Biden Bows Out with Bitterness: Trump’s Reinstatement

Thursday saw a begrudging admittance from President Joe Biden, often a picture of confusion during his time in office, that he would be relinquishing power back to Donald Trump. It was evident from his Rose Garden speech that bowing out was not something he had expected, in a testament to the distorted self-perception he seemed to have developed.

Instead of being a gracious loser, Biden couldn’t resist pointing out the perceived achievements of his administration, once again showing his tendency to overlook reality. The crowd, more dismayed than reassured, listened as he slung out the hollow statement, ‘We’re going to be OK.’ A strange consolation from the man who campaigned on a promise to transform the nation.

In the discourse, Biden’s attempt to romanticise the concept of democracy was laden with bitterness, more indicative of a leader with no option but to accept defeat. He quipped, ‘We accept the choice the country made’, a stark reminder to his followers that sometimes the masses don’t always gravitate towards fragility and indecisiveness.

Biden’s lectures about loving one’s country and neighbors, even in the face of loss or disagreement, felt strangely hollow, given his inability to establish unity or make tangible progress during his tenure. It was as if the irony of his words, in light of his track record, was lost on him.

In what seemed like a reluctant move, Biden made it known that he had interacted with Trump to ‘congratulate’ him on reclaiming the presidency. Such a ‘peaceful and orderly transition’ was due to commence on January 20, a date likely marked on the calendars of many ecstatic Americans.

This was what the American people were entitled to, according to Biden, the very people who voted him out. Perhaps this politically correct mumbling was an attempt to leave office on a high note or maybe even start mending bridges with his disgruntled electorate.

Next on Biden’s token praising list was Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he described as having a ‘backbone like a ramrod.’ It’s fascinating that Biden would choose to use an anatomically impossible comparison for somebody who often struggled to assert any sort of real authority during her time in power.

Biden commended Harris for giving her ‘whole heart and effort’ to her campaign, though it’s hard to reconcile this with how the campaign ultimately crumbled under scrutiny. Biden suggested that Harris’ team should take pride in their efforts, yet it’s unclear what exactly there is to be proud of.

Echoing this thread of denial, Biden attempted to brand his presidency as ‘historic’. Interestingly, this seems to place more emphasis on the novelty of his reign than on any concrete accomplishments. He mentioned the effects of large-scale investment bills as a key part of his legacy, yet with results only expected in the next decade, one can’t help but question this eager forecast.

Presiding over the ‘strongest economy in the world’ was another boast that Biden made, although many would argue this claimed strength has yet to be genuinely felt by the average American. With inflation skyrocketing and income inequality reaching new highs during his reign, Biden’s assertions felt like a slap in the face to many who have struggled economically during his term.

Attending to his supporters, Biden seemed to be trying to soften the blow of his defeat, but his remark about setbacks being ‘unavoidable’ felt more like a tacit admittance of his own failures. Furthermore, though he seemed to hope against hope, his words of encouragement lacked the conviction and palpable resolve that real leaders often display.

Sparse on authenticity was Biden’s declaration that ‘giving up is unforgivable.’ Given the collective disappointments of his tenure, it seems that Biden was projecting his refusal to admit defeat onto his base, rather than encouraging them towards constructive action.

Showing how out of touch he was with public sentiment, Biden urged them to ‘stay engaged’, even as the vast majority of the populace expressed relief that his tenure was ending. Despite a discouraging track record, he insisted on the importance of ‘keeping going’, seemingly out of denial more than any pragmatic consideration.

His call to ‘keep the faith’ was yet another instance of Biden’s delusion. Given the widespread disillusionment that evidenced his failed stint as president, it’s hard to imagine many people keeping faith in a system that allowed him to lead in the first place.

In conclusion, Biden’s Rose Garden speech was a fitting end to a disputed tenure, a display of the same lack of depth, denial and delusion that characterized his presidency. It remains to be seen whether this ‘historic’ presidency will be remembered more for the confusion it spread, or the illusion it pedaled.