Former President Donald Trump has voiced his opinion that President Joe Biden will continue his bid for reelection in 2024 due to his “ego.” Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Trump suggested that Biden’s pride will prevent him from stepping down despite internal party pressures.
“It looks to me like he may very well stay in,” Trump remarked. “He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit.” Trump also implied that First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden are significant influences on the president’s decision to stay in the race. “I noticed she really seems to be having a good time and I’m hearing that Hunter is calling the shots. So this isn’t necessarily a very positive thing for our country. But I think he, you know, might very well stay in.”
Hunter Biden’s involvement in White House activities, including his presence during the president’s recent address on the Supreme Court’s immunity decision, was highlighted by Trump as a factor in the president’s decision-making process.
Amid criticism of Biden’s mental acuity and performance in a recent debate, Trump argued that the president is unlikely to step aside voluntarily. “Nobody wants to give [the presidency] up that way,” he said. If Biden does decide to withdraw, Trump predicted, he will “feel badly about himself for a long time.”
Trump asserted that his campaign is ready to face Biden but took the opportunity to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris, who could potentially replace Biden. He argued, “She hasn’t done a good job on a lot of things.”
Trump expressed concerns about the current administration’s direction, suggesting that Biden is not fully in control. “We’re heading into World War III, in my opinion, with this man semi-running things because he’s not running things,” Trump stated. “The people that surround the Oval Office, the people that surround the Resolute Desk, that beautiful Resolute Desk, they’re really running things in Washington.”
Reflecting on the recent debate, Trump described Biden’s performance as lacking clarity. “They weren’t even answers. They were just words put together, they had no meaning or sense,” he said.
The Biden campaign responded to Trump’s interview by dismissing his remarks as “low energy.” Campaign spokesman James Singer criticized Trump’s record and reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to the race. “He is still a habitual liar, still a 34-time convicted criminal, still running on his Project 2025 agenda to destroy America, make himself a dictator on day one, rip away our rights, and raise costs on the middle class to give tax cuts to the wealthy and price-gouging corporations — and most importantly, still going to lose this November to Joe Biden.”
As the Republican National Convention approaches, Trump indicated that he has not yet made a final decision on his vice presidential nominee but hopes to announce it during the convention. “I think everybody’s going to be very, very happy,” he added.