Originally appeared on E! Online
President Joe Biden has no regrets.
In his first interview since exiting the White House in January, the 82-year-old addressed the timing of his exit from the 2024 presidential race, which saw Vice President Kamala Harris step in to run against President Donald Trump.
Looking back, Biden, who exited the race last July, doesn’t think passing the baton any earlier would have made a difference in the outcome, which saw Trump ultimately defeat Harris.
“I don’t think it would have mattered,” he said during an interview with the BBC shared May 7. “We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she was fully funded. And what happened was, what we had set out to do—no one thought we could do it. And we’d become so successful, with our agenda it was hard to say, now I’m going to stop now.”
Biden continued, “I meant what I said when I started, that I’m prepared to hand this to the next generation, the transition government. But things moved so quickly, that it made it difficult to walk away. And it was a hard decision.”
However hard, though, the politician doesn’t regret his decision to drop out of the race. “I think it was the right decision,” he said. “I think that—well it was just a difficult decision.”
The 46th President’s comments about dropping out of the race come almost a year after he announced his exit, with Harris to ultimately stepping in take his place with running mate Tim Walz.
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However hard, though, the politician doesn’t regret his decision to drop out of the race. “I think it was the right decision,” he said. “I think that—well it was just a difficult decision.”
The 46th President’s comments about dropping out of the race come almost a year after he announced his exit, with Harris to ultimately stepping in take his place with running mate Tim Walz.
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a statement shared to social media in July. “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
In a follow-up message, the Democrat urged his party to choose Harris as his replacement.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he shared. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made.”
Cameron Smith
But despite losing to Trump and running mate JD Vance, Harris expressed her hopes for the future.
“My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve,” Harris said in her November concession speech. “The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
And while the 60-year-old has kept a low profile in the months since Trump’s inauguration, Harris has begun stepping back into the spotlight. This includes a surprise appearance at the Met Gala May 5 with husband Doug Emhoff to celebrate the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.
To see more of the celebrities at the event, keep reading.
Cardi B
The rapper debuted a new hair style and eye color while walking the red carpet in a jaw-dropping green Burberry get-up.
Kendall Jenner
Keeping up with the 818 Tequila founder’s style is a near impossible feat. The 29-year-old turned heads yet again at the annual fashion event in a cleavage-bearing Torishéju skirt suit.
Kim Kardashian
The SKIMS founder made head-to-toe leather look chic as ever with her Chrome Hearts ensemble for the event.
Zendaya
The Euphoria stars knows chic sometimes means simple, opting to wear a perfectly fitted all-white pant suit designed by Louis Vuitton and oversized white hat.
Colman Domingo
The Sing-Sing actor turned heads not one but twice on the Met steps this year. For his first look, the co-chair made jaws drop in a floor-length bedazzled cobalt blue cape by Valentino.
Colman Domingo
And for his second show-stopping look, the Oscar nominee played with mixing patterns in a gray-and-white suit, also by Valentino.
Jaden Smith
The Karate Kid star knows how to get people talking, and this year’s Met Gala was no different. The 26-year-old had everyone doing double takes with his plaid cape and all-black suit combo.
Pamela Anderson
The Baywatch alum debuted a gorgeous bob to go with her sparkly long-sleeved gown designed by Tory Burch.
LaKeith Stanfield
The Get Out actor was a vision in black and white with his floor-length white suit coat and matching top hat.
Suki Waterhouse
The singer showed off her style moves at the annual fashion event, rocking a matching suit vest and maxi skirt ensemble with super-high coordinating pumps.
Janelle Monáe
The multi-faceted artist went totally Met-a at this year’s gala, wearing a jacket with a suit printed on it, as well as another suit underneath.
Madonna
We’re still hung up on the “Material Girl” singer’s all-white satin Tom Ford suit. Not to mention, her cigar accessory was a perfect touch.
Emma Chamberlain
The Chamberlain Coffee founder rocked her riskiest look yet, donning a custom Courrèges gown made out of pinstripe suit material, vintage glasses from eBay and Stuart Weitzman heels.
Bad Bunny
The “DÁKITI” artist carried his Met Gala look—literally—by pairing his custom Prada suit with an oversized leather duffle bag.
Sabrina Carpenter
This singer has taste. The 25-year-old looked stunning on the red carpet in a burgundy pantsless look made custom by Louis Vuitton.
Teyana Taylor
The “Gonna Love Me” singer had everyone buzzing with her custom Ruth E. Carter ensemble that featured pinstripe suit pants and a gorgeous velvet cape with epic shoulder pads.
Gigi Hadid
The supermodel made the whole place shimmer in a custom liquid gold Miu Miu gown.
Jennie Kim
The Blackpink singer took the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme to heart, wearing fitted black suit pants and a matching off-the-shoulder top with a massive train.
Diana Ross
She’s coming out! No one could miss the “Upside Down” singer’s show-stopping entrance at this year’s gala, as the train of her custom look co-designed by Ross, her son Evan Ross and designer Ugo Mozie covered the entire Metropolitan Museum of Art steps.
Pusha T
The rapper looked dapper in a deep red Louis Vuitton suit featuring silver glitter detailing on the shoulders.
Maya Hawke
There’s nothing strange about the actress arriving dressed to impress at the annual gala, where she wore a custom Prada strapless gown with a sheer beige cape over top.
Coco Jones
The Grammy winner brought the glitz and the glam in a cream-colored Manish Malhotra ensemble and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Lewis Hamilton
As a co-chair for the event, the F1 driver certainly felt the pressure to step out in style—and he delivered in a custom off-white Wales Bonner suit.
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