In public, Trump has decried the state of the nation as "a disaster" and "a mess." But at their private meeting, Trump praised him, Biden said. "He was very complimentary about some of the economic things I had done. And he talked about − he thought I was leaving with a good record."

U.S. President Joe Biden said he remained undecided on whether to issue pre-emptive pardons to protect some public figures who have been threatened with retaliation by his Republican successor Donald Trump.