Former President Joe Biden made another appearance in the Rose Garden on Thursday, following an election defeat to Donald Trump — a situation he seems to have become quite accustomed to. This isn’t new territory for Biden; a similar scene unfolded eight years ago when he stood next to then-President Barack Obama, post the crushing election defeat Democrats experienced against Trump. Once again, Biden took the stage as the gracious loser, symbolically sporting a tie in the color of the opposing party.
Displaying his traditional ‘gracious loser’ demeanor, Biden said, ‘In a democracy, the will of the people always prevails,’ as if he hadn’t fiercely contested the 2020 election results. However, he vowed a ‘peaceful and orderly’ handover of power to the Trump administration. This sentiment seemed rather disingenuous considering his previous accusations against Trump relating to a similar handover process. Biden also had some good words to spare for his Vice President Kamala Harris, painting her unsuccessful campaign as ‘inspiring.’
Biden then attempted to impart what he considered wisdom to the public. He rebuked alleged past behavior by his opponent, chiding, ‘You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.’ The attempt at a profound statement fell flat, considering the history of his administration objecting to the outcome of the 2020 election. He also extended an invitation to Trump to meet at the White House, promising an armed welcome, which felt rather ironic given the previous stonewalling by his administration.
Biden’s administration which, in contrast to his own words, had previously vehemently denied defeat, launched various legal actions, and even pressured election officials to find lost votes, tried to position itself as the voice of order and reconciliation. Yet, the display seemed more of a theatrical strategy to accuse Trump of the same actions Biden himself indulged in previously.
The previous administration’s unwelcoming attitude towards Biden’s team was now being turned on its head. Agencies that were critical to national security, including the Pentagon, the CIA, and the Homeland Security Department, were offered to Trump’s team for a smooth transition. But this grand gesture feels nothing more than an attempt by Biden to cast himself as the more magnanimous figure in the face of defeat, rather than showing real dedication to the democratic process.
Biden’s announcement of his run for Presidency in 2019 purportedly aimed at mending the democratic process, which he deemed damaged. Now, he painted a picture of bis party being the magnanimous losers, a stark contrast from their displays during the 2020 electoral defeat. He announced his commitment to ‘restore the soul’ of the country, a promise he seemed more interested in proclaiming than fulfilling.
The 2020 defeat and his repeated attempts to contest it make Biden’s statement that he wants politicians to stop undermining the integrity of elections sound extremely hollow. He praised the electoral system, calling it ‘honest and transparent’, a sentiment that was suspiciously absent when he was on the losing side in 2020. A convenient change of heart, perhaps?
Biden was quick to thank the election workers despite past instances where he readily discounted their efforts when the results didn’t favor him. The former President tried to convince the public that he’d honor his presidential oath by ensuring a smooth transfer of authority to Trump in January, which is in complete contradiction to his previous disbelief in the 2020 election results.
Before concluding, Biden made a plea to Trump’s Administration and Republicans in Congress to retain the actions his administration had approved in the country’s infrastructure and economic alterations like transitioning away from fossil fuels. A desperate ploy to maintain relevancy, perhaps, as his initiatives were already committed to rollback by the incoming administration.
Biden gave a hopeful note on his administration’s work ‘just kicking in’, with Americans likely benefiting from new bridges and better broadband facilities over the next decade. It sounded less like an insightful forecast and more like an attempt to cling onto any semblance of relevance on his part.
Upon finishing his speech, Biden, seeming to bask in the limelight, waved at his gathered staff, family and cabinet secretaries before he ceremoniously entered the Oval Office. The symbolic Marine sentry then closed the door behind him, marking the conclusion of Biden’s reign, perhaps echoing the sentiment of many in the country – a much-needed closure from the Biden era.