Biden Memoir Blasts Trump Legacy
The former president’s book, due November 17, claims Donald Trump’s actions should follow him to his grave.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Joe Biden’s first full account of his presidency arrives next week, and it opens with a sharp critique of his successor. The former president argues that Donald Trump has deeply damaged the nation through an administration focused on dismantling institutions and inflaming hatreds.
Biden writes that the lies surrounding the 2020 election loss and the January 6 attacks on the Capitol should haunt Trump for the rest of his life. The former president, now 83, states that the 2021 riots were an insurrection driven by a desire to remain in power after voters moved on. He rejects the characterization of the rioters as peaceful protesters, noting they arrived armed to stop the official certification of the election results.
The excerpt, published Monday in The Atlantic, criticizes Trump for pardoning more than 1,500 offenders. Biden argues that ignoring violence against police officers while claiming to be their friend is contradictory. He insists that what happened on January 6, 2021, must never be forgotten. The full memoir, titled “Promise Me, America,” releases on November 17.
Biden also laments the reversal of his policies, particularly those aimed at addressing climate change. He notes that while all presidents fear their legacy will be undone by political shifts, Trump’s approach felt uniquely destructive. The former president describes a successor who seemed unable to build on existing accomplishments, preferring instead to tear them down.
The book release follows a strong midterm performance for Democrats, who secured majorities in the House and Senate. However, Biden’s personal reputation remains a point of contention among some voters. In a social media post, Biden pitched the memoir as his final word on the challenges he faced and the decisions he made during his four years in office.
Biden’s health is a central factor in his promotional schedule. Diagnosed with prostate cancer months after leaving office, he says his doctors are encouraged by his response to treatment. He acknowledges that some days are harder than others, which limits his ability to participate in book tours. He urges readers to let the text speak for him.
The excerpt recounts a pre-riots meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. Biden recalls Trump telling him they would be good friends if not for politics. Trump also said he was relieved he did not have to run against Biden in 2020. Biden used that two-hour meeting to brief Trump on global issues, including the war in Ukraine and relations with China. He left worried that Trump would dismantle his work, a fear he says was confirmed by the new administration’s early executive orders.
