Former President Biden Misstates Harris' Campaign Timeline on 'The View,' Cites Sexism and Racism in Her Election Loss

In an interview on ABC’s 'The View,' former President Joe Biden misstated the campaign timeline for Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming she had 'six full months' to campaign after his July 21, 2024, withdrawal, though she had less than four months until the November 5 election. Biden attributed Harris' loss to Donald Trump partly to sexism and racism, while defending her qualifications and their administration's achievements. He reiterated his decision to exit the race to avoid dividing the Democratic Party and expressed confidence he would have won if he had stayed.

Biden Misstates Campaign Timeline

In response to a question from co-host Sunny Hostin about whether his late exit from the race hampered Harris’ campaign, Biden said, “I say, number one, that there were still six full months.” However, the actual time between Biden’s withdrawal on July 21, 2024, and the general election on November 5 was approximately three and a half months.

Biden’s comment appeared to conflate the time remaining in his presidential term, which ended on January 20, 2025, with the time Harris had to campaign. The misstatement raised questions about whether Biden misunderstood the question or simply misspoke. Regardless, the discrepancy highlighted the compressed timeline Harris faced in mounting a national campaign after Biden’s departure from the race.

Defending Harris and Their Administration

Despite the misstatement, Biden spoke positively about Harris’ role in their administration and her qualifications to lead. “She was in every aspect, every decision I made. Every decision we made,” he said. “She was part of every success we had.”

Biden touted the administration’s legislative achievements, including the Recovery Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, and emphasized their economic record. “We created more jobs in one term than any president has in American history,” he said. “We had a very successful effort to change the direction of the country and we did, and she was every single part of that.”

He also rejected claims that he had advised Harris to avoid distancing herself from his administration during her campaign. “I did not advise her to say that,” Biden said, referring to Harris’ October 2024 comment on “The View” that she wouldn’t have done anything differently from the Biden administration. That remark was widely criticized as a missed opportunity to define her own platform.

Attribution of Harris’ Loss to Sexism and Racism

Biden said he was “not surprised” by Harris’ loss in the 2024 election, attributing it in part to the challenges she faced as a woman of color. “They went the sexist route,” he said, referring to critics who questioned whether a woman—particularly a woman of mixed race—could lead the country.

“She was qualified to be president of the United States of America,” Biden said, but added that the Trump campaign had “fixated on her race and gender,” which he believes contributed to her defeat. He also noted a significant drop in voter turnout compared to 2020, saying, “A lot of people didn’t show up,” referencing a 3 million voter decrease.

Biden’s comments echoed sentiments he has expressed in the past about the role of identity in American politics, but they also sparked renewed debate within the Democratic Party about the factors behind Harris’ loss.

Biden Reflects on His Decision to Step Aside

Biden reiterated that his decision to leave the race was motivated by a desire to avoid dividing the Democratic Party. “I think that the only reason I got out of the race was because I didn’t want to have a divided Democratic Party,” he said. “I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interest, my personal interest.”

He also expressed confidence that he would have won had he stayed in the race, noting that Trump received 7 million fewer votes in 2024 than in 2020. “I wasn’t surprised [Harris] lost,” Biden said. “But I think I would’ve won.”

Jill Biden and the Aftermath of the Debate

The interview also featured former First Lady Jill Biden, who recounted the night of Biden’s poor debate performance in June 2024, which many believe contributed to his decision to step aside. “Joe looked at me, and he said, ‘Well, I screwed up,’” she recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, you did, Joe, but we have hundreds of people waiting for us. Put your shoulders back, walk out there, be who you are.’”

Biden acknowledged the debate was a “terrible night” and attributed it to being sick, though he admitted that was “no excuse.” He said he still believed he was the best person to defeat Trump but ultimately chose to step down for the good of the party.

Ongoing Relationship with Harris

Despite the election loss and the challenges of the campaign, Biden emphasized that he and Harris remain close. He said they had spoken as recently as the day before the interview and that he continues to offer her guidance. “She’s got a difficult decision to make about what she’s going to do. I hope she stays engaged,” he said, though he declined to share specific advice.

Biden also dismissed reports that he had created a protective “cocoon” around himself during his presidency, with Jill Biden adding, “You saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding somewhere.”

Looking Ahead

As the Democratic Party looks to the future, Biden said he is in the midst of self-reflection and writing a book. “We’re getting squared away trying to figure out what the most significant and consequential role I can play, consistent with what I’ve done in the past,” he said.

While Biden has largely stepped back from national politics since leaving office, his comments on “The View” suggest he remains engaged in the party’s direction and in Harris’ political future. However, his remarks also reignited internal debates about the 2024 campaign, the timing of his withdrawal, and the role of identity in American electoral politics.

References

• Biden stumbles over question about Harris' timetable to win after he dropped out of race
• Biden stumbles over question about Harris' timetable to win after he dropped out of race
• Joe Biden Sticks the Knife Into Kamala Harris Over Election Loss on ‘The View’
• Biden touts 'close' relationship with Harris, but 'not surprised' by her election loss
• Joe Biden blames Kamala Harris’ loss on sexism and racism, rejects age concerns
• ‘The View’: Joe Biden “Wasn’t Surprised” That Kamala Harris Lost To Trump, Says He Would’ve Won If He Stayed In The Race