President Joe Biden recently expressed strong criticism of former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and leadership style, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a candid interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Biden conveyed his disappointment over Trump’s remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that such behavior is “beneath America.”
Biden said the United States needs to lead by example on values including freedom, democracy, and opportunity. He did not much like “confiscation” of territories. He took on Trump’s comments on the Gulf of America. He had earlier mocked Trump’s desire to purchase places such as Panama, Greenland—and yes, even Canada.
“What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden remarked, highlighting his concerns about Trump’s approach to international relations.
When the president took office, we naturally looked back at Trump’s first 100 days and found it hard to believe that they actually got accomplished. Biden added that history would be the ultimate judge of Trump’s legacy but added, “I’ve seen nothing triumphant.” The current administration has been navigating the complexities of the war in Ukraine, rallying European allies to support Ukraine and applying sanctions against Russia. Biden cast his request in the context of the substantial over $65 billion in aid already delivered since the war began in 2022. He emphasized this support’s jarring contrast to the shaky support Ukraine experienced throughout the Trump administration.
Biden expressed confusion over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, stating, “I just don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he’s going to take significant portions of land that aren’t his, and that’s going to satisfy him.” This statement from Biden further emphasizes his desire to maintain U.S. leadership in protecting international norms against unprovoked aggression.
As he addressed concerns over democracy in the United States, Biden revealed that he feels less alarmed than before regarding threats to democratic values. He is optimistic, too, that the GOP as a whole is just now starting to understand what Trump’s brand of leadership means. Nevertheless, he underscored a growing danger, stating that “there is a greater threat to democracy now than at any other time since World War II.”
In Biden’s last months in office, he authorized the deployment of long-range American missiles in support of Ukraine. This decision was made as he tried to secure additional U.S. military assistance while staring down doubts about Trump’s position on the conflict. Additionally, Biden condemned Trump’s claim that Ukraine should give up land for peace, calling it a “modern-day appeasement.”
Biden made clear his displeasure with the fact that European leaders were unsure of the U.S. level of commitment with a new administration. “Yes, I do because, I mean, look at the number of European leaders in European countries. They’re wondering…Can I rely on the United States?” he stated.
