“For nearly four decades, the Editorial Board has stood for certain core values: truth, accountability, civility in public discourse, opposition to racism, common-ground solutions to the nation’s problems, and steadfast support for First Amendment rights. These aren’t partisan issues, or at least they shouldn’t be. Donald Trump has trampled each of these principles, making more than 20,000 false or misleading statements, ducking responsibility for his actions, spewing streams of invective at his critics, trafficking in racial fearmongering, governing more as the leader of the red states than of the United States, and relentlessly attacking the free press…

“Everything about Biden’s nearly half-century political career suggests he would do a far better job of respecting these values… In 2016, we broke tradition in urging you not to vote for Trump. Now we're making our first presidential endorsement… the Editorial Board unanimously supports the election of Joe Biden, who offers a shaken nation a harbor of calm and competence…

“Will this endorsement have any effect on what you read about the presidential campaign in USA TODAY’s news reports? No. Will it cause the Editorial Board to pull its punches if Biden were to become president? Also no. We may never endorse a presidential nominee again. In fact, we hope we'll never have to.”
Editorial Board, USA Today

“As 81 U.S. Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, physics and medicine wrote in an open letter endorsing Biden, ‘At no time in our nation’s history has there been a greater need for our leaders to appreciate the value of science in formulating public policy.’… Dozens of Republican national security officials have endorsed Biden, putting nation above party and declaring that the former vice president ‘will restore the dignity of the presidency, bring Americans together, reassert America’s role as a global leader, and inspire our nation to live up to its ideals.’… We enthusiastically endorse [Biden’s] election.”
Editorial Board, Los Angeles Times

“Mr. Biden has a long and distinguished record of accomplishment, including, as a senator, sponsoring the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and, as vice president, overseeing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed in response to the Great Recession. In a 2012 interview on ‘Meet the Press,’ his remarks in support of gay marriage — which blindsided the Obama White House and caused a public kerfuffle — proved a watershed moment for the cause of equality… He has an unusually rich grasp of and experience in foreign policy…

“Certainly, not all of Mr. Biden’s foreign policy decisions through the decades look sage in hindsight, but he has shown foresight in key moments. He fought a rear-guard action in the Obama White House to limit the futile surge in Afghanistan. He was against the 2011 intervention in Libya and skeptical of committing American troops to Syria. He opposed renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2007 and 2008 because it gave the government too much power to spy on Americans…

“[Biden] has the experience, temperament and character to guide the nation through this valley into a brighter, more hopeful future. He has our endorsement for the presidency.”
Editorial Board, New York Times

“On a trip to Moscow in March 2011, I was part of the team that helped Biden get ready for his long meetings with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Biden’s work ethic was something to behold. He doesn’t wing it. Putin is intimidating. I’d met him before with other U.S. officials. In his meeting with Putin, Biden was polite but forceful and principled, seeking agreement on a limited agenda, but never friendship. Moments after leaving Putin’s office, Biden met with Russian human rights leaders, which annoyed some in the Kremlin and some in our own government. And that was just fine with Biden. Biden’s strategy of engagement with autocrats, as well as their critics, is exactly right…

“Yet Biden also has higher priorities. We happened to be in Moscow during Ash Wednesday, so Biden’s team arranged for small, private Mass with a local Catholic priest. No press, no photo ops, just private prayer. On the flight back home from our trip, Biden didn’t retire to his private cabin, but joined us staff in the back of the plane… Biden loves being part of the team… I cannot predict what a President Biden will accomplish. What I can say with certainty is that he will advance his agenda with passion, values and dignity, with a team he admires and who admire him.”
Michael McFaul, Washington Post