As Joe Biden’s tenure as president unwinds on Monday, it becomes evident that his presidency was arguably more of an obstacle than a pathway in the era that saw the prominence of Donald Trump. Biden managed to unseat Trump once, but triumphed for naught as he failed to prevent Trump’s return. This could be attributed to Biden and his staff’s disinclination to acknowledge the apparent limitations tied to his advancing age.
By the time Biden stepped back from the race in July, his Democratic Party was left in disarray with little time to campaign for a replacement. Kamala Harris, the newly appointed Vice President, was thrust into the position of nominee, with insufficient time to establish a voter base or navigate complex questions with forethought.
Meanwhile, Trump was surging ahead, overcoming an assassination attempt and gathering momentum akin to a powerful locomotive. Amid this changing landscape, Biden handed over to Trump a stable economic pedestal upon which he could build his policies and initiatives.
In spite of his defenses, during Biden’s reign, the country witnessed a recovery from the pandemic which consequently resulted in job creation. However, these advancements were arguably not due to Biden’s leadership but rather an inevitable recovery that would follow any downturn.
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill of 2021, primarily paving the way for welcome changes throughout Trump’s term and beyond, and Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which temporarily propped up the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, were passed. The anticipated recession did not come about, but this extravagant spending indirectly contributed to inflation.
After a brief period of inflation, rates returned to manageable levels. Yet, fears regarding the cost of essential commodities such as gas and groceries led to a plunge in Biden’s approval ratings that kept him in unfavorable territory.
Historians may attempt to paint a muddled picture of the so-called accomplishments of the Biden administration. In the realm of foreign affairs, Biden’s tenure coincided with a period in which the United States was not directly involved in war for the first time in decades.
Admittedly, Biden’s administration wasn’t completely isolationist. Certain instances point towards Biden’s assistance in sustaining Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion. Biden and his representatives seem to have played a role in brokering a cease-fire in Gaza, although Trump is striving to take full credit.
One can’t ignore the glaring failure marked by the catastrophic pullout from Afghanistan in 2021, reminiscent of critical mistakes made during the Vietnam War era. Yet another embodiment of the inadequacies of Biden’s administration came through the debacle on immigration issues.
Biden hesitated and took slow action as millions crossed the borders, with a section pursuing asylum and others entering illegally. Although he eventually reinforced border rules last year, the corrective action belatedly followed, which aided Trump in taking advantage of the issue during his campaign.
Biden’s most praised achievement, a return to an ‘ordinary’ presidency, is a rather poor accolade considering the circumstances. After four years of turbulent times under Trump, the people yearned for a steadier presidency, and Biden, for all his faults, provided that.
In a denouncement of his own tenure, during his farewell speech on Wednesday, Biden raised the specter of a rising ‘oligarchy in America.’ He warned of an impending state where the truth is masked by lies touted for the sake of power and profit, hardly something one would expect from a self-proclaimed leader of democracy.
Despite serving as a two-term vice president, a one-term president, and a six-term senator, Biden did little more than offer platitudes and vague hopes to the American people. He passed the baton, urging all Americans to ‘stand guard,’ perhaps finally accepting his oft-criticized leadership style.
In conclusion, the downfall of Biden’s presidency illuminates the pitfalls of a leader unwilling to adapt to changing times, highlighting the fallacies in his strategies and casting a negative light on his and Harris’s tenure. Even though history has sometimes been lenient with one-term presidents, Biden’s stint, laden with underwhelming accomplishments and lackluster leadership, leaves much to be desired.