President Joe Biden delivered a speech at the State Department on Monday, reflecting on his foreign policy achievements as his presidency enters its final week. Without directly naming President-elect Donald Trump, Biden highlighted the challenges and successes of his tenure while offering guidance to the incoming administration.
Biden pointed to his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, framing it as an end to America’s longest war. He acknowledged the criticism surrounding the chaotic withdrawal, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan civilians. “I am the first president in decades who’s not leaving a war in Afghanistan to his successor,” Biden stated, emphasizing that alliances remained intact and terrorism threats from Afghanistan had been managed through over-the-horizon capabilities.
The president also credited his administration with bolstering U.S. alliances and deterring adversaries, particularly Russia and China. He underscored the significance of U.S. support for Ukraine, warning that a Russian victory would have far-reaching consequences globally, especially in Asia. “There’s more to do. We can’t walk away,” Biden said, urging continued investment in Ukraine’s defense.
On China, Biden asserted that his policies halted Beijing’s predicted economic rise past the U.S. The President claimed that when he entered office experts were doubtful, but new analysis has revealed China will “Never surpass us. Period.” Biden also warned of China’s ambitions in clean energy manufacturing, labeling it a critical area for U.S. leadership.
In a pointed critique of the incoming administration, Biden highlighted climate change as the most significant existential threat facing humanity. He expressed concern about skepticism among Trump’s team regarding the clean energy transition stating: “Some in the incoming administration are skeptical about the need for clean energy. They don’t even believe climate change is real. I think they come from a different century…“They are dead wrong.”
Biden concluded with a call for continuity in defending America’s interests abroad and addressing global challenges, leaving the next administration with what he described as “a strong hand to play.” What the current president failed to acknowledge was the price American’s had to pay for his foreign policy decisions.
While President Biden supported Ukraine with over $60 billion dollars, American citizens impacted by Hurricane Helene received a measly $700, one-time, payment each.
Biden failed to mention the impact his friendship with Xi Jinping had on Americans and their privacy. Biden’s soft approach to China has been most egregiously demonstrated by his delayed response to Chinese spy balloons floating over America, collecting intelligence with impunity. Not only has he allowed this aerial intrusion, but also overlooked China’s strategic acquisition of American farmland near military bases and the unchecked influence of TikTok, potentially compromising data privacy of millions of U.S. citizens.
Biden ended the Keystone XL Pipeline in the name of clean energy and environmental concerns. Economically, this decision led to the termination of thousands of jobs; according to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy, the pipeline could have created between 16,000 and 59,000 jobs with an economic impact ranging from $3.16 to $9.6 billion. This decision also increased U.S. reliance on foreign oil, particularly from nations like Venezuela and Russia, at a time when energy independence was a key security and economic goal.
America first was not the policy or mindset embraced by the Biden administration. The incoming administration will need to have a strong hand to help remedy the catastrophic decisions made under a Biden presidency.