WASHINGTON — It was President Joe Biden’s first public appearance since he dropped out of the raceand the applause for him from the packed auditorium in Austin, Texas, continued. He put his hand over his heart in thanks, looked down and, for a brief moment, took it all in.
Monday’s standing ovation was certainly not for the subject of his speech, but for what came before it: Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 race and endorse his vice president.
Not that it’s been easy for him. Ten days after ending his reelection campaign, Biden is still trying to process the political whiplash he — and the country — have experienced.
Privately, the Democratic president is angry at those who orchestrated the abrupt end of his 50-year political career and is processing a mix of emotions — bitterness and regret among them, but also relief that he won’t have to run a grueling race against Republican Donald Trump. Biden also won’t have to face the risk of what his potential loss could have done to his legacy and the country.
At the same time, the Democratic Party quick hug from Vice President Kamala Harris because Biden’s replacement has inspired pride in the party’s rapid consolidation thanks to his encouragement — and also an unwelcome reminder of his rapid political irrelevance.
Biden, to borrow a phrase popularized by Harris, is grappling with the question of what will no longer be. He is burdened by the way his political future ended.
This story is based on interviews with eight Biden aides and allies, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations.
Biden never wanted to step aside. He was slowly pushed toward the door by a growing chorus of Democrats. Eventually, he put aside his personal ambitions for the sake of party unity. It was hailed as a stunning act of selflessness, and he was widely praised. But that doesn’t mean he’s okay with it.
“President Biden has goodwill for everyone involved, whatever their views — and a deep respect for the values we share,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Since his fateful tweet withdrawing from the race and his White House speech on the issue, the president has been somewhat of a downsizer. Reminders of his declining relevance have manifested in subtle and obvious ways.
The extensive travel schedule Biden implemented to save his campaign after his devastating debate with Trump is no more. In its place are policy briefings — often behind closed doors — meant to show Biden is still working through his lame duck era.
Biden has told aides that he plans to review the tape of his tenure and has directed them to find additional actions he can take by Jan. 20, 2025, to secure his legacy. But what those actions might be is still a work in progress.
Spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Biden and the White House are still “recalibrating” after his decision.
“We’re trying to figure out what the next six months are going to look like,” she said. “Give us a little nudge.”
Even the president’s regular lunches with Harris on Wednesdays have taken on a new dimension as the power balance in their relationship has shifted.
Harris, who is days away from becoming the official Democratic nominee, has taken on a more visible role as Biden has stepped back. On Tuesday, she spoke from the Atlanta tarmac about Israel’s apparent killing of a top Hezbollah militant before the White House had issued a statement.
Enthusiasm for Harris already far exceeds what Biden could muster for this campaign. Thousands of people showed up for a raucous rally for the vice president in Georgia on Tuesday night. About 8 in 10 Democrats say they would be somewhat or very satisfied if Harris were the Democratic presidential nominee, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Biden will no longer deliver the keynote address on the closing night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Instead, he is expected to speak on the lesser-regarded first night. One plan being discussed is for him to watch from the stands as Harris formally accepts the party’s nomination on Thursday.
Should Harris win — and Biden knows that history will judge him in part by how she fares against Trump — the satisfaction of selecting and positioning his vice president for victory and ensuring a graceful end to his time in public service could well be the deciding factor.
Biden aides and allies say he’s pleased with the way his former campaign rallied to Harris’ support after he handed her the keys, and the way Democrats — even those who abandoned him — rushed to embrace her. But he’s also had little patience for the plaudits of those who pushed for him to go and now praise his decision to step aside, aides and allies said. And he’s struggled to contain the “what ifs” — never knowing for sure whether he could have pulled off one last victory.
“President Biden values the work of all members of the diverse coalition working to defeat Donald Trump and the threat he poses to democracy,” Biden’s personal spokesman TJ Ducklo said. “He is focused on building as much support as possible for Vice President Harris and is pleased by the clear enthusiasm she has received thus far.”
Outwardly, Biden has tried to remain magnanimous.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the first Democratic lawmaker to call on Biden to resign, was invited to welcome the president to the platform in Austin on Monday and described to reporters a cordial conversation with Biden.
“I think he made a great sacrifice,” Doggett told KVUE in Austin as he recounted their conversation. “And the country will be better for it. And Biden said, ‘Thank you for asking me to do this.’”
Still, Biden’s advisers expressed concern about how Biden’s lingering frustrations might surface.
Some pointed to his comments in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when a reporter asked Biden about his legacy on LGBTQ Americans. The president referred back to his 2011 comments supporting same-sex marriage, which surprised then-President Barack Obama. It came across as a subtle dig at the former president, who has been among those working behind the scenes in recent weeks to push Biden out of office.
“Well, I’m really proud of my position,” Biden said. “I was the first man to come out in favor of gay marriage. Remember that little problem with the Obama administration?”
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Long message from Austin, Texas.