Despite stepping down amid mounting criticism and questions over his leadership, former President Joe Biden claims he’s still being sought out by global and political figures, including European heads of state, for his counsel.
Speaking last week at the Society for Human Resource Management convention in San Diego, Biden surprised attendees by suggesting he remains an informal advisor behind the scenes.
“I’m getting calls, I’m not going to go into it, I can’t, from a number of European leaders asking me to get engaged,” he said during a conversation with SHRM President Johnny Taylor, per the Western Journal. “I’m not [getting involved], but I’m giving advice. Because things are different.”
A clip of the exchange, shared on X by Democratic strategist Chris Jackson, shows Biden in a subdued and occasionally halting manner, switching from soft-spoken to impassioned mid-sentence.
“Ya know, I often ask the question rhetorically: if America doesn’t lead the world, who can?” Biden said, raising his voice. “No, no, not a joke. Not because of power. Who can put it together?” He also claimed that lawmakers from both parties continue to consult him.
“I’m dealing with a lot of Democrats and Republican colleagues, all of them wanting to talk,” he said. “Not because they think I have the answer, just to bounce things off me.”
Perhaps most perplexing was Biden’s segue: “I’m also laying rubber with my ’67 Corvette on my driveway,” he added.
Critics were quick to pounce on the remarks, calling them out-of-touch and emblematic of what they say were broader issues during his presidency.
Under Biden’s administration, the U.S. faced rising inflation, soaring gas prices, and ongoing struggles at the southern border. His tenure ended with growing internal pressure from within the Democratic Party, culminating in his decision not to seek re-election.
