Here’s What Biden Said Before And After ‘If Trump Wasn’t Running’ Remark At Private Fundraiser

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

President Joe Biden is getting a lot of media attention for a comment he made at a private fundraiser about whether he’d be running if ex-President Donald Trump were not — here’s the full context of that remark.

Biden’s comment — made during an off-camera fundraising reception in Boston on Tuesday — was reported by White House correspondents covering the event as part of a restricted press pool.

The event took place in Weston, Massachusetts at the home of former Ambassador Alan Solomont and Susan Solomont.

According to the pool report, Biden wound up his 20-minute speech by saying, “If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running. But we cannot let him win for the sake of the country.”

Since fundraisers are not recorded on video, only the portions reported by members of the restricted pool were part of Tuesday night’s coverage.

According to the full transcript of the event — released late Tuesday night by the White House — the comment was part of a longer exchange about the stakes of the election:

But I tell you what: If we don’t win this time — not because I’m running, and I know it sounds like a self-serving assertion, but there’s a new article — there’s a new maga- — not new magazine. The Atlantic magazine has a new issue out with 20 major articles by 20 different individuals — 20 different commentators or academics — all making the case why American democracy is at risk. Twenty of them — Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

Folks, this is a big deal, this election. We’ve got to get it done — not because of me, and I mean that. If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running. But we cannot let him win, for the sake of the country.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you. (Applause.)

When President Biden returned to the White House, he was asked about the comment in the following exchange with a reporter:

Q: Would you be running for President if Trump wasn’t running?

Biden: “I expect so but look. He is running and I have to run.”

Q: Would you drop out if Trump drops out?

Biden: “No, not now.”

Watch above via pool.