Former President Joe Biden delivers his harshest criticism of President Donald Trump since leaving office, condemning Trump’s pardons of January 6 defendants and declaring his actions during the Capitol attack should haunt him forever in his upcoming memoir.
Strong Words in Atlantic Excerpt
Biden’s memoir, titled “Promise Me, America,” features an excerpt published in The Atlantic that accuses Trump of leading an insurrection and criticizes his decision to pardon individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident. The former president wrote that those who attacked law enforcement officers deserved prison terms, not pardons. He challenged Trump’s claim to support police, arguing that anyone who ignores violence against officers cannot call themselves friends of law enforcement.
“What Trump did on January 6, 2021, should never be forgotten. It should follow him to his grave,” Biden wrote in the memoir, scheduled for publication on November 17. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the book excerpt.
Post-Election Meeting Details
Biden also described his transition meeting with Trump following the 2024 election, characterizing Trump’s demeanor as “bordering on fawning.” According to Biden, Trump suggested they could have been friends without politics interfering and praised Biden’s job creation record as extraordinary. Biden wrote that he felt confused by the flattery and redirected the conversation to substantive matters. During their two-hour discussion, Biden attempted to brief Trump on critical global issues, but noticed Trump focused primarily on foreign leaders’ personalities rather than policy significance.
Biden’s Pardons and Health Update
The memoir arrives amid controversy over Biden’s own use of presidential pardons. He issued preemptive pardons to his son Hunter Biden, family members, January 6 committee lawmakers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley. Trump indicated in a September interview that he was considering similar pardons for administration members, citing Biden’s actions as precedent. Biden announced Sunday on social media that his cancer treatment would limit his ability to promote the book, acknowledging that some days prove more challenging than others in his health battle.