WASHINGTON ― In an exclusive interview with YSL News, President Joe Biden shared his biggest concerns about Donald Trump’s upcoming term, discussed what he conveyed to the president-elect during their post-election conversation at the White House, and reflected on what might have happened if he had continued his campaign for 2024.

The interview, conducted by YSL News’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page in the Oval Office this past Sunday, marks Biden’s sole exit discussion with a print outlet before he vacates office in under two weeks.

Biden assumed the presidency four years ago, campaigning on the theme of “a battle for the soul of the nation” following Trump’s tenure. On January 20, he will attend Trump’s inauguration outside the Capitol, where his successor takes the oath of office, marking a significant return to the White House.

Here are seven key points from the interview:

Biden is confident he could have beaten Trump

Biden expressed his belief that he could have defeated Trump if he had remained in the race, although he was uncertain if he had the energy to serve another four years until the age of 86.

“It’s bold to claim that, but I do think so, looking at the polls,” the 82-year-old Biden stated when asked if he could have won the 2024 presidential election.

Biden exited the race in late July under pressure from senior party members after a poor debate performance that highlighted his difficulty in communicating effectively. Vice President Kamala Harris quickly consolidated support to secure the Democratic nomination.

It’s unclear which polling data Biden was referring to since he consistently lagged behind Trump in national and key state polls throughout the campaign. After his departure from the race, Harris quickly diminished Trump’s extensive polling leads, although she ultimately lost in all seven hotly contested swing states.

If Biden had remained a candidate and won, would he have been able to serve another full term?

“I don’t know,” Biden replied. “When Trump announced he was running again, I truly believed I was in the best position to beat him. But the idea of becoming president at 85 or 86 didn’t appeal to me. So I did consider passing the baton. Who can say? So far, things are good. But who knows what I’ll be like at 86?”

Biden advised Trump to avoid ‘settling scores’

Biden indicated that he cautioned Trump against the impulse to “settle scores” with his opponents, but he remains unsure if he will take the extraordinary step of preemptively pardoning those targeted by Trump, such as former Rep. Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The president detailed a meeting he held with Trump on November 13, just a week after Trump’s victory over Harris.

“I was very clear with Trump when he was elected. I welcomed him to the White House and spent two hours with him,” Biden recounted. “I tried to convey that it wasn’t necessary, and it would be detrimental to his interests to focus on settling old scores.”

Biden noted that Trump did not respond decisively to this suggestion.

“He didn’t explicitly say, ‘No, I won’t.’ or anything like that. He mostly just listened,” Biden explained.

Biden and his senior advisors have considered the possibility of granting preemptive pardons to individuals they suspect Trump may target for future investigations. However, the notion of pardoning people who have not yet been charged with crimes raises numerous legal issues that may discourage Biden from proceeding with such actions.

Biden mentions Trump’s approval of his record

During the same meeting with Trump, Biden shared a noteworthy detail – Trump reportedly praised some of Biden’s policies.

“He was quite complimentary about some economic measures I implemented,” Biden noted. “He mentioned that he felt I was leaving with a solid record.”

Biden did not specify the policies that Trump seemed to support. Earlier in the discussion, Biden highlighted his major initiatives that include historic infrastructure investments, a revival of clean-energy production, and advancements in the microchip industry to compete with China.

Trump might have been on his best behavior during the friendly meeting, as both leaders tried to show a smooth and peaceful transition of power despite their intense rivalry.

It’s worth noting that Trump has often criticized Biden’s policies, claiming they have harmed the nation. Trump’s election win was largely influenced by the public’s ongoing worries about economic issues and inflation.

Biden expresses hope that Hunter’s pardon won’t set a precedent

Biden conveyed his wish that the pardon granted to his son, Hunter Biden, does not create a guideline for future presidents, citing the specific details surrounding his son’s federal criminal issues.

“I certainly hope not,” Biden responded when asked if the pardon could lead to future misuse.

Initially, Biden had stated he would not grant a pardon to Hunter, but he later clarified that “two factors” prompted him to reconsider his stance.

Regarding Hunter’s tax fraud conviction, Biden highlighted that his son had reimbursed the owed taxes. Regarding the gun charges, he mentioned that “no one has ever been prosecuted” under the law that Hunter violated, which involved providing false information about his drug use when filling out a background check to purchase a firearm in 2018.

When he announced the pardon, Biden claimed it was also to protect Hunter from potential charges from Trump’s Justice Department in the future.

“He was dealing with a substance issue,” Biden said about his 54-year-old son. “And he has overcome it. He has been clean and sober for almost six years now.”

Biden’s biggest worry about a Trump second term

Biden has consistently labeled Trump a danger to democracy, but he recently shared a different concern—specifically, the fate of his signature economic and climate legislation—when discussing his fears regarding a potential second term for Trump.

“When it comes to the economy, my biggest worry is that he might try to, and might even succeed in, dismantling important parts of the climate law,” Biden stated, referring to the Inflation Reduction Act that he signed into law in 2022. “He could also find a way to reverse the regulations imposed on pharmaceutical companies.”

The Inflation Reduction Act allocated billions to encourage companies to ramp up the production of clean energy solutions, including solar panels and electric vehicles, with the goal of cutting carbon emissions by about 40 percent by 2030.

The law also allowed Medicare to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers to lower the costs of prescription medications for the first time.

Despite his apprehensions, Biden predicted that Trump would struggle to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act due to the popularity of the initiatives within Republican districts.

“I think he’ll find it challenging,” Biden remarked with a chuckle. “I won’t drop any names because I can’t confirm it, but I’ve heard there are conservative members of his own party in Congress who have already said, ‘Don’t obstruct the plan in my state. Don’t block this or that plan. They’ve committed $3 billion to build a factory here.'”

Biden concluded: “I’m not sure how he plans to eliminate these investments.”

Biden Reflects on Missed Opportunities for Recognition

Biden conveyed his dissatisfaction with the slow progress of projects stemming from his infrastructure, climate, and other legislative efforts. He also mentioned that he regretted not highlighting his administration’s achievements more effectively.

“I believe we would have been in a much better position if we had accelerated the launch of some of these projects,” Biden stated.

Biden acknowledged a gap between the long-term nature of certain projects and the immediate economic concerns faced by Americans.

“We passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. That’s great, right?” Biden remarked. “But it hasn’t made a quick impact on people’s daily lives. However, 66,000 projects have already been initiated, including billion-dollar bridges. These initiatives will lead to substantial job creation and economic growth, but they will take time to materialize.”

Biden noted he could have done more to inform Americans about government projects that benefit them. He contrasted this with Trump’s decision to place his name on stimulus checks during the early COVID-19 pandemic—a move Biden did not adopt with his own COVID-19 relief disbursements.

“I don’t think that Donald Trump has the same depth of knowledge on these matters as I do,” Biden commented. “But when we introduced the rescue plan, he made sure his name was on the first check sent to families, despite opposing the very measures he benefited from.”

Biden’s Vision for His Presidential Legacy

As he approaches the end of his four-year term and a lengthy political career, Biden expressed his desire for his presidency to be remembered positively in two key areas.

“I hope history will reflect that I entered office with a clear plan to revive the economy and reassert America’s role as a leader globally,” Biden stated, recalling his inauguration in January 2021 during a severe pandemic and challenging international relations. “That is my aspiration.”

“And I hope it will be noted that I executed this with honesty and integrity, openly expressing my thoughts,” he added.

Biden highlighted his efforts in foreign policy, emphasizing his work to strengthen alliances and advocating for ongoing U.S. leadership in global matters, especially as some Republicans lean towards isolationism.

“I believe America is urgently needed to take a leading role in the world,” Biden asserted. “Let me ask this—if we don’t lead, who will? It’s not just a cliché; our world is truly becoming more interconnected.”