Joe Biden’s presidency closes Monday, drawing a veil over a term that was as difficult as it was uncertain. Many attempt to argue that history may judge one-term presidents more kindly with time, citing the likes of Jimmy Carter or George H.W. Bush as examples. Regrettably, Biden’s tenure may be remembered more as a roadblock in the Donald Trump era. He might have ousted Trump for a short while, but Biden fell critically short in keeping him out.
Biden’s failure to halt the Trump wave can be attributed in part to his and his team’s refusal to recognize an inconvenient truth: age had finally caught up with him. His withdraw from the race in July marked a difficult juncture for the Democratic Party, leaving them floundering to stage a strong campaign for a successor.
This disarray allowed Vice President Kamala Harris to fall into the nomination, but without a solid voter base or the time to address challenging questions. Meanwhile, Trump, fresh from even an attempted assassination, powered ahead with an upswell of support mirroring a freight train, unstoppable in its momentum.
As Biden makes his exit, he does so leaving Trump a robust economic foundation to work upon. Granted his administration saw the nation recover from the pandemic, adding jobs in millions – some compensating for the losses and the rest new opportunities. Spending like the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill of 2021 prepared a path for Trump for years to come.
Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package did bolster the economy during the scourge of COVID-19 though, thwarting the widely anticipated slump never realized. But this whirlwind of spending stoked the fires of inflation. Even though inflation subdued to manageable levels, concerns over soaring costs for everyday items like gas and groceries drove Biden’s approval rates down and kept them submerged.
When the annals of history discuss Biden’s term, foreign affairs may add an interesting blurb. His administration did give America a rare break from direct war involvement, making it a notable point in the history. This should not be mistaken for isolationism, however.
Against Russia’s invasion, Biden was able to bolster Ukraine’s resilience. His efforts appeared to have borne fruit in the form of a cease-fire in Gaza too, however, Trump is attempting to seize all credit. However, Biden’s term was marred by the disorderly and—even worse—reminiscent of the Saigon fall, departure from Afghanistan in 2021.
The forefront of Trump’s campaign—immigration—again highlighted Biden’s lackluster performance. The lethargic response to the influx of people across the border, both asylum seekers and illegal entrants, tarnished his reputation further. A tightening of the border rules occurred, but it appeared too late in the face of Trump’s campaign exploitation of the topic.
A key success that Biden can lay claim to is the semblance of normalcy he brought to the Oval Office. Following Trump’s controversial four years, peppered with scandals, cruelties, and the notorious Capitol riot, there was a palpable yearning among Americans for an ordinary presidency, which Biden did produce.
In his farewell speech, he made a polarizing comment about the ‘oligarchy taking shape in America’, suggesting that truth was being obscured by power and profit-driven lies. Biden, with his extensive political career, perhaps was alluding to some hope of rescuing American power but the enveloping gloom does little to add credibility to his assertion.
In a final note to Americans, Biden encouraged them to ‘stand guard’, a tad ironic given the state of disarray the nation finds itself in after his term. Alas, guard against what? Perhaps the consequences of his own inadequate leadership.
It is only natural to have some silver linings in BIden’s term, such as his efforts to navigate the country during the pandemic. Unfortunately, positive impacts were overshadowed by a range of negative impacts, notably in the realm of economic inflation and border security.
More significantly, the Biden administration seemed to constantly trail behind the crisis rather than leading to prevent them. This is nowhere more evident than in the unplanned pulling out of Afghanistan, causing chaos and leaving the world in disbelief.
Biden’s weakness in decisive moments of leadership was painfully exposed during the immigration crisis. The slow response to the issue had lasting effects that was unashamedly exploited by the Trump campaign.
Additionally, the Biden presidency couldn’t offer a strong strategic vision to safeguard American interests globally. While it’s true that the US had a brief hiatus from direct war engagement, Biden’s approach was essentially reactive than proactive.
Finally, Biden’s departure leaves a significant impact on the Democratic Party. The sudden withdrawal in July and replacement with Kamalan Harris without an effective succession plan put the party into a serious turmoil, which is likely to take some time to recover.