- Biden is the first US president to withdraw from the electoral race just a few months before the election
- Biden tried to look like a very active campaigner against climate change
- Biden's profligacy may have led to massive inflation
- J. Biden supported Ukraine but failed to strengthen ties with China or to respond strongly to the Gaza conflict
Biden is the first US president to withdraw from the electoral race just a few months before the election
US President Joe Biden will leave office in January 2025. During his four years in office, he faced major challenges - high inflation, the migration crisis, and the international crises that dominated his entire term. But what has this politician really done and what mark has he left on the history of the US and the world?
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of Biden's presidency occurred very recently when he abruptly withdrew from the presidential election just over three months before it was due to take place. In July, Mr Biden stressed that democracy in the US must be preserved and that the best way to achieve this, he said, was to hand over leadership to a new generation[1].
"Serving you as President has been the greatest honour of my life," Biden wrote in a letter posted on his official "X" social platform account. "While I plan to seek re-election, I believe it would be best for my party and the country if I step down and focus on the rest of my term."
However, despite becoming the first President to withdraw from the electoral race so close to the election, J. Biden's withdrawal was predictable. Many voters and even members of his own party no longer believed that Biden was fit to be President. Everyone commented on Biden's poor physical condition, strange behavior, slurred speech, and age. The 81-year-old politician simply did not look fit to lead the US for another four years.
This was particularly evident during the televised debate with Donald Trump, when Biden apparently lost his train of thought several times, his voice shook and he seemed physically unprepared for this important political battle. He later apologised and said that he just had a cold. Although even his former supporters could hardly believe this excuse[2].
Biden tried to look like a very active campaigner against climate change
Despite Biden's personal withdrawal from the political fray and the comments made by those around him about his physical condition, experts tend to view Biden's tenure as a relatively successful one in the economic field. Taking office during the COVID-19 pandemic, he avoided the predicted economic downturn by adopting the "American rescue plan". This $1.9 trillion bailout package provided financial assistance to businesses and US citizens, thus containing the country's economic collapse.
Biden's initiative also led to the passage of the Infrastructure Act, which aimed to modernize and renew America's dilapidated bridges, water systems, and roads. Billions of dollars have been pumped into improving infrastructure. This project was one of the most ambitious in decades[3].
In 2022, Biden achieved another important goal: the "Inflation Reduction Act", which aims to invest primarily in renewable energy. In doing so, Biden fought climate change and created new jobs in the energy sector. At the time, Biden stressed that this path was one of the most aggressive steps to tackle the climate crisis and increase energy security.
Biden clearly wanted to go down in history as a kind of climate change stopper. He has strongly advocated climate protection policies and plans to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Biden has invested in green mobility and clean energy, but many of these initiatives are still in their infancy or are rather questionable and will depend on the decisions of his successors.
Biden's profligacy may have led to massive inflation
Of course, it should also be borne in mind that Mr Biden's tenure has been marked by two major crises: massive inflation and migration. In 2022, inflation reached 9%, which alarmed many Americans. By the end of his term, Biden had succeeded in bringing inflation down to 2.4%, but this is hardly something to be happy about because the rising cost of living has remained a particularly acute problem in America, for which voters blame the government's decisions and inaction[4].
Some political analysts praise Biden, explaining that the economic indicators recorded during his presidency are really good and that the US is supposedly booming. However, both the public and some of the economists who criticize him say the opposite. For example, the economist Peter Morici, from the University of Maryland, accuses Biden of excessive government spending, which, in his view, has led to high inflation. According to the economist, although the US economy has recovered, ordinary people have been hit hard by the high inflation that has hit America due to Biden's overspending.
The issue of migration has also been one of the most difficult. Although the number of illegal immigrants on the southern border between the US and Mexico has fallen sharply during Biden's tenure, the issue has remained at the center of the political debate. The Biden government has been accused of not doing enough, and Biden himself has been constantly criticized over the migrant problem.
Indeed, even now, experts note a trend towards many voters switching to Trump for economic reasons. His strong stance on immigration and the economy is appealing to voters who no longer want the continuity of Biden's policies that they would have experienced if they had voted for Harris.
J. Biden supported Ukraine but failed to strengthen ties with China or to respond strongly to the Gaza conflict
Biden has tried to rebuild trust in the US internationally, especially among NATO allies. His leadership during the Russia-Ukraine war was quite strong, with Biden consistently supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledging to supply arms to Ukraine for as long as they were needed[5].
However, despite his rather clear stance on Ukraine, Biden seemed to be oblivious to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Critics of the US President accuse him of inaction, of a sluggish response to the many dying and suffering civilians, and of the fact that he has expressed support for Israel.
77.news recalls that according to preliminary estimates, more than 43 300 Palestinians have already been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli attacks, the majority of them civilians, including large numbers of women and children. Thousands of civilians are also suffering extremely poor living conditions and various illnesses. Meanwhile, just over 1 100 people have died in Israel.
Moreover, one of the biggest failures of Biden's presidency was the disorderly withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. This decision, without a clear plan on how to do it safely, resulted in many civilian and military deaths and left America's allies feeling unsupported.
Biden has also dealt with deteriorating relations with China and its increasingly tough policies. During his tenure, he has forged new strategic partnerships, such as the so-called Quad Alliance with Japan, Australia, and India, to mobilize forces against Chinese influence in the region.