President Joe Biden will deliver a final Oval Office speech on Wednesday, marking the end of his five-decade political career. Despite his efforts to solidify his legacy, his accomplishments have been overshadowed by the Democrats’ inability to prevent Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Biden initially ran for president in 2020 as a transitional figure but later decided to seek reelection at the age of 80, believing he was the best candidate to defeat Trump. However, he was forced to withdraw from the race following a challenging debate with Trump in July. Some Democrats attribute their losses in November to Biden stepping aside and Vice President Kamala Harris taking the lead in a rapid campaign.
Throughout his tenure, Biden and his allies focused on the nation’s COVID recovery, infrastructure development, semiconductor manufacturing, and climate change initiatives to address inequality and invest in the future. While leaving behind a thriving economy and optimistic business environment, Biden struggled to bridge the country’s divides and combat democratic erosion globally.
Despite his temporary victory over Trump in 2020, Biden’s achievements have been overshadowed by the resurgence of the Republican leader, who has pledged to dismantle much of the previous administration’s work. In a letter released by the White House, Biden emphasized the ongoing importance of preserving American values and urged citizens to continue advocating for equality and freedom.
Former adviser David Axelrod lamented that Biden’s positive accomplishments have been eclipsed by his decision to run for reelection, with Trump’s return to power casting a shadow over his legacy. However, a White House official emphasized that legacies are shaped over time, highlighting Biden’s significant legislative achievements that will have lasting impacts for years to come.
Senator Chris Coons praised Biden for navigating economic, public health, and democracy challenges during his presidency, particularly following the Capitol attack in January 2021. Despite overseeing successful COVID vaccine distribution and economic recovery, Biden faced criticism over rising inflation and prices, which affected public perception of his economic leadership.
As Republicans capitalized on public dissatisfaction and accused Democrats of elitism, experts noted the challenges of addressing long-standing inequality through short-term economic policies. Nonetheless, the Biden administration’s efforts to provide relief and recovery on a substantial scale were recognized as crucial steps towards generating a robust job market and economic stability.
President Biden, a seasoned politician with over three decades of experience in the U.S. Senate and serving as vice president to Barack Obama for eight years, touts a unified Western response to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, the bolstering of alliances, and the American exit from Afghanistan as significant foreign policy accomplishments. However, his tenure was marred by challenges, including the loss of thirteen U.S. military personnel during the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, leading to a decline in his popularity that was never fully regained.
Biden’s unwavering backing of Israel, which retaliated with force against the Hamas militant group following an attack on the Jewish state that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, exposed deep divisions within the Democratic party and eroded his standing among progressive factions. Vincent Rigby, a former senior national security advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, opined that Biden might be remembered as an “interlude” president, despite making strides in restoring faith in the United States following the tumultuous first term of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Reflecting on Biden’s legacy, Rigby remarked, “We’ll see how history treats him five, 10, 15 years from now, but he’ll be seen as the president between the two Trump presidencies. He held the line, but Trump came back.”
As the Biden administration navigates these challenges, the world watches closely to see how the legacy of this “in-between” president unfolds over time.
