Staff Reports
President Biden’s state visit to Angola can only be described as a Hail Mary for a presidency watching its approval ratings plunge faster than a hot air balloon with a thousand-foot tear. The trip, which is part of Biden’s effort to woo African nations, comes after several delays and a whole lot of controversy at home. With only a month left in office, Biden appears to be channeling his inner adventurer, likely hoping that charm on foreign soil can distract from his impending legacy – if one could call it that.
Promising back in 2023 to visit Africa, Biden had shelved the trip multiple times, likely too busy dodging difficult questions about classified documents or the various scandals surrounding his son, Hunter. Ironically, just as he embarked on this long-awaited journey, he announced a pardon for his son, a decision that sparked raised eyebrows more than cheers, especially since he had previously claimed Hunter would face consequences for his alleged misdeeds.
With Biden taking a rare break from avoiding the press, he briefly addressed one question about another country’s governance issues but entirely neglected to shed light on his own family’s drama. Instead, he arrived in Angola to take a grand tour of the Presidential Palace where he made another one of his “historic” claims—proclaiming himself the first sitting president to visit Angola. This milestone, celebrated with an announcement of over $1 billion in aid, might be better suited for a trivia game than a serious discussion on policy.
The jest of his message revolved around a new kind of relationship between the U.S. and Africa, transitioning from “patrons to partners.” Given the current Biden administration’s shaky foreign relations, including its questionable spending priorities at home, skepticism is warranted. The U.S. may be offering humanitarian support, but come election time, it is clear that self-interest is the foundation of Biden’s overtures to African leaders who might have to choose between American investment and Chinese influence.
Biden talks slavery but avoids Trump, China, and Hunter in Angola https://t.co/MsA6qyvnv3
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 4, 2024
The lofty rhetoric about partnerships and historical context was layered with common political posturing. Biden attempted to connect the dots between slavery, the Cold War, and his current mission, as if papering over past sins would somehow strengthen diplomatic ties today. Yet, while discussing the long and painful history of relationships with Africa, he conveniently ignored the pressing issues at home, from a faltering economy to rampant crime and border chaos under his administration.
So, in the grand scheme of things, it seems that Biden’s African adventure is less about the continent and more about deflecting attention from the realities of his administration. Trust in this White House remains as shaky as its falling approval ratings, and one has to wonder if all this attention-seeking on foreign trips will garner the votes he needs back home. With China consistently looking to deepen its foothold in Africa, it is uncertain if a late-term visit from Biden will turn the tide in America’s favor. As issues loom large on the domestic front, only time will tell if this trip was a shrewd strategic move or just another public relations flop.
