As President Joe Biden scrambles to “Trump-proof” his legacy in the final weeks of his presidency, it’s clear that his efforts to solidify his alleged accomplishments will ultimately fail. Far from leaving a monumental impact, Biden’s time in office will likely be remembered for a string of economic missteps, a catastrophic Afghanistan withdrawal, and a dubious pardon of his son, Hunter. In Democrat politics, he will be remembered for capitulation as a frail candidate ousted from his re-election bid by his own party, in favor of the flavor-of-the-week.
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As Biden desperately tries to lock in his legislative agenda with a flurry of eleventh-hour spending and regulatory moves, he’s essentially trying to shore up a ship that’s already sinking under the weight of his disastrous policies. Currently, Biden is throwing taxpayer dollars into green energy projects in red states, hoping that the people benefiting from these jobs will compel Republicans to preserve the projects once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
It is a futile attempt to salvage his failing economic record. Biden’s “economic recovery,” heralded by his administration as a triumph, has been a disaster for ordinary Americans. Under Biden’s watch, inflation soared, energy prices skyrocketed, and wages failed to keep pace with rising costs. These last-ditch efforts are the latest iteration of the White House’s “Bidenomics” talking point, always feeling tongue-in-cheek despite their best efforts to shape public perception. The promises of recovery fell flat as the administration’s attempt to reframe its economic failures with a catchy label wasn’t enough to mask the damage done to the economy.
But, Biden is not just dispensing money for pet projects domestically, he’s bolstering war efforts in Ukraine, too. This month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled an additional $725 million in aid to Ukraine, which includes counter-drone systems, extra missiles for the MLRS and HIMARS rocket systems, and anti-personnel land mines. As the Biden administration ramps up war funding, incoming President Trump has already called for an immediate ceasefire.
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After a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron during his trip to attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Trump posted to TruthSocial:
There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!
Biden’s attempts to reshape the judiciary are likely to fail, thanks to the JUDGES Act, which passed the House this week with strong bipartisan support, although he has threatened to veto it. This bill creates 66 new judicial seats staggered over three presidencies, to address a growing backlog of cases. If enacted under a Trump-led Republican government trifecta, it would provide Trump with additional vacancies to fill and strengthen his influence over the judiciary.
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In the end, Biden can’t scramble to enact a heritage when many Americans don’t even think he can scramble an egg. Biden’s frantic attempts to “Trump-proof” his legacy will prove as ineffective as the policies that have defined his presidency.