Staff Reports
The global landscape is looking more chaotic than ever, and the world’s top leaders are likely wondering how we got here since those blissful days of 2020 when Donald Trump was at the helm. Under Trump, Americans could revel in the fact that there were no hot wars littering the international scene. The Ukraine saga was a distant worry, and peace in the Middle East was more than a pipe dream. Fast forward to 2024, and the narrative has flipped. President Joe Biden is now slapping high-fives with allies and trying to piece back together relationships frayed by Trump’s frankness, almost as if he’s coaching a little league team full of emotionally fragile players.
Notably, Biden has recently pulled off a prisoner swap that some might not consider worth the price paid. By reaching out to not just one but four other countries, including Germany—land of schnitzels and occasionally favorable partnering for the U.S.—Biden managed to secure the release of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich. But it’s hard not to view this maneuver through the lens of political theater. After all, getting nations to play nice again after years of Trump’s tough love isn’t a walk in the park. Meanwhile, Biden remains at risk of being haunted by the specter of Trump, capable of reversing much of what he does on the foreign policy stage with only a flick of a pen.
Washington Examiner: Wake up with the Washington Examiner: ‘Trump-proofing’ foreign policy and Biden’s bombshell border plan https://t.co/hjcJtsPU06
— Ian’s Newsfeed 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHNewsFeed) August 9, 2024
This raises the great dilemma faced by the administration: how to make decisions that are so solid that Trump wouldn’t dare undo them. The strategy seems eerily similar to that of a magician trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, hoping that despite all odds, the rabbit won’t maul him in the process. A prime example from Trump’s previous presidency was when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a bold move that Biden has chosen to leave intact. The administration seems convinced that better to play it safe with long-standing allies and try not to offend them than to risk a reversal that would leave them politically exposed.
Turning attention toward NATO, Trump’s support for Israel has been unwavering, while also expressing his frustrations over other NATO countries not pulling their weight financially. The former president has never shied away from forging a tough-love relationship with allies, offering a blend of loyalty to friends while threatening consequences for those who don’t meet financial commitments. A new alliance with Senator J.D. Vance firmly against unnecessary military aid is shaping up, revealing a distinct divide on foreign policy priorities.
Then there’s China. The need for the U.S. to pivot towards the Indo-Pacific has never been clearer, especially as Taiwan stares down a potential invasion from the Greater Chinese Entity. Trump has acknowledged the necessity of Taiwan contributing to its own defense, likening the arrangement to an insurance policy. It’s an approach that reinforces a pivotal truth: America can’t simply shield wayward nations while they sit back and enjoy the safety net without making any contributions.
As Biden’s international circus continues juggling relationships, things back home aren’t any less uncanny. The southern border is a glaring blemish on the administration’s record, with Kamala Harris still jockeying for relevance after her various attempts to take the reigns as the “border czar.” Just when one might dare to think that Biden’s actions to stem illegal immigration were starting to bear fruit, the administration seems ready to pull the very lifeline that has seen apprehensions plummet to levels not seen since Trump’s tenure.
With immigration consistently polling as a top voter concern, undoing measures that have shown effectiveness could spell disaster before the 2024 elections. Yet with the left-eyeing any shift back, the administration could find itself in a dilemma worse than having to decide what to order for lunch. Undoubtedly, this border policy gamble showcases Biden’s unpredictable leadership style, leaving him to either publicly celebrate fleeting successes or face the wrath of angry voters should conditions worsen once again. All eyes remain on the political pendulum swings that define this era, which harkens back to the calm before the proverbial storm when Trump was in charge.
