US President Joe Biden on Tuesday voiced confidence that he could beat former US president Donald Trump in a 2024 rematch — even as he said that the country could sink back into recession under his leadership.
The 79-year-old Democrat was asked if he would be announcing a run for a second term after November’s midterm elections, and if Trump would be a factor in his decision.
“I believe I can beat Donald Trump again,” Biden said, although he stopped short of confirming another tilt at the Oval Office in 2024.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Biden defeated Trump in the state-by-state “electoral college” and the popular vote in 2020.
Biden told reporters at a NATO summit in March that he would be happy for Trump to be his opponent again.
Biden’s popularity has taken a hit in the past year amid soaring inflation, rising violent crime in cities and a seemingly intractable migrant crisis at the southern border.
However, his approval ratings still outrank the numbers seen in polling for Trump, who on regular occasions mocks Biden.
CNN asked Biden what he would tell voters who consider him too old for re-election.
“Name me a president in recent history that’s gotten as much done as I have in the first two years. Not a joke. You may not like what I got done, but the vast majority of the American people do like what I got done,” Biden said. “And so ... it’s a matter of, can you do the job? And I believe I can do the job.”
In a wide-ranging interview, Biden was asked about fears for the economy amid gloomy growth projections.
Biden downplayed the likelihood of a recession, but said that a “slight” downturn is possible.
“I don’t think there will be a recession. If it is, it’ll be a very slight recession. That is, we’ll move down slightly,” he said.
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