It came just two weeks after Joe Biden's inauguration four years ago Rioters stormed the Capitol Undermining the certification of his victory. When Biden's presidency began with the caveat that "democracy has prevailed," few imagined it would end this way: Biden warned that his successor "will fundamentally change the character of this country forever." ".
“When Joe Biden took office he said he would defend democracy against authoritarianism,” said Franklin Foer, a staff writer at The Atlantic. “That’s the first thing for him. Everyone knows his mean."
Fall wrote a book about President Biden's first two years in office called "The Last Statesman." What does he mean? “I’m thinking, our politics is a war of attrition between two parties that despise each other,” Fall said.
In 2019, Biden said: "People say, 'Biden just doesn't get it.'" "You can't work with Republicans anymore." "That's not the case anymore." Well, folks, I'm going to say something Outrageous words: I Know How to make government work. "
"Biden has a very old-fashioned idea of how to get things done," Fall said. "He feels that in order to save American democracy, he needs to prove that this old-fashioned style of politics can still deliver important, meaningful, tangible results." "Do things for the American people. "
In many ways, President Biden did deliver. his government oversight Successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccine. Stocks rise steadily to record highsalthough Unemployment rate drops to near historic low.
Overseas, he enlarged natostrengthening Asian alliances to contain China, and Piecing together lasting support for Ukraine Because it defends against Russia.
He did this while scoring major legislative victories, including Massive new investments in clean energy and Semiconductor manufacturing.
He achieved what his predecessors had failed to achieve: Signing $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, said most of the infrastructure funding comes from New Jersey: "We are the most densely populated state in the country. So moving people and things is probably more important to us than to any other state." Importantly, President Biden has done what he calls, I would almost call it, a renaissance of American infrastructure with a variety of projects in our state.
Most notably, $16 billion Gateway Tunnel projectwhich would expand a century-old tunnel under the Hudson River and double train capacity between New York and New Jersey. It is the largest project of its kind in U.S. history.
"It will take time for us to feel the full impact of what we have done together. But the seeds have been planted, and they will grow and they will bloom for decades to come," Biden said in his farewell address to the nation on Wednesday. "
"I think it's been a very successful presidency. I think history will be very, very good to him," Murphy said.
Yet despite his major milestones, Biden has been in trouble almost from the start.
Why? "I think it's a fair question, is this fair?" Murphy said. "Frankly, I don't think so. But it is what it is. I mean, the numbers don't lie."
President Biden’s approval ratings are high from the start. But six months later they sank Deadly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
His poll numbers drop further high inflationa record surge illegal border crossingand Gaza war That Split his party.
Questions about his age have dogged him from the moment he took office.
Asked if he realized he had slowed down, Fall responded: "Anyone with eyes could see him walking across the stage, they could see he had a stiff gait. They could see him Dragging his feet like an old man. "So, he knew he was an old man, too, but I think he probably overestimated his political skills because he came back from the dead every time. "
Democratic leaders pressure Biden to withdraw from race His disastrous debate performance last June. Vice President Kamala Harris has just three months left in her campaign and has lost the popular vote and support in every battleground state. Democrats also lost their majority in the Senate, meaning Republicans will now control the White House and both chambers and have the power to undo some of Biden's work.
So the man who warned Donald Trump on the campaign trail suddenly found his legacy largely in Trump's hands.
"He set out to prevent Donald Trump from returning to the White House," Fall said. "Now, at the end of his presidency, he has clearly failed by any measure to achieve his No. 1 goal. Donald Trump Pu is back."
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Story by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Joseph Flandino.
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