Biden concedes possibility of ‘slight recession’

Published October 12, 2022 2:01am ET



President Joe Biden downplayed the likelihood of an economic recession but conceded a “slight” downturn is possible.

“I don’t think there will be a recession. If it is, it’ll be a very slight recession. That is, we’ll move down slightly,” Biden said Tuesday.

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During a rare televised interview, this time with CNN, Biden defended the Democratic agenda one month before November’s midterm elections, including the trillion-dollar spending bills that some experts believe contributed to high inflation. August’s annual inflation rate was 8.3%, with the next report due on Thursday.

Looking ahead to 2024, Biden dismissed concerns about how his age could impede his ability to do the job for another four years as Democrats whisper about potential replacements.

“I believe I can beat Donald Trump again,” he said.

In a previewed clip, Biden also said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “rational actor,” revealing himself not to be a subscriber of the so-called “mad man” theory many people have used to describe the strongman.

“I think he is a rational actor who has miscalculated significantly,” Biden said. “I think he thought he was going to be welcomed with open arms, that this was the home of Mother Russia in Kyiv.”

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Biden taped the interview, his third televised sit-down this year, after an emergency Group of Seven meeting about Russia and Ukraine earlier Tuesday.