As of March 24, 2025, Joe Biden’s planned political comeback—dubbed a “zombie tour” by skeptics—has a mixed reception, with limited enthusiasm outside a shrinking circle of loyalists. Democrats are reeling from their 2024 loss, and Biden’s push to fundraise and campaign for the 2026 midterms isn’t exactly lighting up the base. Polls show the party’s favorability at a dismal 27% (NBC News), and Biden’s own approval rating lingers below 40% in post-presidency surveys. On X, reactions range from derision—“He can barely string a sentence together, let alone a campaign”—to outright exhaustion: “Let the man retire already.”
According to NBC News, Biden has privately expressed to Democratic leaders, including new DNC Chairman Ken Martin in a meeting last month, his willingness to fundraise, campaign, and support the party in regaining ground lost during his presidency. This comes as Democrats grapple with a popularity slump—polls show only 27% of registered voters view the party favorably, the lowest since NBC began tracking in 1990—following their 2024 election setbacks.
Biden, now 82, and former First Lady Jill Biden are reportedly eager to re-engage despite his diminished public profile since leaving office in January 2025. Both are also working on memoirs, suggesting a dual focus on legacy and political activism. Sources say Biden feels defiant, with no regrets about his term, though some Democrats blame his late withdrawal from the 2024 race for Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump. Trump, who took office in January 2025, has mentioned Biden over 400 times since, often critically, while abruptly ending Secret Service protection for Biden’s adult children, Hunter and Ashley—a move that shocked the Bidens.
Party reception is mixed. Some see Biden as a liability—tied to the 2024 defeat and too old to inspire younger voters—while others, like DNC Vice Chair Jane Kleeb, argue he remains beloved and could energize events.