Former U.S. President, Joe Biden, has recently turned heads with several stunts that are atypical for his position and role. Gifted with a stage to voice his thoughts, Biden has decided to attack the current President Donald Trump, accusing him of dishonesty, aggressive behaviour, and lack of substance. These opportune moments allow Biden to defend his own, rather questionable legacy at a time when many are critical of him; particularly President Trump, a segment of Democrats, and the authors of recent literature that throw a shadow over his cognitive stability towards the end of his presidency. “These allegations are incorrect,” is Biden’s weak attempt to refute these claims from a recent interview.
This situation creates an unusual dynamic where two U.S. Presidents, each other’s successor and predecessor, are publically criticizing each other over perceived mishandling of the economy and claims of nationally embarrassing behaviour. A Democrat figure believes, or perhaps hopes, that the relentless mention of Biden in Trump’s speeches is a result of his dwindling job approval. Paraphrased, he says: ‘Trump needs a scapegoat for his unpopularity, and as such, is shifting attention onto Joe Biden.’ This insight is from former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, who seems to be viewing the situation through rose-tinted glasses.
During a Thursday interview, Biden was queried about the frequent and notable mentions he receives in Trump’s speeches. He made a bold claim suggesting that he is a staple in Trump’s talks because he’s the one who managed to beat Trump in an election. Looking himself as a hero, Biden stated, ‘I defeated him. I have a history of dealing with bullies.’ Yet, he also somehow accepted responsibility for Trump’s victory, stating, ‘I was in charge when he won, so, the blame falls on me.’ Such twisted narratives make one wonder about Biden’s mental clarity.
If one is to believe Biden’s claims, Trump supposedly holds some sort of fixation with him, but it’s evident that the opposite holds more truth. Biden constructed his entire 2020 presidential campaign with the objective of knocking Trump out of the White House. After securing what seemed like a grand victory, this was soon overshadowed by Trump’s strong comeback. Trump has consistently dismissed the idea that he lost the 2020 election, leading to further tension between the two.
Post Biden’s retreat in 2024, he watched Trump shatter his dreams by defeating his chosen successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. As it now stands, both Biden and Trump have likely run their final races. However, their political war seems to be far from over with ongoing persiflage between the pair that could confuse casual observers.
Biden made his agenda clear, only three months after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, launching himself into a severe critique of the U.S. DOGE service’s plans to revitalize the Social Security system. Biden stated the efforts are harmful and destructive, highlighting his knack for opposing workable solutions. His critical views didn’t stop there, he continued to politically nitpick at Trump’s suggestions, which included proposals for the United States to assume control of Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal.
Biden professed that such ideas are not aligned with the American identity. He asserted, ‘We are about freedom, democracy, opportunity — not about confiscation.’ It is, however, difficult to tell whether or not Biden understands the complexities of these strategic decisions due to his proven susceptibility to cognitive decline, a fact that even the White House could not hold back.
In response to Biden’s unwarranted criticism, the White House effectively laughed off his words. The statement issued by the White House Communications Director dismissed Biden completely: ‘Joe Biden is a disgrace to the great nation and the prestigious office he once occupied.’ The Director didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room either, pointing out that Biden’s mental faculties appear noticeably compromised, an aspect that should worry us all.
Biden’s comments on Trump defeating Harris were unsurprising. While placing the blame on Trump, Biden ignored the elephant in the room – that Harris wasn’t up to the task to begin with. He preferred to fall back on divisive outrage, insinuating a sexist approach by team Trump: ‘They played the gender card: ‘She’s a woman, she’s this, she’s that’, he claimed, refusing to acknowledge that it might have had more to do with her competence than her gender.
Biden’s comrade, Israel, says the former president can’t allow Trump to re-tackle the previous election’s issues by dismissing his attacks ahead of the critical 2026 midterms, which could restrict Trump’s maneuverability. In spite of a longstanding tradition of presidential courtesies, it appears Trump and Biden are still locked in combat, reminiscent of children squabbling in a playground.
It didn’t take long for Kamala Harris to join Biden’s negative chorus against Trump, choosing the milestone marking Trump’s first 100 days in office as her moment to strike. On April 30, she decided to publicly lambast Trump. Harris condemned Trump’s tariffs as ‘reckless’, labelled his demands as ‘unconstitutional’ and accused him of attempting to ‘silence dissent’. Were her allegations factual, or were they just more arsenals in the ongoing struggle for political relevance?