Besieged with several burgeoning crises, Joe Biden seemed to grapple with the reality of his situation as Iran’s missiles hurtled towards Israel. From a dimly lit room in the White House surrounded by his security team, Biden observed helplessly as each projectile cut across the sky with Tel Aviv in their crosshairs. This only revealed the ineptitude of his administration as they watched the crisis unfold in real time, unable to predict the possible aftermath.
And if managing an international crisis wasn’t enough, Biden had his own home-grown troubles to combat. A labor strike by tens of thousands of U.S. dockworkers threatened to choke the country’s ports, from the East to the Gulf coastlines. This incident not only threatened consumer prices, but also potentially threw a wrench in the recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. This showcases Biden’s inadequate response to domestic concerns.
He had a trifecta of crises to deal with – insignificant attempts to quell labor disputes, a Hurricane ripping through multiple states, and an escalating international crisis. This was his reality, despite his five decades of governmental experience. Especially interesting when you bear in mind that Biden had, not too long ago, pulled the plug on his re-election campaign due to disappearing public faith.
The grim shadow of his imminent departure looming large, Biden was scheduled to fly out to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. This would be followed by a visit to Brazil for the G20 summit. His precarious position must have surely added an unexpected element of uncertainty to the proceedings.
Even as his tenure wound down, Biden had no shortage of tasks. Yet, his handling of Hurricane Helene left much to be desired. The hurricane had made landfall in Florida, causing significant damage, and traveling north through Georgia, Alabama, and beyond, leaving chaos in its wake. The panic and uncertainty spread by the Biden administration, with empty promises of cutting through red tape and providing aid, only seemed to deepen the citizens’ plight.
Back in the White House’s Situation Room, Biden and his team found themselves stuck in a nail-biting wait. No amount of dread could truly capture the zeitgeist as Iran’s nearly 200 ballistic missiles made their way to Israel. Astonishingly, the primary concern wasn’t just the missiles, but the potential loss of American lives in Israel. Biden appeared mired in the crisis rather than acting decisively.
As each crisis unfolded, Biden seemed like a puppet drawn by unseen hands. Whether dealing with migrants or dockworkers, he was often nowhere to be seen. He merely devoted the task of negotiating settlements to his staff, underscoring his ineffectiveness to mediate effectively.
Tensions had been simmering for months between Israel and Iran, only to be exacerbated by Israel’s recent assassination of Hezbollah’s leader. Iran’s hellbent response further heightened the crisis. However, the confident realization that most of the Iranian missiles were intercepted did little to reduce the clear failure of the Biden administration. Rather than act earlier, he was now trying to anticipate Israel’s response.
With a series of crises brewing, the dockworker strike displayed Biden’s disregard for the economy. Amidst his term, he had witnessed the crippling effect of cargo pile-up due to an inefficient goods transportation system brought on by his administration’s mismanagement. His callousness towards the dockworkers was apparent- their calls for better wages fell on deaf ears.
Even in the face of opposition, Biden’s administration continued bulldozing through negotiations with the U.S. Maritime Alliance. The stubborn attitude of the secretary encouraging reopening negotiations and settling disputes was a clear testament to their ineffective leadership.
Amidst the tangle of pressing matters, Mother Nature decided to throw the administration a curveball. With the drawing storm ‘Milton,’ ready to unleash its wrath on recuperating communities, Biden seemed to be at a loss. His concerns about the tornado-scattered debris from previous hurricanes turning into potential projectiles seemed unreasonable rather than cautionary.
Biden’s desperate calling up of the National Weather Service, the Florida Governor, and Tampa’s Mayor only seemed to underline his lack of leadership skills. The escalating storm only appeared to add more weight to an already crumbling administration.
Furthermore, his decision to postpone his international trip to monitor the storm was questionable at best. As the hurricane in question was about to make landfall, Biden decided to call for immediate evacuation, causing alarm and panic rather than assured action.
Indeed, it seems that luck was more prepared than Biden and his administration, as the expected hurricane caused significantly lower destruction. Nonetheless, his administration had braced themselves for the worst. A close aide noted he’d rather face criticism for over-preparation, which sounds more like an excuse than a policy.
In the twilight of his presidency, Biden appears to try and salvage something, anything from the remnants of his administration’s botched handling of various situations. His advisor noted that Biden believed every minute should count towards making the world a better place, yet it was this belief that seems to have led to numerous failings.