During much of his second term, Biden was said to be preparing for a possible bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
At age 74 on Inauguration Day in January 2017, he would have been the oldest president on inauguration in history.
With his family, many friends, and donors encouraging him in mid-2015 to enter the race, and with Hillary Clinton's favorability ratings in decline at that time, Biden was reported to again be seriously considering the prospect and a "Draft Biden 2016" PAC was established.

As of September 11, 2015, Biden was still uncertain whether to run.
He cited his son's recent death as a large drain on his emotional energy, and said, "nobody has a right ... to seek that office unless they're willing to give it 110% of who they are."

On October 21, speaking from a podium in the Rose Garden with his wife and Obama by his side, Biden announced his decision not to run for president in 2016.
In January 2016, Biden affirmed that it was the right decision, but admitted to regretting not running for president "every day".

As of the end of January 2016, neither Biden nor Obama had endorsed anyone in the 2016 presidential election.
Biden missed his annual Thanksgiving tradition of going to Nantucket, opting instead to travel abroad and meet with several European leaders.
He took time to meet with Martin O'Malley, having previously met with Bernie Sanders, both 2016 candidates.
Neither of these meetings was considered an endorsement, as Biden had said he would meet with any candidate who asked.

After Obama endorsed Clinton on June 9, 2016, Biden endorsed her later the same day.
Though Biden and Clinton were scheduled to campaign together in Scranton on July 8, Clinton canceled the appearance in light of the shooting of Dallas police officers the previous day.

During the campaign season, Biden publicly displayed his disagreements with the policies of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
On June 20, Biden critiqued Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States as well as his stated intent to build a wall along the border with Mexico, adding that Trump's suggestion to either torture and or kill family members of terrorists was damaging both to American values and "to our security".
During an interview with George Stephanopoulos at the 2016 Democratic National Convention on July 26, Biden asserted that "moral and centered" voters would not vote for Trump.
On October 21, the anniversary of his decision not to run, Biden said he wished he was still in high school so he could take Trump "behind the gym".
On October 24, Biden clarified he would have fought Trump only if he was still in high school, and the following day, October 25, Trump responded that he would "love that".
During much of his second term, Biden was said to be preparing for a possible bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. At age 74 on Inauguration Day in January 2017, he would have been the oldest president on inauguration in history. With his family, many friends, and donors encouraging him in mid-2015 to enter the race, and with Hillary Clinton's favorability ratings in decline at that time, Biden was reported to again be seriously considering the prospect and a "Draft Biden 2016" PAC was established.
As of September 11, 2015, Biden was still uncertain whether to run. He cited his son's recent death as a large drain on his emotional energy, and said, "nobody has a right ... to seek that office unless they're willing to give it 110% of who they are."
On October 21, speaking from a podium in the Rose Garden with his wife and Obama by his side, Biden announced his decision not to run for president in 2016. In January 2016, Biden affirmed that it was the right decision, but admitted to regretting not running for president "every day".
As of the end of January 2016, neither Biden nor Obama had endorsed anyone in the 2016 presidential election. Biden missed his annual Thanksgiving tradition of going to Nantucket, opting instead to travel abroad and meet with several European leaders. He took time to meet with Martin O'Malley, having previously met with Bernie Sanders, both 2016 candidates. Neither of these meetings was considered an endorsement, as Biden had said he would meet with any candidate who asked.
After Obama endorsed Clinton on June 9, 2016, Biden endorsed her later the same day. Though Biden and Clinton were scheduled to campaign together in Scranton on July 8, Clinton canceled the appearance in light of the shooting of Dallas police officers the previous day.
During the campaign season, Biden publicly displayed his disagreements with the policies of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. On June 20, Biden critiqued Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States as well as his stated intent to build a wall along the border with Mexico, adding that Trump's suggestion to either torture and or kill family members of terrorists was damaging both to American values and "to our security". During an interview with George Stephanopoulos at the 2016 Democratic National Convention on July 26, Biden asserted that "moral and centered" voters would not vote for Trump. On October 21, the anniversary of his decision not to run, Biden said he wished he was still in high school so he could take Trump "behind the gym". On October 24, Biden clarified he would have fought Trump only if he was still in high school, and the following day, October 25, Trump responded that he would "love that".
Joe Biden