In what is expected to be his final Oval Office interview, President Joe Biden shared candid insights about his biggest regrets, his deepest fears, and his most accurate prediction during a conversation with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell. The 82-year-old president, whose term concludes on Monday, leaves office with low approval ratings and after stepping back from a reelection bid that saw Vice President Kamala Harris defeated by former rival, President-elect Donald Trump.

 

Throughout the interview, Biden made several notable missteps. Discussing the presence of North Korean forces in Russia’s war in Ukraine, he initially referred to them as Chinese before correcting himself. Reflecting on his 2021 meeting with Vladimir Putin, he mistakenly said Sweden before clarifying that the meeting took place in Switzerland, a pivotal dialogue eight months before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, while recounting the October 7 Hamas terror attack, Biden inadvertently referred to it as 9/11, a comparison he has drawn before to highlight the gravity of the incident.

 

When asked about this week’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Biden defended his administration’s approach amid criticism from progressive voices that labeled his policies as overly pro-Israel. He revealed details of a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Hamas’ attack on Israel. "When I went to Israel immediately after their attack on the—by Hamas, eight days later, whatever it was, and I told them we were going to help, I said: ‘But, Bibi, you can’t be carpet-bombing in these communities,’” Biden recounted.

 

The president shared Netanyahu’s retort, which drew historical parallels. "And he said to me: ‘Well, you did it. You carpet-bombed’—not his exact words—‘but you carpet-bombed Berlin. You dropped a nuclear weapon. You killed thousands of innocent people because you had to in order to win a war,’” Biden said. Acknowledging the argument’s legitimacy, Biden noted that Hamas militants were using tunnels beneath civilian buildings,

complicating Israel’s efforts to retaliate effectively. "Only way to get to them is to take out the places where they were under," he explained.

 

In response, Biden pointed out the evolution of global conflict protocols, referencing the establishment of the United Nations as a result of lessons learned from World War II. “That’s why we came up with the U.N.,” he said.

 

The interview offered a glimpse into the personal and political reflections of a president nearing the end of a tumultuous term, leaving behind a complex legacy shaped by global conflicts, domestic challenges, and moments of profound introspection.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-01-18

 

 

 

A senile dupe who has facilitated the 21st century's first major attempt at genocide and ethnic cleansing.

History will paint him black.

This makes what, 5 "Farewell's" so far? Go away already.

Is there a "best off" available, I don't want to waist 48 minutes of my life to listen to all this dribble. I ask because in the first two minutes he already said "it may sound stupid" two times. Yes it does. Thats the reason I just want to see the highlights.