Biden attributes Kamala's loss to sexism and racism.

Former President Joe Biden has claimed responsibility for Donald Trump's victory last fall, attributing Kamala Harris's defeat partially to sexism and racism. 

In a Thursday interview on ABC's "The View," the 82-year-old Democrat addressed the disappointing outlook for the Democrats in the 2024 elections, as well as concerns about his age and Trump's polarizing leadership. Biden, who left office in January, explained that he had deliberately kept a low profile in his public statements for over 100 days to allow the new Republican president to settle in, adhering to traditional etiquette following a transition of power. When discussing the last election, Biden expressed surprise at how much gender and race influenced the outcome. 
"They resorted to sexist arguments," he said regarding criticisms implying that "a woman couldn't lead the country, particularly one of mixed race." He added, "I was in charge, and he won, so I take responsibility." Since departing the White House, Biden has not been actively involved in national politics. He is not expected to play a leading role as the Democratic Party shifts toward a new generation of leaders. However, he acknowledged on Thursday that he remains in regular contact with Harris and has offered his insights regarding her future in politics. 

"She's facing a tough decision about her path forward. I hope she stays involved," Biden remarked, refraining from disclosing his specific advice. Biden dismissed concerns regarding his cognitive abilities, which were stirred by a poor debate performance last June, and he also chose not to criticize party leaders who privately urged him to withdraw from the campaign. "I stepped back from the race to avoid dividing the Democratic Party," he said, adding that while party members generally were not concerned about his age after the "terrible" debate, some in leadership and prominent donors were. This appearance was notably Biden's first joint interview with former First Lady Jill Biden since their time in Washington. She defended herself against accusations that she created a protective environment around her husband to shield him from scrutiny concerning his age. "It was very hurtful, especially from those we considered friends," she said, emphasizing, "I was with Joe continuously, and I did not create a cocoon around him. You saw him in the Oval Office and making speeches; he wasn't hiding." When the conversation shifted to Trump's performance in office, Biden did not hold back. "He's had the worst first 100 days of any president," he stated. The White House did not respond immediately to requests for comment. On his future plans, Biden hinted that he may not be done with politics, indicating he intends to stay involved in issues that matter to him, such as education and healthcare. 
"I've been doing this for 50 years, and I'm not about to stop now," he said, affirming his commitment to advocate for policies benefiting the American public. Despite his critiques of Trump, Biden underscored the necessity of bipartisanship and collaboration to achieve shared objectives. "We must find a way to unite as a country and move forward," he asserted. "Partisan politics cannot hinder our progress." Overall, Biden's interview on "The View" was a rare public appearance for the former president, who has largely remained out of the public eye since leaving office. His remarks about Trump's presidency and the upcoming 2024 election are likely to draw considerable attention in the days ahead.