The Associated Press reported on the 19th that for a long time, Joe Biden has always had an ultimate goal: to sit behind a desk in an oval office. Eventually, he achieved that goal — even though he was 78 years old at the time, the oldest president in U.S. history. However, Biden also found that things beyond his control would shape his time in office and the public's assessment of him.
Infographic (People's Vision)
A year after Biden took office as president of the United States, the Associated Press White House reporting team summed up the following points:
Huge ambition
With a grand vision of more than $4 trillion, Biden began his presidency — but he wanted more than the Senate could accept.
The $1.9 trillion economic bailout package passed in March in response to the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic would have been seen as a landmark achievement for Biden. But Biden continues to demand more: $2.3 trillion more to invest in infrastructure and jobs projects, and another $1.8 trillion in subsidies to American households.
After some tortuous negotiations, the "slimming down version" of the infrastructure investment plan was finally passed in Congress. Later, Biden proposed a $1.8 trillion stimulus package known as the Rebuild a Better Future bill. Republican lawmakers, however, abandoned him on the issue, and some Democratic lawmakers were skeptical. Subsequently, inflation soared in the United States, and the success of the spending plan plummeted.
Biden falls while boarding (People's Vision)
Shoot high and fall closer
Biden inherited a long list of unfulfilled Democratic policy priorities when he took office, but even when he tried his best, most remained the same.
After Trump took office, for Biden, pushing for electoral reform seems to be the most pressing issue. But the attempt was broken even before it actually began, by two moderate lawmakers from his party. Moreover, Democratic issues on voting rights, immigration, climate change, gun control and abortion rights remain an unrealized burden.
Not Obama 2.0
When Biden took office, he preached "America is back," and his brief message to America's allies and adversaries was that the era of Trump's "America First" foreign policy was over. But he was also notable for his determination to avoid making some of the mistakes of his predecessor, "boss," Barack Obama.
While military commanders and some political allies urged him to slow down the U.S. military withdrawal operation, which ultimately led to chaos and gore, Biden has upheld his commitment to end the war in Afghanistan by the August deadline. During his tenure as vice president, Biden opposed Obama's move to increase troops to Afghanistan. But the U.S. withdrawal under Biden's auspices has been widely criticized for its haste and poor execution.
Biden visits tornado-affected areas (People's Vision)
In addition, Biden's skepticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin is also more serious than that of Obama, Trump and George W. Bush.
The Associated Press White House reporting team also summed up his style, saying that despite His presidency, Biden always thought like a senator; always returned home for the weekend when he was president; mentioned his late son almost every time he spoke publicly; had an awkward relationship with Vice President Harris; Biden's technocraticism in the White House and his concentration of power in the West Wing of the White House.
(Editor: WDQ)