Biden says Trump’s Jan. 6 actions should follow him to his grave

Former President Joe Biden strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack in his forthcoming memoir, stating that these actions “should follow him to his grave,” according to ABC News and NBC News.

Biden described Trump as having “led an insurrection” and condemned Trump’s decision to grant broad pardons to those charged in connection with the January 6 events, saying the individuals deserved prison, not pardons, NBC News reported.

The memoir also recounts a nearly two-hour Oval Office meeting between Biden and then-President-elect Trump in November 2024, where Biden noted Trump’s tone was unusually friendly, “bordered on fawning,” and included comments suggesting they could be friends if not for politics, ABC News stated.

Biden expressed surprise at Trump’s warmth during the meeting, noting Trump’s chatty demeanor and unusual conversational path, including remarks about spending time golfing together if politics were not a factor.

Biden also criticized Trump for not holding a formal ceremony to honor the officers who defended the Capitol during the January 6 attack and accused Trump and his supporters of posturing as friends of law enforcement while ignoring violence against officers, according to NBC News.

The memoir, titled "Promise Me, America," is set to be released on November 17, 2026, with excerpts published by The Atlantic and coverage by multiple news outlets.