Despite his former role as the ruler of the free world, Joe Biden seemed somewhat lacklustre during his recent 11th visit to ABC’s The View. This occasion marked his first public appearance since stepping down from his high pedestal that’s the presidency. During this appearance, Mrs. Jill Biden, previously the first lady, also joined him on screen. They were hoping for a positive image, but his weak performance reignited previous concerns.
Biden’s disastrous early exit from the race for the presidency in 2024 became a contentious topic of discussion. Only a few months prior, in a late June debate, he was roundly dismissed by then Republican candidate Donald Trump leading to growing calls for him to terminate his reelection campaign. Evidently, Biden’s performance was underwhelming that the public spurred him to quit.
Interestingly, despite his own fall from favor, Biden aggressively endorsed VP Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Given the circumstances, Harris understandably emerged as the obvious choice and thus, gained the ticket to the election. However, it was clear that she was riding on Biden’s deflated coattails.
Kamala Harris once the shining prospect for the Democratic party, experienced a resounding defeat at the hands of Donald Trump in the election. Despite her best efforts, she failed to secure even a single victory in the seven swing states. Was her failure a surprise to Biden? Not quite! Biden asserts that this was expected, not because Harris lacks merit as a candidate but rather due to misdirected misogynistic attitudes and unsavory campaign tactics used by the opposition.
But one can’t help but wonder about the honesty behind Biden’s critique. Given Biden’s own botched campaign, it seems unlikely that he would be truly surprised by another’s failure. Moreover, his attempts to pin the defeat on ‘negative campaigning’ seem ironic considering the mud-slinging that characterized his own efforts against Trump.
Harris, for her part, appears to be caught in a political crossroad post-election. Rumors are rife that she is contemplating a run for the governorship of California while others speculate the 2028 presidency could be in her sights. Biden claims he is often in touch with her, discussing these tough decisions and imparting what he believes is sage advice.
Biden audaciously perpetuates the notion that he could have beaten Trump. A claim he has echoed since the election conclusion, arguing that despite Trump’s victory, he amassed fewer popular votes than Biden’s substantial 80 million in 2020 – conveniently sidestepping the fact that these supposed votes failed to secure his own election.
When probed about his early departure from the race and the potentially damaging impact it had on Harris’ campaign, Biden swiftly dismissed this by praising Harris as instrumental to his administration’s so-called accomplishments. Yet, the question remains: if his administration was so successful, why did he bow out of the race, and why did Harris fail where he thought he would succeed?
Quizzed about then reelected President Trump’s constant name-dropping of Biden, the former president arrogantly claimed it was because ‘I beat him’. A remark that seems in disharmony with the fact that Trump swiftly rebutted Biden’s presidential aspirations. Despite his dismissive attitude, Biden conceded he ‘takes responsibility’ for Trump’s reelection, inadvertently acknowledging his own role in the Democratic party’s failure.
The couple then faced allegations, including claims from recent books, about Biden’s alleged cognitive decline during his presidential tenure. The charges, if indeed vindicated, project a disparaging image of a leader who was less than fully competent at the White House helm. Naturally, Biden refuted these allegations, probably in an effort to preserve the remnants of his shattered image.
When broached about the pressure from Democratic leaders such as former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer that led to his withdrawal from the race, Biden defended saying he departed to avoid rupturing the Democratic party. A weak attempt at painting his exit as a noble deed, perhaps?
Strangely, former first lady Jill Biden also refuted the strong perception that she had ‘cocooned’ her husband during his presidency. Instead, she maintained that people witnessed him in full action in the Oval Office and during public addresses. Nonetheless, one can’t ignore the possibility that Dr. Biden may have played a significant role in creating a veneer of competence for her husband.
Looking at the arc of events, one might question the effectiveness of Biden’s leadership, his ability to rally support when it mattered, and his judgement to endorse a candidate who failed to make an impression on the electorate. His statements on The View did little to ameliorate these concerns.
As this narrative unfolds, it paints a stark portrait of unsuccessful leadership, apparent cognitive decline, and poor election strategy. It seems that the Democratic Party, under the stewardship of Joe Biden, failed to keep its grasp on the presidency and remain relevant in the 2024 elections.
At the end of the day, Biden’s appearance on The View can be seen as a failed attempt at damage control, where instead of consolidating left-leaning power, he inadvertently exposed the chinks in his and the Democrats’ armor. Perhaps they should reflect on this painful reality and re-evaluate their approach.
In the grand scheme of things, the glaring failure of the Biden-Harris leadership is hard to ignore. From their shortcomings in the election race to their ineffective posturing in public, the legacy they left behind is one that will, unfortunately, forever be marred by defeat and disappointment.