Donald Trump, who will soon return as the leader of the United States, is already making a strong global impact, showing far more initiative than current President Joe Biden. This was abundantly clear during his recent visit to Paris. Trump’s arrival at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral and his engaging with global leaders has foreshadowed his return to a position of power.
In contrast, Biden’s pitiful withdrawal from the global stage has been evident ever since the election results of Nov. 5. The difference in their levels of activity has highlighted Biden’s passivity and failure to exert substantial influence on international players.
The world experienced a glimpse of Trump’s hardline diplomacy when he interacted with the leaders of Canada and Mexico regarding proposed tariffs. He suggested imposing new sanctions on their goods—a clear threat indicating his serious concerns about border security. The stark contrast between Trump’s approach and the current administration’s feeble policies continues to be noteworthy.
During his visit to France, Trump held important meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and William, Prince of Wales, among others. A push for an end to the war in Ukraine, instigated by Russia in February 2022, was a significant part of Trump’s interaction with Zelensky.
While the Trump administration’s certain foreign approach is unclear, many wonder what will happen to the US-Ukraine relationship, which under Biden had seen rather generous funding flow from Congress to Kyiv. Yet how unmonitored and unregulated this funding has been raises questions about the effectiveness of Biden’s governance.
Zelensky called his meeting with Trump and Macron ‘good and productive’— a stark contrast to Biden’s rather invisible presence on the diplomatic stage. Clearly, world leaders see value in discussing crucial issues with strong leaders like Trump. It shows how Trump’s decision-making based on strength, as opposed to Biden’s passive and lesser-impact approach, can potentially shape a better world.
While Trump was creating quite a stir at the Notre Dame reopening, Biden’s administration was represented by First Lady Jill Biden. Her fleeting interaction with Trump barely registered though. This further underscores the minimal impact of Biden’s administration on crucial global events. For an event as significant as this, surely, the presence of a President, rather than a First Lady, would have been more fitting.
Amid these events, Trump also offered his perspective on the unstable situation and the regime change in Syria. His belief that the US should ‘not get involved’ in the Syrian conflict is a complete shift from the waffling stand that Biden has often taken. The contrast further draws attention to how assertive and decisive Trump’s approach is, as opposed to Biden’s.
A section of Democrats who appear to live in a bubble seem annoyed that Biden has allowed Trump to capture so much media attention recently. In reality, Biden’s relative withdrawal and Trump’s high-profile international encounters have provided a clear reflection of their leadership styles — and it’s no secret who stands stronger.
Trump’s initiative and active engagement with the leaders of Canada and Mexico on border security and control of drug smuggling routes is another focal point here. It illustrates just how different Trump’s assertive stances seem when compared to Biden’s rather lackluster expressions of intent.
Trump’s decisive approach during the transition has been remarkably well-received. His approval ratings concerning this period are notably high. A recent poll showed that 59% of respondents endorsed Trump’s handling of the transition, as opposed to a paltry 41% who disapproved. Isn’t it laughable how these figures outrank the national popular vote in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris?
While Trump has been asserting his presence on the global stage, Biden has been less impactful. His two foreign trips to South America and Africa have been rather tepid. Engaging with other world leaders at this stage should have been a priority, yet it seems Biden has failed in this task too.
His recent uneventful trip to Peru and Brazil illustrates this perfectly. While high-profile meetings with top officials around the globe could have leveraged his presence, it seems he’s missed the bus on this front as well. It’s yet another reflection of a weak outbound strategy.
When compared to Trump, who seems to be spearheading meetings and initiatives at every turn, Biden’s stance has undeniably been weak. Most recently, he was in Angola on a visit with African leaders. Despite the potential of such a trip, reports suggest this visit attracted minimal official attention.
As we inch closer to Inauguration Day on January 20, a stark transition looms ahead of us. At high noon, the baton will pass from Biden to Trump in Washington, D.C.—a ceremonial passing of power, to be marked by the attendance of both Presidents
This anticipated transition, from the low-impact Biden administration to a potential heavy-hitting Trump administration, is indeed a notable event. It presents a future of decisive actions, strong international relations, and an end to the passive diplomacy witnessed over the past term with Biden and Harris.