The 2016 presidential election was unlike anything in United States history — but if former Vice President Joe Biden had it his way, the whole thing might have looked very different.

As he revealed during an appearance at Colgate University on Friday, Biden originally had every intention of running for president in the 2016 election, and believed he ultimately would have triumphed over President Donald Trump.

"I had planned on running for president," he said. "And although it would have been a very difficult primary, I think I would have won."

The former vice president ultimately decided not to run after the death of his son, Beau Biden, in 2015. He went on to explain his belief that any presidential candidate should be able to "look the public in the eye and say, 'I promise you I'm giving 100 percent of my attention and dedication to this effort.'" — something he claims he was unable to do at the time.

"I don't regret not running in the sense that it was the right decision for my boy, for me, for my family at the time," he said. "But no man or woman announces for president of the United States unless they honestly believe that from their experience they're the best-qualified person to do that. And at the time I thought that the circumstances were such that I was the best qualified."

"Do I regret not being president?" he concluded. "Yes."

Throughout his talk with university president Brian W. Casey, Biden also discussed his thoughts on Trump's presidency so far — voicing his hopes that he "grows into the job a little bit."

"I don't have a lot of hope now," Biden said. "I hope that he succeeds."

Additional reporting from The Associated Press.

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From: Cosmopolitan US