Biden says he could have won reelection, but questions stamina at 86

President Joe Biden noted that, although he believes he could have won a second term, he is uncertain if he had had the stamina to complete another four years in the Oval Office.

"So far, so good, but who knows what I'm going to be when I'm 86 years old," he remarked, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

As he sat in the historic Resolute desk, with a fire crackling in the background and a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt looming above the mantle, Biden seemed intent on shaping his legacy as he nears the end of his presidency. He shared that, in his final days, he was contemplating issuing pre-emptive pardons for high-profile figures who might be targeted by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Biden mentioned that individuals like former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney and former senior health official Dr. Anthony Fauci were on his radar, as both have faced threats of investigation and prosecution.

"I tried to make clear that there was no need, and it was counterintuitive for his interest to go back and try to settle scores," Biden said of his meeting with Trump a week after the November election, where he urged Trump not to pursue retribution against those who had criticized him, including Cheney, who helped lead efforts to impeach him.

When asked how Trump responded to his advice, Biden said, "He didn’t say, 'No, I’m going to …' You know. He didn’t reinforce it. He just basically listened."

The president further revealed that his decision on pardons would depend, in part, on the individuals Trump nominates for key positions. Among Trump’s choices are former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi as nominee for head of the Justice Department and loyalist Kash Patel for FBI director.

Biden’s presidency has spanned a historic journey, from his early days as a 28-year-old county council member in Delaware to 35 years in the US Senate, eight years as vice president, and four as president.

As he prepares to leave office, Biden acknowledged the magnitude of the moment. "It is a pretty historic time, isn’t it?" he said, his trademark grin flashing. "I mean, who would’ve − as my brother kids − who would’ve thunk it?"

By Aghakazim Guliyev