In a candid interview with MSNBC’s Lawrence O'Donnell, President Joe Biden admitted that one of his major mistakes during his time in office was not doing enough to promote the Democratic Party's achievements.

Biden confessed he failed to highlight the accomplishments of his party and its role in shaping key projects, including a billion-dollar bridge, which he suggested could have been branded the “Democratic bridge," as Huffington Post reports.

The interview, which aired on Thursday, marked Biden's last televised interview before leaving office. In the discussion, Biden took responsibility for the political missteps he believed hindered his ability to communicate his administration's success. He emphasized that he did not focus enough on selling the achievements of his party, especially when it came to getting allies to publicly acknowledge those victories.

Biden used the example of a new bridge over a river, a project that cost billions of dollars, to illustrate his point. “Well, call it the ‘Democratic bridge,’ figuratively speaking,” Biden said. “Talk about who put it together. Let people know that this is something the Democrats did.”

The president reflected on his hesitation to promote his party’s accomplishments forcefully, admitting that it felt “almost bad taste” to engage in such self-promotion. This remark illustrated the ongoing tension within the party over how to balance policy achievements with political messaging. Biden explained that while he focused heavily on policy, he neglected the essential role of politics in pushing his party’s agenda.

Biden also acknowledged his shortcoming in not promoting the party's work with greater vigor, noting, "I’m not a very good huckster." His self-deprecating admission pointed to his tendency to shy away from flashy promotional tactics that former President Donald Trump employed to great success.

Trump’s Tactics Compared to Biden’s Approach

One of the key moments of the interview was when Biden discussed former President Donald Trump's handling of COVID-19 relief checks. Trump, during his first term, famously ordered his signature to be printed on the relief checks sent to American citizens. Biden called this move politically smart, acknowledging that Trump’s decision to sign the checks played a significant role in enhancing his image among voters.

“That wasn’t a stupid thing for him [Donald Trump] to do,” Biden said. “It helped him a lot and it undermined our ability to convince people that we were the ones that were getting this to them.”

Biden seemed to recognize that his administration’s failure to use similar tactics hindered the Democrats' ability to claim full credit for relief efforts. This difference in political strategy was a theme throughout the interview, with Biden admitting he spent too much time focusing on policy and not enough on the politics of promoting those policies.

Biden’s Self-Reflection on Political Strategy

As the interview continued, Biden openly questioned his approach to political campaigning and governance. He noted that while policy decisions like the COVID relief checks were crucial, the party’s inability to secure credit for those policies was a significant misstep. Biden said, “I spent too much time on the policy and not enough time on the politics.”

This admission came in the context of a broader discussion about political strategy and the need for the president and his party to be more aggressive in taking credit for their work. Biden expressed regret that he did not use the kind of promotional tactics that many political figures, including Trump, embraced during their time in office.

Though Biden’s reflections on his presidency are often framed in terms of policy successes, this interview revealed that he felt his approach may have lacked the necessary political flair to maximize those successes in the eyes of the public.

O'Donnell Challenges Biden's Views on Promotion

O'Donnell disagreed with Biden’s prior view on promoting the party's achievements. O'Donnell argued that it was important for leaders to draw attention to their work, even if it felt uncomfortable. This exchange highlighted the division within the political world on how best to balance humility with effective political strategy.

While Biden seemed to downplay the importance of promoting the party’s successes, O'Donnell pointed out that such self-promotion is often key to building political momentum. Biden, however, maintained that it felt disingenuous to “sell” his administration’s accomplishments in such an overt way, despite acknowledging the success of policies like the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

As the interview wrapped up, Biden reflected on his time in office, offering insights into the challenges of being president. While he took responsibility for his political mistakes, he also highlighted the successes his administration achieved, from COVID-19 relief efforts to infrastructure projects. Nonetheless, the tone of the conversation suggested a deep internal reckoning about the missed opportunities for more aggressive promotion of the party’s agenda.

Looking Ahead: Biden’s Legacy and Future Politics

The interview provided a rare glimpse into Biden’s thoughts on the political landscape as he prepares to leave office. While his policy legacy may be defined by significant domestic achievements like the American Rescue Plan and infrastructure investments, Biden’s reflections suggest that his political legacy may be one of missed opportunities to more aggressively promote those successes.

As Biden transitions to the final months of his presidency, his reflections may serve as a cautionary tale for future leaders about the importance of combining policy achievements with effective political messaging. While Biden may have shied away from promoting his party's work, his acknowledgment of this gap in his strategy provides valuable insight into the complex nature of modern political leadership.

In the end, Biden’s final televised interview not only showcased his candid self-assessment but also underscored the importance of balancing policy achievements with the political savvy necessary to claim those victories in the eyes of voters.