NYT Columnist David Brooks Advises Biden to Avoid Partisan Politics Post-2024 Election
New York Times columnist David Brooks advised former President Joe Biden to adopt a post-political role after the 2024 election, suggesting he avoid reentering partisan politics. On PBS NewsHour, Brooks recommended Biden focus on a dignified post-presidency, similar to Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Biden's recent media appearances, where he defended his record and addressed Kamala Harris' electoral loss, have sparked debate over his legacy. Brooks criticized Biden's claims about Harris' defeat and his cognitive health, suggesting Biden's media tour was more about personal vindication than strategy.
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05/11 22:25
NYT Columnist David Brooks Advises Biden to Avoid Partisan Politics Post-2024 Election
New York Times columnist David Brooks advised former President Joe Biden to adopt a post-political role after the 2024 election, suggesting he avoid reentering partisan politics. On PBS NewsHour, Brooks recommended Biden focus on a dignified post-presidency, similar to Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. Biden's recent media appearances, where he defended his record and addressed Kamala Harris' electoral loss, have sparked debate over his legacy. Brooks criticized Biden's claims about Harris' defeat and his cognitive health, suggesting Biden's media tour was more about personal vindication than strategy.
Brooks: “Be Post-Political”
Speaking on PBS NewsHour, David Brooks reflected on Biden’s recent media appearances and offered a clear recommendation: step back from political combat. “If Joe Biden ever called me to ask what he should do with his post-presidency,” Brooks said, “I would tell the former president to be post-political, rise above it and don't get back in, don't try to fight old battles.”
Brooks, a longtime admirer of Biden, emphasized the value of a dignified post-presidency, citing examples like Jimmy Carter’s humanitarian work and George W. Bush’s artistic pursuits. “What we want from our presidents is not more politics,” Brooks said. “We want somebody who can speak to us from a higher level, not in the partisan mud.”
Biden’s Media Return and Harris’ Defeat
Biden’s return to the public eye came through interviews with the BBC and ABC’s “The View,” where he addressed the outcome of the 2024 election and defended his administration’s legacy. In particular, he attributed Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in the presidential race to systemic racism and sexism, arguing that she faced unfair scrutiny and bias.
However, Brooks challenged that assessment. “I think he's empirically wrong about that,” he said. “Kamala Harris ran about as good a campaign as she could. She was saddled with the Biden legacy, an unpopular presidency. Biden would have been saddled by that legacy in addition to his age. So, you take those two factors, it's hard to see how he wins.”
Biden, in his interview, pushed back on claims that Harris lacked sufficient time to mount a strong campaign, noting that she had six months, compared to the 90 days he had in 2020. Still, Brooks suggested that Biden’s insistence on defending his record and Harris’ campaign may reflect a deeper frustration. “He's a proud man with a chip on his shoulder who feels himself under attack, frankly, in the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and so he wants to stand up for himself,” Brooks said.
Addressing Cognitive Health Allegations
Biden also used his media appearances to confront allegations of cognitive decline, which have been detailed in several recent books chronicling the 2024 election. When pressed by “The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, Biden dismissed the claims as unfounded. “They are wrong,” he said. “There’s nothing to sustain that.”
He went on to defend his record, citing the challenges his administration faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. “We went to work, and we got it done,” Biden said, before trailing off mid-sentence.
Jill Biden, the former first lady, also came to her husband’s defense. “The people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us,” she said. “They didn’t see how hard Joe worked every single day. He’d get up, put in a full day, and then at night he was still on the phone, reading his briefings, working with staff. It was nonstop.”
Strategic Missteps or Personal Vindication?
Brooks questioned the strategic value of Biden’s claim that he could have beaten Donald Trump in 2024, especially in light of Harris’ defeat. “It’s hard to see how he wins,” Brooks reiterated, pointing to the dual burdens of an unpopular presidency and Biden’s advanced age.
The columnist’s remarks suggest that Biden’s post-election media tour may have been more about personal vindication than political strategy. While Biden’s desire to defend his legacy is understandable, Brooks argued that the former president would better serve the country by stepping away from the political arena and embracing a more unifying, nonpartisan role.
A Call for Dignified Exit
Brooks’ commentary reflects a broader sentiment among some political observers who believe that former presidents should transition into roles that transcend partisan politics. By invoking the examples of Carter and Bush, Brooks painted a vision of post-presidency that emphasizes service, reflection, and national healing over continued political engagement.
Whether Biden will heed that advice remains to be seen. For now, his recent media appearances suggest a man still deeply engaged in the political discourse, eager to defend his record and shape the narrative around his presidency and its aftermath.
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