In exclusive BBC interview, Biden defends his record, warns of global instability, and calls Trump’s foreign policy “modern-day appeasement”
In his first in-depth interview since leaving the White House in January, former U.S. President Joe Biden sat down with the BBC to reflect on his time in office, his decision to step aside in the 2024 election, and the global threats he believes are rising under President Donald Trump.
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Biden said he had “few regrets” about his political career, which spanned decades in the Senate, two terms as vice president, and a single term as president. However, he voiced grave concern about the current direction of American leadership and global stability as Europe commemorates 80 years since the end of World War Two.
“Things moved so quickly that it made it difficult to walk away,” Biden said of his re-election bid, which he ended just four months before the November 2024 vote. “It was the right decision… just a difficult decision.”
Election withdrawal: ‘I don’t think it would have mattered’
The former president was candid about the controversy surrounding his delayed withdrawal from the 2024 race. After a damaging debate in July, Biden bowed out, paving the way for Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
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“I don’t think it would have mattered if I had abandoned my re-election ambitions earlier,” he said, emphasizing that Harris was a “good candidate” and “fully funded.”
Despite pressure from within his party, Biden stood by the Democratic achievements under his administration — including historic investments in infrastructure, climate action, and social spending. “I was so successful on our agenda,” he said, citing the better-than-expected Democratic performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
A warning against ‘Modern-day appeasement’
Much of Biden’s post-presidency concern centers on foreign policy — especially regarding the war in Ukraine. He fiercely criticised the Trump administration’s position on negotiations that would see Ukraine cede territory to Russia in exchange for peace.
“It is modern-day appeasement,” Biden declared, comparing the idea to 1930s efforts to placate Adolf Hitler. “I don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to take significant portions of land that aren’t his, that that’s going to satisfy him.”
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He warned that some NATO nations bordering Russia might be pressured into “accommodations” with Vladimir Putin if Ukraine is forced to relinquish territory — a move Biden sees as dangerous and destabilising.
Defending NATO and America’s global role
One of Biden’s most significant foreign policy accomplishments was the expansion of NATO to include Finland and Sweden — a move he sees as crucial in the face of growing authoritarian threats.
Now, he says Trump is undermining those alliances and threatening to break NATO’s mutual defense framework.
“The thought of NATO breaking apart is a grave concern,” Biden said. “It would change the modern history of the world.”
Biden stressed that American global leadership remains vital. “We are not the essential nation, but we are the only nation in position to bring people together to lead the world.”
Trump’s first 100 Days: ‘I don’t see anything that’s triumphant’
When asked to assess President Trump’s early performance since returning to the White House in January, Biden pulled no punches.
“I don’t see anything that’s triumphant,” he said of Trump’s sweeping executive actions and attempts to expand presidential power. Biden pointed to a growing unease even among Republicans. “I don’t think he’ll succeed in that effort,” he said, referencing Republican pushback against Trump’s more authoritarian instincts.
Biden reiterated a belief he has held for years — that the GOP would eventually “wake up” to what Trump represents. “There’s strength in alliances,” he said. “It saves us money overall.”
Oval office clashes and ‘Un-American’ rhetoric
Tensions between the Trump administration and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached a boiling point earlier this year during a heated televised meeting in the Oval Office. Biden condemned the exchange as “sort of beneath America.”
He also lambasted Trump’s comments suggesting that the U.S. reclaim the Panama Canal, acquire Greenland, or even make Canada the 51st state. “What the hell’s going on here?” Biden asked rhetorically. “What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are.”
Support for Ukraine: ‘We gave them everything’
Biden defended his administration’s military and economic support for Ukraine, saying the U.S. provided Kyiv with “everything they needed to provide for their independence.” While some critics say the aid came too slowly or with too many restrictions, Biden said the U.S. was ready to “respond more aggressively” if Russia escalated further.
He also dismissed current Republican calls for Ukraine to accept a territorial compromise. JD Vance, vice president and Pete Hegseth defence secretary, have advocated a peace plan that would “freeze” current battle lines — a proposal Biden sees as another form of appeasement.
Looking ahead with caution
While Biden said history would ultimately judge his successor, he expressed deep concern that America’s leadership is in jeopardy, not only at home but across the globe.
“Europe is going to lose confidence in the certainty of America and the leadership of America,” Biden warned. “They’re wondering, ‘Can I rely on the United States?’”
For now, the former president remains a voice of caution in an increasingly divided political landscape, warning that decisions made in Washington could echo across the globe for generations to come.
