Biden Drama and the Trump Show
Published in Die Presse
(Austria) on 12 July 2024
by Thomas Vieregge (link to original)
(Austria) on 12 July 2024
by Thomas Vieregge (link to original)
Translated from
by Kirsty Low.
Edited by Michelle Bisson.
As long as all the attention is focused on the beleaguered U.S. president, his challenger can get away with lies, half-truths and omissions. The Democrats should not make Donald Trump's comeback so easy.
Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán gave a thumbs up at their Mar-a-Lago meeting in Florida — their second in four months. The message was that everything is running like clockwork for the Hungarian prime minister, whose country currently holds the European Council presidency and who is on a mission to save the world and the Republican presidential candidate and former president. Whether or not they watched Joe Biden's press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Washington Thursday from Palm Beach, they are already making plans for the coming year and Trump's return to the White House, which is looking highly likely at the moment.
Biden could say whatever he wanted in Washington, but despite the fact that much of it was right and proper, the whole world was transfixed by his gaffes and shortcomings. And, as expected, the 81-year-old delivered them, referring to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Vladimir Putin, confusing Kamala Harris with Trump and stumbling several times during the hour-long press conference. Biden appeared unperturbed by the turmoil surrounding his candidacy and demonstrated his command of foreign policy issues. But the president once again displayed his stubbornness and narrow-mindedness regarding his reelection prospects.
Biden Cannot Conceal the Signs of Old Age
Nearly four months remain until the election, and as long as Biden remains a candidate, the public will focus its attention entirely on the world's most powerful man, who is exposed and displaying his weaknesses for all to see. Biden can no longer conceal the signs of old age, which he has apparently managed to do for months.
Trump, meanwhile, is getting away with his lies, half-truths and omissions. This, too, is an unwritten law of the media. For years, the public has condoned the Republican's monstrous remarks, whether he claims he could shoot a person on Fifth Avenue or grope women with impunity. Sure, a New York jury convicted him in the hush-money trial, but that can't be helped. And yes, he confused Nikki Haley, his rival in the primaries, with Democrat Nancy Pelosi, but that's just typical Trump. His fans are not fazed by this. Quite the opposite: The more the media bashes him, the more they rally behind him.
Project 2025 and the Republican Revolution
If an election campaign isn’t the right time to scrutinize his manifesto, then when is? What does Trump 2.0 plan to do in a second term? Biden, Hillary Clinton and others have pointed to Project 2025 from the Heritage Foundation, an ultra-conservative think tank in Washington, which is plotting no less than a Republican revolution.
The debate about Biden obscures all of this. It prevents or at least complicates any examination of the Trump agenda, and that also goes for next week's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the "coronation" of Trump and his vice presidential candidate will take place. In a parallel drama, the main discussion will center around who will withdraw their support for the old man in the White House and suggest that he step down. Trump can't believe his luck, even though he probably hates being in Biden's shadow.
A Delight for Putin and Xi
The Democrats should not pave Trump's way to the White House. It is high time Biden is brought to his senses. He does not see why he should leave the stage. The press conference demonstrated this once again. Barack Obama and Pelosi joining forces to remind the president of his responsibility to the country and the party is perhaps the best news to emerge from a night in which Biden grappled with his old age in front of the nation and the whole world — much to the delight of Trump, Orbán, Putin and Xi Jinping.
Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán gave a thumbs up at their Mar-a-Lago meeting in Florida — their second in four months. The message was that everything is running like clockwork for the Hungarian prime minister, whose country currently holds the European Council presidency and who is on a mission to save the world and the Republican presidential candidate and former president. Whether or not they watched Joe Biden's press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Washington Thursday from Palm Beach, they are already making plans for the coming year and Trump's return to the White House, which is looking highly likely at the moment.
Biden could say whatever he wanted in Washington, but despite the fact that much of it was right and proper, the whole world was transfixed by his gaffes and shortcomings. And, as expected, the 81-year-old delivered them, referring to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Vladimir Putin, confusing Kamala Harris with Trump and stumbling several times during the hour-long press conference. Biden appeared unperturbed by the turmoil surrounding his candidacy and demonstrated his command of foreign policy issues. But the president once again displayed his stubbornness and narrow-mindedness regarding his reelection prospects.
Biden Cannot Conceal the Signs of Old Age
Nearly four months remain until the election, and as long as Biden remains a candidate, the public will focus its attention entirely on the world's most powerful man, who is exposed and displaying his weaknesses for all to see. Biden can no longer conceal the signs of old age, which he has apparently managed to do for months.
Trump, meanwhile, is getting away with his lies, half-truths and omissions. This, too, is an unwritten law of the media. For years, the public has condoned the Republican's monstrous remarks, whether he claims he could shoot a person on Fifth Avenue or grope women with impunity. Sure, a New York jury convicted him in the hush-money trial, but that can't be helped. And yes, he confused Nikki Haley, his rival in the primaries, with Democrat Nancy Pelosi, but that's just typical Trump. His fans are not fazed by this. Quite the opposite: The more the media bashes him, the more they rally behind him.
Project 2025 and the Republican Revolution
If an election campaign isn’t the right time to scrutinize his manifesto, then when is? What does Trump 2.0 plan to do in a second term? Biden, Hillary Clinton and others have pointed to Project 2025 from the Heritage Foundation, an ultra-conservative think tank in Washington, which is plotting no less than a Republican revolution.
The debate about Biden obscures all of this. It prevents or at least complicates any examination of the Trump agenda, and that also goes for next week's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the "coronation" of Trump and his vice presidential candidate will take place. In a parallel drama, the main discussion will center around who will withdraw their support for the old man in the White House and suggest that he step down. Trump can't believe his luck, even though he probably hates being in Biden's shadow.
A Delight for Putin and Xi
The Democrats should not pave Trump's way to the White House. It is high time Biden is brought to his senses. He does not see why he should leave the stage. The press conference demonstrated this once again. Barack Obama and Pelosi joining forces to remind the president of his responsibility to the country and the party is perhaps the best news to emerge from a night in which Biden grappled with his old age in front of the nation and the whole world — much to the delight of Trump, Orbán, Putin and Xi Jinping.
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