JOE BIDEN (D)
Former Vice President of the United States
Questionnaire
Candidates were given the option to add additional comments after answering each yes or no question. Some chose to give explanations for each answer, while some gave explanations for some answers, and some gave no explanations at all. Click on each question below to see answers and any additional comments from candidates.
Do you agree with former President Ronald Reagan’s statement that a nuclear war can never be won and so must never be fought?
YES.
Should the United States extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, provided that the Russian Federation remains in compliance with the agreement?
YES.
Do you agree that a verifiable, multilateral diplomatic agreement is the best way to deal with the proliferation threat posed by Iran?
YES.
Do you support continued diplomacy with North Korea with the goal of negotiating the eventual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula?
YES.
Do you support the new low-yield nuclear weapons called for in the Trump Administration’s 2018 Nuclear Posture Review?
NO.
Do you believe the United States can maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal for less than the current estimated costs of $1.2 trillion over the next 30 years?
YES.
Should the United States review its current policy that reserves the right to use nuclear weapons first?
YES.
Do you agree that a verifiable, global ban on explosive nuclear testing is in the national security interest of the United States?
YES.
In the context of strategic stability, do you agree that there is a relationship between offensive and defensive weapons systems?
YES.
Should the United States halt further deployment of a national missile defense system until it is successfully tested under realistic conditions and proven effective?
NO. The catastrophic consequences of even a single nuclear detonation in the United States require that we pursue an effective missile defense system. Even an imperfect defense can have a deterrent effect. At the same time, we must insist on a rigorous testing program to continually improve the reliability of our defenses.
Key Quotes
In the News
- Biden Promises to End Endless Wars as President (The Associated Press, July 11, 2019)
- Biden, in Foreign Policy Speech, Castigates Trump and Urges Global Diplomacy (Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2019)
- Joe Biden believes the U.S. is closer than ever to nuclear war (PBS NewsHour, January 4, 2018)
