6 pundits and politicians who erroneously predicted Joe Biden would run for president
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
After 11 weeks of the media breathlessly speculating whether Vice President Joe Biden would jump into the presidential race, Wednesday's announcement gave us a definitive answer: Biden will not seek the Democratic nomination for president. That announcement leaves a lot of political pundits and experts with totally wrong guesses out in the ether. Here's a look at some experts whose expertise — or sources — didn't result in a correct prediction of the future:
1. Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol:
2. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.):
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
3. FOX News Chief White House correspondent Ed Henry:
4. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.):
"If I was a betting woman, I'd say he would. I think he's always aspired to it. He's been a vice president for a long time. He's been a wonderful public servant who cares deeply about issues, and he's a champion and he wants to fight for his values and his goals for America." [Fortune]
5. The Washington Post political reporter Chris Cillizza:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"It is IMPOSSIBLE to take Biden's comments about the closeness of his relationship with Obama and the authority that his job conveys as anything but the sort of thing a guy who has made his mind up to run says. Biden has been around politics for a long time and knows what he is doing." [The Washington Post]
6. Mic senior staff writer Greg Krieg:
"During a panel discussion with former Vice President Walter Mondale on Tuesday, Biden dropped several hints about what a potential candidacy might look like. Though he did not hint about his choice or when he might announce it, Biden didn't simply 'sound like a candidate' — he sounded like a candidate very clearly attempting to edge out a rival, Hillary Clinton. He nimbly poked at his former colleague with a handful of ostensibly offhand comments that just so happened to answer potential criticism while drawing himself closer to President Barack Obama, who remains popular with Democratic primary voters." [Mic]
Honorable mention: The Washington Post
The Washington Post's prediction took the form of a mistakenly published article with the headline, "Biden to launch a presidential campaign."
-
The President’s Cake: ‘sweet tragedy’ about a little girl on a baking mission in IraqThe Week Recommends Charming debut from Hasan Hadi is filled with ‘vivid characters’
-
Kia EV4: a ‘terrifically comfy’ electric carThe Week Recommends The family-friendly vehicle has ‘plush seats’ and generous space
-
Bonfire of the Murdochs: an ‘utterly gripping’ bookThe Week Recommends Gabriel Sherman examines Rupert Murdoch’s ‘war of succession’ over his media empire
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump