Staff Reports
The spectacle that unfolded on that debate stage was nothing short of a colossal embarrassment for the Biden administration. Even halfway across the globe, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski couldn’t resist taking a jab. Sikorski’s tweet, a masterclass in subtlety, highlighted the importance of managing a graceful exit, referencing Marcus Aurelius’s historical blunder of handing the Roman Empire to his inept son Commodus, a decision many historians believe accelerated Rome’s fall.
For those unfamiliar with ancient history, the parallels Sikorski drew were unmistakable. The performance put on by Biden, or rather, his stammering and stumbling attempts at one, left an impression that extends beyond American borders. The appearance of a leader who has misplaced his trail of thought multiple times sends shivers not just through Democrat circles but also to global allies trying to fathom what this means for American leadership.
Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commodus (He, from the Gladiator).
Whose disastrous rule started Rome's decline.
It's important to manage one's ride into the sunset.— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) June 28, 2024
While Biden attempted to brush off his faltering performance with an excuse of a sore throat and claimed he “did well,” the reality was crystal clear to anyone with functioning eyesight and ears. Democrats, ever ready with an excuse, pointed fingers at former President Trump and the moderators’ lack of pushback, alleging that Trump’s statements on January 6 and his comments on late-term abortion were misleading. But whether Trump’s bombastic style shouldered any blame, it didn’t detract from Biden’s glaring inability to keep his facts straight, including an erroneous claim about capping insulin costs.
The nervous energy among Democrats was palpable as foreign allies like Sikorski took note. A tweet like the one from Sikorski isn’t just from someone with a history of bold statements—it’s a signal that the world is watching and the world is concerned. His past tweet thanking the USA after the NordStream incident suggests he knows exactly how to make a geopolitical point with the sharpness of a rapier.
As news anchors and analysts spin their narratives and rehash the night’s events, one thing becomes clear: Biden’s capability, or lack thereof, isn’t just American news. It’s a matter of international scrutiny, making allies and adversaries alike question what comes next. The question remains: Can Biden manage the remainder of his ride without further fumbling, or will history repeat itself with a fall that even Rome could see coming?
