endorsed Harris. She made no attempt to question him about failed policies, rampant inflation, or stubbornly high prices — but instead wondered whether he was “at peace” with the decision to end his political career.
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Biden notes he said he’d be a transitional president, but claims he was so busy being successful that he forgot not to run again:
“We were having so much success in getting things done… I found myself having used more time than I would have ordinarily to pass that torch.” pic.twitter.com/hlmo2nxHWQ— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) September 25, 2024
Biden suggested that he never intended to stay president after that first “transitional” term, but had been so busy being a “successful” president that he didn’t realize time was running short to “pass the torch.”
“We were having so much success in getting things done,” he said. “I found myself having used more time than I would have ordinarily to pass that torch.”
By most accounts, Biden had to be forced out of the 2024 presidential campaign after a disastrous debate against Trump and a series of interviews and public appearances forced his party to admit that his cognitive decline was obvious.
