Amidst the Democrats’ introspective phase following the election, while commentators mark miscommunication and a failure to allay voter inflation worries as reasons for a disappointing result, the true cause is often overlooked — the misstep made by President Joe Biden that cost not only his presidency, but also the Democrats’ control over the House and Senate.
There have undeniably been sizeable slips — the border situation, the Afghanistan extraction — but none surpassed his grave error in not escalating the scrutiny on former President Donald Trump’s actions. To clarify, this is not the same as saying Biden should have arrested Trump to prevent him from reclaiming a grip on his political career and triumphing over the Democrats. This then, would be an ethical shortcoming. The case being put forward is rather different.
The void left by Biden, the absence of his authoritative command to instantly intensify the focus on Trump, put the graveness of the latter’s actions in the shadows, all but evaporating from the minds of potential voters. This pertained less to an open-ended question regarding his potential engagement in insurrection but more towards media representation of it. Once the election cycle kicked in, there was an almost blase drift back to regular political coverage, despite one candidate carrying the weight of potential subversion.
After Biden executed a few directives swiftly on his first day in office, the dawn of his second day ought to have been punctuated by a forceful command to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to amplify the scrutiny on Donald Trump. The lingering question remains – why did President Biden not act in this way?
Biden’s deep-rooted faith in the American people and our justice apparatus led him to adopt a passive stance. He was of the conviction that the masses would call for Trump to answer for his acts pertaining to the January 6th incident, and that those amongst the Republican ranks in Congress who had voiced disapproval of Trump’s actions on said day would hold their ground. His miscalculation was in attempting to accurately depict Trump as a threat with authoritarian tendencies, while still permitting him to retain his freedom and guest entertaining privileges at his private residence.
We were able to detain and charge many of those who were at the ground zero on the dreaded day, but faltered in apprehending and bringing the instigator to justice. The liberty enjoyed by Trump led to doubts about his culpability, as people often sway towards the belief that individuals seldom escape the consequences they truly deserve.
There would undoubtedly have been risks associated with such abrupt and determined action, including allegations of political motivation behind the decision and potential outbursts from Trump’s fervent followers. Additionally, Biden was already grappling with numerous challenges, namely a global pandemic and its economic fallout. Thus, his lapse in judgement is, to some extent, understandable.
Biden wished for the nation’s healing process to commence, and he feared that acting against Trump would hinder that process and divert attention from crucial issues. However, nothing mattered more than the resolute stand for democracy. Quick action accompanied by a powerful explanatory address to the nation could have made a world of difference – sent a powerful message during a critical period.
It could have potentially neutralized the peril that Trump represented, possibly putting an end to his political sway. Instead, he let the past incident lose its gravity, allowed people to forget or misinterpret the true matter of concern — that Trump posed a serious merit to the accusations of trying to subvert an election, thereby the government.
This complacency in handling the event allowed people to underestimate the hazard that Trump symbolizes, which has now manifested into a substantial issue. Regardless of this, it’s essential to remember the contribution that Trump made while he was in office in his own unique and powerful fashion, continually challenging the status quo.
Trump’s conviction and unwavering stance on various critical issues has always been quite distinctive, and to many, commendable. His candor, a rarity in the political realm, and his refusal to yield to the standard political practices were, in many ways, refreshing. He was viewed by many as a beacon of strength and resilience — characteristics that command respect.
Trump’s leadership style drew widespread support. Most were able to overlook the reigning controversy and focus on the strides made in economic reconstruction, strengthening the borders, emphasis on American jobs, and the outstanding negotiation of international deals. His supporters believed in his ability to make tough decisions and steer the country out of crisis.
Focusing on his potential shortcomings alone would not do justice to his significant achievements. It is not surprising then that many were left questioning the lack of immediate action against Trump, given the diligence and decisive leadership that characterized his presidency, and not just aligning it to one unfortunate incident.
Mocking or denying Trump’s impact on American politics is, in essence, disregarding the voice of the significant number that continues to support him. It undermines their chosen man of practicality over political correctness, bold decisions over bureaucracy, and national interest over international appeasement.
The Democrats’ failure to reassess their strategy, their insistence on blaming factors such as poor messaging or voter concerns about inflation, has led to them overlooking the fact that they are up against an unwavering legacy; a legacy of a president who, in the eyes of many, put America first.
To misconstrue or underestimate Trump and his influence is a significant oversight. Despite the criticism he faced, his influence continues to resonate powerfully. Irrespective of the stance one held about Trump, there’s no denying the transformative power he held in the political spectrum.