President Joe Biden spoke with CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa on Wednesday for his first interview since announcing he would no longer seek re-election to the presidency. The interview will be broadcast at “CBS News Sunday Morning” on Sunday, August 11 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Costa, co-author (with Bob Woodward) of “Peril,” which chronicled Mr. Biden’s decision to run in 2020, has extensively chronicled the Democrat’s political career and presidency. In recent months, Costa has traveled the campaign trail covering Mr. Biden, talk to the president about the power of organized labor and spoke to his followers in battleground states.
The one-on-one conversation, which took place at the White House this afternoon, covered the president’s decision, announced on July 21, to end his bid for a second term; his view of the country; and a range of other topics, including his reflections on American democracy.
He also discussed the threat posed by the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, who refused to accept his loss in 2020 and has questioned the legitimacy of the election results.
Asked if he was confident there would be a peaceful transfer of power in January 2025, Mr. Biden: “If Trump loses, I’m not sure at all. He means what he says. We don’t take him seriously. He means it, all about: ‘If we lose, it’s going to be a bloodbath, it’s got to be a steal choice’.
“Look at what they’re trying to do now in the local constituencies where people are counting the votes,” Mr. Biden, “or put people in place in states that they’re going to count the votes, right?”
Tune in for a first look tonight “America Decides”, CBS News’ 24/7 streaming network’s politics program, airs 5:00-6:00 PM ET on CBSNews.com/live and Paramount+.
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