President Biden Makes His Presence Felt

Midway through their first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, are increasingly asserting their priorities on the American political scene. Their $1.9 trillion relief plan has just cleared the first stage of its approval by the House of Representatives. Senate approval, yet to follow, is predicted for mid-March.*

Just recently, the American president participated virtually in the Munich Security Conference, notably bringing together his European allies, where he affirmed that “America is back” on the international scene in a role more in keeping with American traditions and values. Multilateralism, democratic values and international institutions will thus return to the heart of American diplomacy.

Since the president’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the United States has rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate and the World Health Organization. In brief, the message is clear: The “America First” approach of the Donald Trump era is over!

The Challenges and the Stakes

In spite of the recent impeachment proceedings against Trump, the Biden-Harris duo didn’t let itself be distracted. Very much to the contrary! Biden’s press conferences and those of his press secretary, Jen Psaki, have focused specifically on managing the pandemic, vaccine access, economic revival and Senate confirmation of key administration positions.

He has also succeeded in changing the tone of American politics by his modesty, his empathy and his compassion. Biden’s recent statements during the memorial for the more than 500,000 victims of COVID-19, as well as his presence in and his support of Texas, which was hit hard by a winter storm, demonstrate the Biden style.

That said, the impact of Biden’s words on unity and on the need to reduce political polarization remains to be seen. In Congress, Republicans are opposed to his relief plan and the majority of those in Congress continue to follow Trump’s instructions and approach to politics.

In spite of increasingly evident schisms among Republicans in Congress, the pro-Trump forces there still remain a majority and continue to call into question the legitimacy of Biden’s election on Nov. 3. Trump himself has intimated (as he indicated when he left the Conservative Political Action Conference Sunday in Orlando) that he might run for president again in 2024.

Meanwhile, among Democrats, certain divisions are beginning to crop up between the moderate and progressive wings of the party, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

We should also watch how Biden will manage the exclusion from his relief plan of the proposal to raise the minimum wage from $7 to $15 per hour, as he promised during his presidential campaign, a proposal considered vital by progressives.

The Trudeau-Biden Summit

The recent virtual summit between Canada and the United States well demonstrates the new approach of the Biden-Harris duo — that is to say, the return of a relationship with “our best friend,” Canada. What’s more, the first international phone calls and the first formal presidential meeting were with America’s Canadian neighbor.

At the time of their meeting, Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did more than offer pleasant photo opportunities, purely symbolic gestures or merely encouraging comments. The meeting ended with substantive progress.

The two leaders drew up a common road map in relation to the pandemic, economic revival and the challenges for the middle class and with respect to their common ambitions for climate change, all the while maintaining a focus on the electrical grid.

Biden also made headlines for his unequivocal support for Canada’s efforts to gain the release of the two Michaels (Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig), imprisoned in China for more than 800 days.

The Canada-United States relationship will not, however, be without its pitfalls in the coming months. Eventual access to certain vaccines against COVID-19 manufactured in the United States, restrictive proposals relative to “Buy American,” the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline project, the continuing litigation over softwood lumber and the reopening of the border will still remain a challenge.

It is also becoming urgent for the Biden administration to name its new ambassador to Canada, a post that has been vacant for more than a year. In the past, this role has been filled by someone close to the White House. To be continued.

Toward 2022

The most recent polls show a relatively high level of satisfaction with Biden’s management thus far, some polls even approaching 60% approval. But American politics being what they are, attention will rapidly turn toward the next election match-up: the 2022 midterm elections. The Republicans will want to retake control of Congress at all costs, something which remains tenuously in the hands of the Democrats.

For Republicans, and most particularly for Trump, these midterm elections will mark the beginning of the next presidential campaign. The Democrats will be making the same calculation.

On the basis of what we have seen since Jan. 20, Biden is acting appropriately.

*Editor’s Note: The Senate passed a modified version of the relief package on March 6; the House approved the modification March 10, and Biden signed it into law March 11.