Biden says he 'wouldn't be surprised' if more women accuse him of inappropriate contact
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday said he regrets making women uncomfortable and suggested it's possible more will come forward.
Biden spoke with reporters after delivering a speech in which he joked twice about having obtained permission to hug someone. This was his first time speaking publicly since eight women came forward to say Biden made them feel uncomfortable with unwanted physical contact. Asked if he expects more women to share similar complaints, Biden said, "Well, I wouldn't be surprised," per Talking Points Memo, while saying that "I've had hundreds and hundreds of people contact me who I don't know and say the exact opposite."
Biden said that anyone who feels uncomfortable by physical contact in general should have the right to say so. But when asked whether he would offer a direct apology to the women who have come forward, Biden said, "I've made it clear that if I made anyone feel uncomfortable, I feel badly about that. That was never my intention."
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.
A reporter followed up to ask Biden if this means he is sorry and will tell the women as much, but he did not offer a direct apology, instead saying, "I'm sorry I didn't understand more" but "I'm not sorry for any of my intentions." He also said that "I'm not sorry for anything that I have ever done" because "I have never been disrespectful intentionally to a man or a woman." Brendan Morrow
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro



