Trump’s return casts a pall, but America cannot ignore Biden’s legacy | Editorial
President Joe Biden led the U.S. out of the pandemic, presided over a booming economy, helped strengthen and expand international alliances, and invested in American infrastructure.
At noon on Monday, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. will participate in the peaceful transfer of power — which alone is more than can be said about his predecessor and soon-to-be successor.
The return of Donald Trump casts a pall over Biden’s half-century in Washington and one term as president. Instead of being the person who beat back Trumpism, Biden provided a brief respite between Trump’s “American carnage” and promised retribution.
He exits the stage defeated and unpopular. It’s a disordered end for a dedicated public servant who inherited an economy in shambles but did not get the credit he deserves.
Four years later, Biden will hand Trump an economy that has been called “the envy of the world.” That underscores how — for better and worse — Biden’s legacy will forever be bound with Trump’s.
The now president-elect so dominated the headlines during Biden’s time in the White House — from the insurrection to four indictments and criminal convictions — that it is easy to forget many of Biden’s accomplishments.
For starters, Biden led the country out of the pandemic with calm and trust in science. His administration’s handling of the public health crisis wasn’t perfect, but it sharply contrasted Trump’s mismanagement, gaslighting, and politicization.
Biden presided over a growing job market. Nearly 17 million jobs were added during his four years — more than Trump (2.7 million), Barack Obama (7.1 million), and George W. Bush (5.2 million) combined. He leaves office with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, the lowest of any outgoing president since Bill Clinton.
» READ MORE: With honor and decency, Joe Biden exits the race | Editorial
Biden also presided over a booming stock market and spearheaded the largest infrastructure bill ever — investing nearly $1 trillion to rebuild roads, bridges, railways, airports, broadband internet, and water and sewer systems.
Biden’s landmark climate change and health-care bill earmarked $375 billion over 10 years largely in subsidies to spur investment in renewable energy and electric vehicles. The measure is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, making it the single largest climate investment in U.S. history.
The health-care piece of the bill paved the way for lowering prescription drug prices and saving Medicare billions. Under Biden, a record 24 million people now have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
On foreign policy, Biden’s signature achievement was strengthening and expanding NATO and restoring American leadership. He rebuilt frayed relationships with allies disregarded under Trump’s “America First” nationalism and rejoined the Paris climate agreement.
Biden led the effort to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion. But the support needed to defeat Moscow was too cautious and slow in coming, due largely to Republican opposition.
Biden spent his final days in office, along with tireless efforts by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, hammering out a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — though the deal hit a snag after it was announced.
The president also broke overdue barriers. Biden selected the first woman elected vice president. He appointed the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. He diversified the courts by nominating more women and people of color to the federal bench than any other president.
To be sure, Biden’s tenure was not perfect.
The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 — and the overheated media coverage — haunted his presidency. Commentators on Fox News were still bellyaching about it after Biden’s farewell Wednesday night.
Missing from the conservative media bashing was how Trump shared in the blame since he negotiated the settlement that tied Biden’s hands. Not to mention, the 20-year war was a costly mistake that needed to end.
Despite big plans, Biden failed to fix the country’s decades-long broken immigration system. He was slow to address the surge in illegal border crossings, though they have dropped to their lowest level in four years.
Biden-backed economic stimulus was blamed for inflation, though the increased pandemic spending helped the U.S. economy bounce back faster and stronger than other countries. The price hikes were also due, in part, to supply-chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine, and corporate price gouging.
» READ MORE: Hunter Biden’s ill-advised pardon sends a dangerous message | Editorial
But Biden’s biggest mistake was trying to run for a second term at age 82. When he ran for president in 2020, Biden said he was a “transition candidate.”
One successful term would have secured his legacy and given Democrats time to have a normal primary instead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ abbreviated candidacy.
Trump’s unprecedented return marks a sad end for Biden and a challenge to America, as the contrasts could not be starker.
Biden’s character will be replaced by Trump’s corruption. (See two impeachments, four criminal indictments, one conviction, and a violent insurrection, for starters.)
Biden’s respect for the Constitution will be replaced by Trump’s calls for unchecked power.
Biden’s team of professionals will be replaced by unqualified lackeys like Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel. Not to mention the 13 billionaires who will be part of the administration.
In his farewell address, Biden rightly warned about the oligarchy “taking shape in America” that “literally threatens our entire democracy.”
Biden was a consequential president. History will be kind to him, but the dangerous policies of his successor may undermine his true legacy.