Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is set to deliver what some are describing as his farewell address to the United Nations, just as tensions in the Middle East are hitting a boiling point. While the president contemplates bragging about his “accomplishments,” the world looks on, perhaps more amused than impressed, given his mixed record bathed in chaos and conflict.
Biden’s first foray into the U.N. stage was in the wake of his infamous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, an exit that many felt sent ripples of instability across the globe. Since then, his U.N. addresses have coincided with crises, creating the impression that he’s addressing a game of diplomatic Whac-A-Mole—every time he thinks he has one problem solved, two others pop up. In a context where his lofty rhetoric about “American leadership” spills from the stage, the reality paints a less flattering picture of a leader beleaguered by the messes he apparently helped create.
Joe Biden addressed the United Nations for the final time. Still defend his failed record, urging alliances to steady a world being shaken by multiple new threats.
Even as @POTUS spoke, Israeli forces were carrying out airstrikes against terrorists. #Biden #Harris pic.twitter.com/4Z8uJGKiRt— Roger D. Hudson (@RogerHudsonCO) September 24, 2024
Just months ago, the world grappled with the fallout from a Chinese surveillance balloon drifting across U.S. airspace. Now, as Biden gears up for his address, the Middle East is engulfed in violence following Hamas’s brutal offensive against Israel. It’s a tough sell to present a leadership narrative while the region burns—Biden’s efforts to broker peace seem as effective as throwing confetti at a hurricane, with observers questioning whether his administration’s little-puppy diplomacy has done more to embolden adversaries than ease tensions.
Critics have been vocal, branding Biden’s foreign policy as a “four-year case study” in weakness. The president’s mishandling of key international incidents, starting from appeasement strategies towards Russia and failing to rein in Iran, all the way to the muddled response to the Gaza conflict, has left many questioning whether his re-engagement strategy is merely smoke and mirrors. Even those who favored a less aggressive approach under Trump can point to a few less messier years of foreign policy compared to the current administration’s fumbling.
Despite Biden’s occasional nods to multilateralism, his presidency has dealt with considerable foreign policy hiccups. His promise to restore America’s standing in the world seems somewhat ironic given the perceived chaos. From botched negotiations with Iran to failed ceasefire talks in Gaza, it’s hard not to view his attempts at corrective measures as stumbling steps rather than purposeful strides. The administration’s approach to world affairs has received more than just a fair share of skepticism from foreign powers, who might be more curious about who could take the reins next than what Biden has to say today.
As Biden prepares for this high-stakes U.N. gathering, the pervasive question hangs in the air: Can he manage to leave a legacy worth celebrating? Many observers echo a similar sentiment; the curtain is about to close on his presidency. His grand vision—where nations unite to tackle global challenges—might well serve as the punchline of a joke rather than an aspirational goal. Whether he can deliver a valedictory that resonates or simply becomes a testament full of unfulfilled promises remains to be seen. After all, when the going gets tough, many leaders have been known to grab for the nearest exit as quickly as possible.
