Joe Biden, the sitting president, along with the First Lady, Jill Biden, have apparently decided to showcase their presence in New Orleans next week. They plan to interact with the grief-stricken families and community members negatively affected by the horrific incident on Bourbon Street, according to a White House announcement made on Friday. One could speculate if the President’s visit is a hollow gesture or a sincere one. Sometimes political postures mask a clear understanding of human pain, right?
Their visit could be perceived as a staged display of empathy, announced only days after a tragic event in which a white truck mercilessly plowed through crowds during the early morning hours of the New Year. This gruesome incident led to at least 14 people losing their lives, and dozens more suffered injuries. It’s questionable whether the Bidens would have planned such a trip if not for this unfortunate event.
The aftermath of the incident was as tragic as it was swift. The driver of the white truck, named Shamsud-Din Jabbar, ended the rampage by crashing into a boom lift. It was at this point, cornered by the situation, that he met his end, shot dead by the local New Orleans police force. Not much is known about his motives, or if his act of violence was an isolated incident.
This ‘trip’ by the Bidens, as it’s being called, may seem like a platitudinous necessity to some. U.S. Representative Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) went on record on Friday expressing his gratitude towards the Bidens for the visit. ‘I am anticipating spending time with them as we visit the bereaved families and mourn the immense loss,’ he said eloquently. One has to wonder whether this is mainly for publicity rather than sincere compassion.
But in Biden’s eyes, his first conversation about the attack, delivered a couple of days before his scheduled trip, might have been more about political spectacle than genuine empathy. He showcased knowledge suggesting that Jabbar had been sharing videos on various social platforms just a few hours before the incident. In these videos, he supposedly demonstrated a disturbing affinity towards ISIS, especially a ‘desire to kill’. However, how much of this grisly detail is true or relevant to the majority of Americans remains uncertain.
In his address announcing the trip, Biden also tried to lift spirits with his promise that ‘the spirit of New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated.’ Obviously, his motivational message will likely resonate with a section of the population. However, others may see through the hollow rhetoric, especially considering the city’s ongoing hardships.
To most Americans, Biden’s characterization of New Orleans as a ‘city full of charm and joy’ seemed like just another empty platitude. Instead of focusing on recapturing the essence of the city, maybe he should be taking steps to ensure such a devastating event never happens again. Wouldn’t that be a more fitting tribute to the spirit of the people he is desperate to win over?
Biden’s flattering description of New Orleans just seems like an attempt to score political points. He gushes about how ‘so many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and, above all, its people’. But words are no substitute for substantial policies that would actually help these very people he is so eager to praise.
Despite all the grand talk, this isn’t even the first time Biden has visited New Orleans. He already made a trip there in August to deliver a speech on cancer research at Tulane University. It’s as if he’s continually using the city as a backdrop for his photo ops, rather than genuinely engaging with its issues and its people.
There remains a palpable skepticism about whether Biden’s visit will bring any real change or improvement to the situation in New Orleans. After all, after countless speeches and promises, it’s action that truly counts. Hopefully, this tragedy isn’t just another bullet point on Biden’s political resume, but instead a genuine catalyst for change.
It’s interesting how Biden’s public remarks and visits seem to coincidentally align with major crises. While his followers may bask in his promise that ‘the spirit of the New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated,’ critics are bound to question whether it is thoughts and prayers alone that will heal the wounds.
Notwithstanding Biden’s poetic promises, the city of New Orleans continues in collision with reality. With the nightmarish memories of the Bourbon Street incident still fresh in their minds, the people of New Orleans need more than just hollow speeches and half-hearted visits.
While U.S. Representative Troy Carter might be eagerly awaiting Biden’s arrival, there are probably many who view the bid as a political stunt. Whether Biden’s visit is a superficial platitude or a genuine effort to heal the community is something time will reveal.
Indeed, inauguration speeches are not the same as dealing with the daily struggles of governance, a point that Biden seems to not comprehend entirely. Rather than showering New Orleans with praises, he should concentrate on how to advance the city and address its security concerns.
With this visit, it seems Biden is finally realizing his words carry weight, but unfortunately, his actions, or lack thereof, carry even more. While some might argue that his visit is a form of respect towards the victims, it does seem like an opportunistic move to strengthen his political foothold.