Former NBC News host Chuck Todd delivered a scathing assessment of former President Joe Biden’s legacy in a recent episode of “The Chuck ToddCast,” arguing that Biden’s perceived weak leadership directly enabled President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
In the podcast episode shared on Friday, August 17, Todd contended that Biden failed to provide the leadership necessary to permanently move the country past the Trump era. Todd noted that collective pushback to Trump’s first presidency indicated Americans believed his leadership was harmful to the long-term image of the United States, which contributed to Biden’s 2020 victory.
However, Todd argued that Biden’s presidency failed to deliver on its implicit promise of restoration and stability. He characterized Biden as lacking the effectiveness needed to help America turn the page on the Trump chapter, suggesting that successful leaders typically prevent their countries from moving backward politically.
Todd questioned how ineffective a presidency must be to encourage a country to reverse course, particularly given America’s historical tendency toward forward progress. He described the public perception of the Biden presidency as weak and ineffective, despite acknowledging that some of Biden’s legislative achievements might prove successful over time.
The former “Meet the Press” host delivered his most pointed criticism when he declared, “His legacy is Donald Trump came back.” Todd placed direct responsibility for Trump’s political comeback on Biden’s shoulders, arguing that this outcome fundamentally defines Biden’s presidential legacy regardless of any policy accomplishments.
Todd’s critique extended beyond Biden’s presidential performance to question the former president’s decision to run for office in the first place. In a June discussion with CNN host Jake Tapper about Tapper’s book “Original Sin,” Todd expressed disbelief that Biden pursued the presidency while his family faced significant crises, including Hunter Biden’s well-documented struggles with addiction.
The veteran journalist revealed he followed Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial extensively, reading every transcript and piece of testimony. Todd indicated he could not comprehend how Biden would subject his children to the intense scrutiny of a presidential campaign, given their personal struggles.
Todd also challenged the long-standing narrative of Biden as a devoted family man, questioning whether the media had been “sold a 40-year bill of goods” about this aspect of Biden’s character. He suggested that Biden’s daily commute from Washington to Delaware, often cited as evidence of his family commitment, could alternatively be viewed as evidence of his political ambition following personal tragedy.
This questioning of Biden’s family-first image represents a significant shift in how some media figures now view the former president’s political persona. Tapper noted during their discussion that a person close to the Biden family had indicated there were difficult truths the family struggled to acknowledge, including Beau Biden’s terminal illness and Hunter’s addiction issues.
Todd’s analysis of Trump’s return to power also included recognition of the current president’s political durability. In a separate June podcast episode, Todd acknowledged Trump’s unprecedented impact on American politics, describing his influence as greater than recent presidents, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. Todd suggested that Trump’s lasting impact on the Republican Party, the presidency, and American culture marked him as a transformational figure comparable to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The former NBC political analyst noted that Trump’s ability to win non-consecutive terms, like Grover Cleveland, demonstrates his political staying power extends beyond what could be dismissed as an electoral accident. Todd argued that Trump’s comeback represents a political realignment rather than a temporary disruption.
Todd’s criticism of Biden comes as he has established independence from traditional network constraints through his podcast and new role as inaugural USC Capital Campus scholar-in-residence. His appointment at the University of Southern California was announced in November 2024, where he will teach classes, host events, and advise leadership at the Washington, D.C. campus.
The journalist’s harsh assessment reflects broader Democratic soul-searching following their 2024 electoral defeat. Todd has consistently argued that Biden’s decision to seek the presidency was fundamentally flawed, given his family’s circumstances, and has maintained that effective leadership requires the ability to move the country forward rather than allowing regression to previous political patterns.