{
  "id": 19833013,
  "title": "Biden: I Was Right to Seek Reelection",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/biden-i-was-right-to-seek-reelection",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-13T16:12:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/11/joe-biden-memoir-trump/689346/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Joe Biden holds a cherished belief passed down through generations, most often from his mother: \"Never bow; never bend; never kneel; never yield.\" This principle is woven throughout his 500-page memoir, recounting his four years as president, his decision to seek reelection, and the challenging aftermath. Biden acknowledges the skepticism about his age, ambition, and self-interest that some harbored towards his reelection bid. However, he maintains that he was well aware of his limitations and continually assessed his ability to fulfill his duties. Biden adamantly states that he was correct in choosing to run for a second term, and he regrets nothing. He firmly believes that he retained the backing of the average voter, despite party leaders urging him to step aside. To argue that his debate performance should not have disqualified him, Biden cites President Barack Obama's \"terrible\" performance in the 2012 debate and how his vice president effectively mitigated the damage. While other works have explored similar topics, Biden's memoir, \"Promise Me, America,\" is the most comprehensive source of his personal perspective on his presidency. One particularly enlightening section appears at the end of the book, where Biden presents his justification for running, echoing Trump's rhetoric, \"I alone can fix it.\" Despite acknowledging the criticism that followed his decision, Biden firmly asserts that he answered his own questions - physically, he could handle the job; he still desired to serve and had never considered anyone else for the role. However, he also implies that his decision to run was driven by a sense of duty rather than selfish ambition. Although Biden openly coveted the presidency for much of his life, he insists that he would have been content with a single term. The book highlights the sweeping legislation Biden championed during his term, including the victory against Trump in the 2020 election. The first half of the memoir serves as a reminder of his significant legislative achievements. Nevertheless, the latter part of the book raises questions about how Biden's decisions may have inadvertently facilitated Trump's return to political power. It is noteworthy that this book is released during a period of Democratic optimism, yet it serves as a stark reminder of the bitter internal divisions within the party. Furthermore, it underscores Biden's stubbornness and his reluctance to acknowledge his age and cognitive decline as reasons for not seeking reelection. Biden shares two instances from 2023 that convinced him he could run again. The first was his State of the Union address, which received \"universal, enthusiastic support from my fellow Democrats.\" The second was his unannounced visit to Kyiv, a risky move into a war zone, but one that Biden claims addressed concerns about his physical vitality and cognitive decline.",
  "summary": "In his new memoir, the 46th president is pugnacious, unrepentant, and unreflective.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}