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In his first sit-down interview<\/a> since dropping his 2024 campaign, President Joe Biden<\/strong> told CBS News reporter Robert Costa<\/strong> that he bowed out<\/a> because he feared being a distraction in the Democrats\u2019 efforts to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump<\/strong>. Their discussion, which aired on CBS Sunday Morning, touched on that infamous presidential debate<\/a>, Biden\u2019s plans for the rest of his campaign, and what another Trump presidency could look like.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough it\u2019s a great honor being president, I think I have an obligation to the country,\u201d Biden said. \u201cThe most important thing,\u201d he continued, is \u201cwe must, we must, we must defeat Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n The interview comes three weeks after Biden dropped out<\/a> and swiftly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris<\/strong>. What followed has been an expedited, energized whirlwind of a campaign for Harris and her newly minted VP pick, Minnesota governor Tim Walz<\/strong>. The Democrats revised ticket has shaken up<\/a> their opponents\u2019 strategy and thrown a wrench<\/a> into what, prior to Biden\u2019s decision<\/a>, appeared to be a coordinated campaign. Much of Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance<\/strong>\u2019s response has been filled with misogynistic<\/a> and racist<\/a> attacks<\/a> on Harris.<\/p>\n Following Biden\u2019s concerning debate performance<\/a> in late June, Democratic legislators from across the country began calling for the president to rethink his campaign. Some of Biden\u2019s closest allies, like former president Barack Obama<\/strong>, were getting remarkably worried<\/a>. One main concern was that a lackluster response at the polls for Biden could negatively impact<\/a> down-ballot races in tough competitions.<\/p>\n \u201cLook,\u201d Biden said during the CBS interview, \u201cI had a really, really bad day in that debate because I was sick. But I have no serious problem,\u201d adding at one point that he \u201ccan\u2019t even say how old I am; it\u2019s hard for me to get it outta my mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened,\u201d Biden began, explaining what led him to end his bid, \u201cwas a number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was gonna hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be interviewing me about, \u2018Why did Nancy Pelosi<\/strong> say?\u2019 \u2018Why did so and so say?\u2019\u201d Biden continued. \u201cI thought it would be a real distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n Biden is planning to hit the campaign trail again in the coming months\u2014but this time to cheer on his former running partner. The president said he is going to team up with Pennsylvania governor and veepstakes runner-up<\/a> Josh Shapiro<\/strong> to secure that battleground state\u2019s 19 electoral votes. Biden said he\u2019ll visit other states, too, adding that he wants to do \u201cwhatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI talk to [Harris] frequently, and by the way, I\u2019ve known her running mate is a great guy,\u201d Biden said of Walz. \u201cAs we say, if we grew up in the same neighborhood, we\u2019d have been friends. He\u2019s my kind of guy. He\u2019s real, he\u2019s smart. I\u2019ve known him for several decades. I think it\u2019s a hell of a team.\u201d<\/p>\n In his remaining time in the office, Biden said he plans to focus on the ongoing war in Gaza and efforts to avoid additional escalations toward regional war, claiming that a ceasefire deal during his presidency is \u201cstill possible.\u201d His remarks come after an Israel Defense Forces airstrike on a school where individuals were sheltering killed<\/a> at least 100 people and injured dozens more Saturday morning, according to Gaza\u2019s civil defense. After the attack, the White House released a statement<\/a> urging Israel \u201cto minimize civilian harm.\u201d<\/p>\n Biden also touched on his efforts<\/a> to reform the Supreme Court, deeming the institution \u201cso out of whack.\u201d On July 29, the president released<\/a> a three-part blueprint on how to ensure \u201cthat no one\u2014neither the President nor the Supreme Court\u2014is above the law.\u201d<\/p>\n First, pass \u201ca constitutional amendment that makes clear no President is above the law or immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office,\u201d in response to the court\u2019s recent immunity ruling<\/a> siding with Trump.\u201d Second, establish 18-year term limits for justices. Third, \u201cCongress should pass binding, enforceable conduct and ethics rules\u201d requiring that justices disclose gifts, refrain from public political activity, and recuse themselves from cases with conflicts of interest for their spouses or themselves.<\/p>\n A USA Today<\/em>\/Ipsos poll<\/a> from early August found that a majority of both Democrats and Republicans were in favor of the reforms.<\/p>\n In Biden\u2019s initial Oval Office address after leaving the race, he said that nothing \u201ccan come in the way of saving our democracy.\u201d Even, he added, \u201cpersonal ambition.\u201d Throughout the interview between Biden and Costa, the president repeatedly returned to his anxieties about the future of American democracy should Trump win in November. \u201cMark my words,\u201d Biden warned, \u201cif he wins this [election], watch what happens, he\u2019s a genuine danger to American security.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump has said it will be a \u201cbloodbath\u201d<\/a> if he doesn\u2019t get elected.<\/p>\n When Costa asked the president if he was \u201cconfident\u201d that there would be a peaceful transfer of power in 2025, Biden responded quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Trump loses, I\u2019m not confident at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n