CNN clip of Biden talking about resigning is from 2020 | Fact check
The claim: Video shows Biden talking about resigning as president in 2024
A June 30 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a video of a CNN interview with President Joe Biden.
“Breaking Video: Biden Says He May Resign The Presidency For Medical Reasons,” reads the caption of the post, which was shared by an account under the name of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
The video circulated widely on Facebook and on X, formerly Twitter.
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Our rating: False
The video is from 2020. Biden’s statement about resigning refers to his response to a hypothetical philosophical difference with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Video from 2020 predates Biden’s presidency
Biden faced calls to drop out of the presidential race after his widely panned performance during his June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump. The Facebook post in question came three days later, and its timing and use of the phrase “breaking video” in the caption indicates it contains a new development.
But it’s not new. The video is from 2020 and has nothing to do with the debate or Biden's bid for a second term.
Fact check: No (sigh) Biden didn't fall asleep during debate
The 80-second clip in the post was taken from CNN’s interview with Biden and then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris that aired Dec. 3, 2020. In it, Biden explains how he and Harris share a philosophy on government, much like he and former President Barack Obama did. Should that change and their views diverge, he floats one possible action he could take.
“If I reach something where there's a fundamental disagreement we have based on a moral principle, I will develop some disease and say I have to resign,” Biden said.
The clip, which was shared in 2020 by the Daily Caller and Republican Rep. Paul Gosar, contains multiple clues that indicate it originated before Biden’s January 2021 inauguration. For example, interviewer Jake Tapper refers to Jill Biden as the “first lady-to-be.” A chyron also identifies Joe Biden as the president-elect.
Jones and his Infowars website have been frequent sources of misinformation. USA TODAY has debunked false claims stemming from Jones that Walter Reed Army Military Center was trying to kill former President Donald Trump and that Vitamin K shots for newborns are poisonous.
USA TODAY reached out to Jones but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
CNN, Dec. 3, 2020, Harris on her working relationship with Biden: 'We are full partners in this process'
CNN, Dec. 3, 2020, CNN Live Event/Special, Interview with President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President- Elect Kamala Harris. Aired 9-10p ET
Daily Caller, Dec. 3, 2020, X post
Paul Gosar, Dec. 3, 2020, X post
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Old CNN clip shows Joe Biden discuss resigning presidency | Fact check
