As the strings of President Biden’s term become even more entwined, he seems to be slipping into the shadows. The chief moments of his term, surprisingly, might still be in the pipeline. One can reflect on a recent Tuesday when Biden was nestled in the White House Situation Room, witnessing Iran’s ballistic missile onslaught on Israel. The unavoidable broader Middle East conflict, which Biden has been inadequately attempting to forestall, had taken centre stage.
Yet, a more proximate calamity was unfolding stateside. Amid discussing defense strategies with his foreign policy advisors, he received updates about Hurricane Helene, leaving a trail of devastation on the U.S. mainland not seen in recent decades. This encapsulates the scenario of Biden’s dwindling days in the presidential chair. As he increasingly surrenders the limelight to Vice President Kamala Harris, his term is closing on the back of an ensemble of crises.
All occurring simultaneously in a pelting rhythm, he continues to juggle these even as he shuns public attention. An essential insight to be gleaned from this is that even as Biden adopts a more hands-off approach in public, the high-stakes motivations of his presidency are yet to unfold. No White House resident can luxuriously deal with crises one at a time.
In addition to the Middle East flare-up and the deadly cyclone, Biden is grappling with other crises, including an ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s ominous nuclear threats. There was also a brief but intense dockworkers’ strike and the looming shadow of former President Donald J. Trump, who is within reach of the White House, adding to the platter of crises.
The specter of foreign intervention in elections and an unexpected October Surprise further compounds the challenges. Biden’s national security advisors seemingly don’t have the luxury of a recess. With the election a few weeks away, Trump and his associates have capitalized on the series of crises, arguing that global instability has heightened under Biden’s reign.
Democrats advocate this phase as the perfect opportunity to juxtapose the leadership approaches of Trump and Biden, and by extension, Harris. Biden made an unannounced visit to the White House briefing on a particular Friday and spoke about the array of issues at his disposal. He mentioned aspects such as the robust American labor market, Middle East turbulence, and the port staff strike.
In the face of mounting pressures, Biden’s frustration is becoming increasingly apparent. As criticisms from Trump and his supporters mount, including unfounded allegations, Biden has shown signs of resentment. Discussions about how the administration set up a hotline during a recent Cabinet meeting on the hurricane were suddenly halted by Biden’s seeming impatience.
And during a Monday meeting in the Oval Office with his chief national security officials, he seemingly lost interest as he asked his aides to conclude the meeting. The Middle East discussion was transmitted to another room so as Biden could address what he perceived were more critical issues. The disarray of Biden’s term, as may be seen from the outside, becomes more apparent the closer one looks.
With Harris gaining more prominence, the shadows over the Biden administration are growing darker, and the handling of the multitude of crises does not inspire confidence. While American attention is predominantly focused on internal matters, foreign relations negotiate a delicate balance, riddled with tensions and potential conflicts.
Amid all these, Biden’s presidency does not appear to provide a steady hand on the wheel. The chaotic situation suggests Biden’s handling of concurrent crises leaves much to be desired. Biden’s and, to an extent, Harris’s approach to surmounting these obstacles does not display the leadership needed in such critical times.
It seems as if the current administration is stuck in a whirlpool of crises, without a resolute path towards resolution. In addition, the friction within the administration itself, coupled with Biden’s increasing irritation, suggests a lack of cohesion and direction.
Instead of creating a strong bulwark against these crises, the reactions from Biden and his team appear reactive and disjointed. More importantly, the continued insistence on shifting attention away from these issues hints at a worrying trend of utter disconnection.
In summary, Biden and Harris’s leadership styles, as demonstrated by recent events, seem to invite criticism, ridicule and doubt. Instead of inspiring reassurances, their handling of the numerous crises enveloping the country plays into the notion that the administration is ill-prepared.
Unfortunately, as the clock ticks away towards elections, and as Biden recedes further from center stage, it is apparent that the current leadership does not provide the resolve that America needs. Going back in recent history, under their watch, it seems as if the administration has plunged deeper into crisis.
Alas, while anyone in such a position would face a generous share of challenges, the leadership methods of Biden and Harris appear to escalate rather than alleviate the inherent problems. More than anything, the call of the times is strong leadership, which seems lacking in this administration, raising serious concerns about the paths that lie ahead.