Vice President Joe Biden stopped by The Late Show on Tuesday to (almost) clear up those rumors about him running for president in 2020.
In the first television interview Biden has done since the election, Colbert asked him about a possible campaign, quoting his comments on the subject that were widely reported this week (“I’m going to run in 2020. For president. So, uh, what the hell, man”).
Biden answered that fate is uncertain, but “Never say never, you never know what’s gonna happen,” he said. “I have no plans, but I’m gonna stay deeply, deeply involved.”
Colbert also asked him how he felt on election night. “Well I’ve been in a closet since then,” he joked. “I haven’t come out.”
On what to expect from a Donald Trump administration, Biden says the future is unclear. “I don’t know. I don’t think the president himself knows for certain.”
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The two also held a “family meeting,” as Colbert said he felt he was often considered America’s “TV dad.” Inviting “your Pops Joe” onstage, the two of them sat down to chat with “the family.” “We’ve been worried about all these sudden changes,” Colbert started off, referring to the election results.
“This terrible feeling you’re having right now, it’s not permanent. It’ll be over in four years, maybe eight,” said Biden.
The two “father figures” addressed the usage of some “salty language” too, like “hogwash, bologna, malarky,” all words Biden has made popular, when the VP slipped up and accidentally said “damn.”
“Joe, we’re on CBS. They’re gonna have to bleep half of that!” Colbert chided. “That’s the angriest I’ve ever seen this man!”
Their fatherly advice concluded with the adage: Any job worth doing is worth doing well, like mowing the lawn.
“You’ve got to always do your best to mow the lawn,” Colbert explained, joking about the inauguration. “It doesn’t matter that somebody else is gonna get the job of mowing the lawn after you, even though as far as you can tell that person has never touched a lawn mower in his life.”
Biden said it is “the greatest lawn in the world” and he feels hopeful that the next lawn mower makes sure “everyone feels safe to have a picnic on it.”
“That’s a beautiful metaphor,” Colbert told him.
“Metaphor? Metaphor, OK, I’m talking about mowing the lawn, what are you talking about?” Biden answered.
“Same thing.”
Tonight! Stephen and Joe call a Family Meeting! #LSSC @VP pic.twitter.com/tUzxRbnxeB
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) December 7, 2016
Biden has visited The Late Show before, stopping by last fall to discuss faith and loss with the host. Biden told Colbert that he wasn’t emotionally ready at that time to run for president in 2016 (he commented recently that he wasn’t completely ruling out a campaign in 2020. “I’m going to run in 2020. For president. So, uh, what the hell, man,” the departing vice president joked with reporters Monday, before adding: “I’m not committing to anything.”
He also appeared on The Tonight Show and Late Night before the election this year where he predicted that Hillary Clinton would win and slammed Donald Trump for his “outrageous behavior.”
Watch the interview below.
