The interview with the American TV company CBS was his first after the decision not to stand in the presidential election in November and to endorse Kamala Harris as the new presidential candidate for the Democrats.
A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives and the Senate believed that I (as a presidential candidate) would harm them in their election campaigns, said Biden.
The discussion about Biden's leadership intensified after the president's failed TV debate with opponent Donald Trump at the end of June.
Criticism from high level
The criticism against him within his own party came from a high level, and in the interview, Biden mentions the Democrats' top politicians and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi as decisive.
I was concerned that if I remained in the campaign, the criticism would become a main issue, said Biden in a pre-recorded interview made at the White House in Washington, but broadcast on Sunday.
Biden's decision was based on the most important goal for him at present:
We must, we must, we must defeat Trump.
Attacking Trump
Biden chose, despite his role as head of state, to directly attack his former opponent Trump in a way that is usually avoided by presidents in the USA:
Remember what I said, if he wins this election, see what happens, said Biden.
We are at a historic crossroads in world history. We really are – and the decisive factor here is democracy, said Biden.
The president also warned of dangers if Trump becomes president:
He means what he says. We don't take him seriously, even when he says things like "if we lose, there will be a bloodbath", said Biden in the interview with CBS.
