US President Joe Biden will mark three years in the White House on Friday as he prepares a re-candidacy that will turn the eventual election campaign into a referendum on his first term.
The latest polls suggest that one of the key issues facing re-candidate Biden could be his age, with several respondents questioning the president’s ability to begin a second term at age 80.
However, the Democratic candidate faces other political problems: he is accused of not knowing how to deal with the rise in inflation, despite being praised for the way he managed a recession after the Covid-19 pandemic and that he is blamed for the inability to unite a divided country despite efforts to build bridges between the two sides.
After three years in office and on the eve of the first primaries (which will take place early next year), here are some essential points about the highs and lows of Joe Biden’s presidency:
– Rescue plan (high)
Just weeks after taking office, Biden signed the Rescue Plan Act, which provided a wide range of relief measures, including direct stimulus payments, expanded unemployment benefits, funding for COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution, as well as support for small businesses.
The legislation aimed to address the economic impact of the pandemic and help individuals and businesses recover from the financial challenges caused by Covid-19, fulfilling an election promise made by Biden.
– Distribution of vaccines against Covid-19 (high)
The Biden administration began a nationwide vaccination campaign, aiming to administer 100 million vaccine doses in the first 100 days of his presidency, surpassing that goal.
By early 2022, millions of Americans had already received vaccines against Covid-19 and the US had made significant progress in reducing infection rates and returning to some level of normality, after a chaotic plan and several setbacks during the former Republican president’s term Donald Trump .
– Infrastructure law (high)
The Infrastructure, Employment and Investments Law, approved in November 2021, allocated $1.2 billion (about one billion euros) to modernize and improve the country’s infrastructure, including financing for roads, bridges, public transport, expansion of internet broadband and clean energy projects.
The legislation was seen as a bipartisan achievement in a politically divided environment and was intended to address long-standing American infrastructure needs.
– Global climate efforts (high)
Shortly after taking office, President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change, signaling his commitment to tackling climate issues on the world stage.
The US government has announced ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as part of its efforts to combat climate change.
– Withdrawal from Afghanistan (low)
The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 led to a rapid and unexpected takeover of the country by the Taliban regime.
The chaotic evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies from Kabul airport drew widespread criticism, inside and outside the United States, and was one of the most critical moments of Biden’s term.
The withdrawal was marked by concerns about the fate of Afghan civilians, including those working with the US military, and by raising questions about the overall strategy and implementation of the withdrawal.
– Migration crisis (low)
The US-Mexico border saw a significant increase in the number of migrants seeking asylum during the first months of the Biden administration and continues to rise, prompting authorities to acknowledge they were unable to tackle the problem.
This increase in immigrant arrivals has led to detention centers declaring themselves overcrowded and raising concerns about border security and humane treatment.
After criticizing former President Trump’s plan to build a wall on the southern border, the Democratic administration has already admitted that it will continue to expand that wall.
– The inflation crisis (low)
Concerns about rising inflation in the US began in late 2021 as prices for several goods and services, including gasoline and housing, rose.
The problem worsened with the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting warnings about the potential impact on the economy and consumer purchasing power.
The Federal Reserve and the Biden administration have been closely monitoring these developments, but Republican opposition accuses the administration of intervening little and allowing a price increase that appears to take time to get under control.
– Legislative deadlock (low)
While the American Rescue Plan and the infrastructure bill were major legislative achievements, President Biden has shown difficulty in passing many of his election promises through Congress.
Proposals related to voting rights reform and gun control met strong resistance in the House of Representatives, where Republicans won a majority in the October 2022 midterm elections, and the administration’s agenda was influenced by a deeply divided Congress, even in the Senate (where Democrats claim the majority).
– Suspension of government financing (low)
The US government is on the brink of paralysis due to the lack of legislative approval for the deficit increase in Congress, in a situation that reflects the inability to reach compromises between the two parties.
The Republicans accuse Biden of having designed a spending budget that they do not agree with and the most radical sector of the opposition party (close to Trump) even managed to oust the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, arguing that he conspired. with Democrats to try to save the White House budget plan.
Source: DN
