Voters remain unconvinced about Biden’s performance in his initial two years as President.
President Joe Biden is seeking re-election, touting his accomplishments during his first term. However, voters from all political backgrounds express concerns and believe there is still much to be desired.
Among the top concerns for voters regarding a second term for President Biden are his health, his ability to work with a divided Congress, and his handling of foreign policy crises.
Andrew Kinnison, an independent from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, expressed his worries, stating, ”He’s getting us into a lot of wars, there was that mess when he pulled out of Afghanistan, and now we’re sending billions to Ukraine while I can’t even keep up with my electricity bill. Now we’re getting involved in the Middle East, he’s writing too many blank checks.”
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Another concern raised by voters is the Hunter Biden scandal.
Johnathan Ripley, a Republican from Annapolis, Maryland, stated, “Biden is on a witch hunt against Trump; meanwhile, he’s involved in his own drug addict son’s dealings in Ukraine. I think he should be impeached.”
According to recent polling by Real Clear Politics, nearly 55 percent of voters disapprove of President Biden’s handling of various issues, including immigration, the economy, foreign policy, and the direction of the country.The Epoch Times interviewed voters from different parties to gather their views on President Biden’s work in these areas.Foreign Policy
During his time in office, President Biden has made significant changes to the United States’ foreign policy. The withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 resulted in a tragic suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport, causing the loss of American lives and Afghan casualties. However, it marked the end of a 20-year war.
The Biden administration has also taken a strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing over $75 billion in assistance to the invaded country, including humanitarian, financial, and military support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.President Biden has also prioritized renewing alliances and addressing global challenges such as climate change and containing China. Currently, the White House is involved in the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas, with plans to potentially deploy 2,000 U.S. troops overseas.“It’s sort of like Chinese water torture, drip, drip, drip; there’s always a new crisis Biden is putting us into overseas,” Mr. Kinnison remarked. “It seemed under Trump things were a lot calmer and we weren’t putting our nose in other people’s business.”
Even some Democrats have criticized President Biden’s interventionist actions.
Joanne Bailey, a Democrat from Springfield, Virginia, expressed her concerns, saying, “Except for what’s going on in Israel, I would have liked to see more focus on domestic spending. I understand the importance of fighting Russia, but the billions we’re spending on Ukraine could be used—have you ever been to Baltimore?”
Former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have attempted to blame the Biden administration for the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly pointing to the release of frozen assets to Iran, a supporter of Hamas, on Sept. 11. Administration officials maintain that the money has not been spent.Immigration
During his presidential campaign, President Biden promised to reverse immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration, such as family separation and efforts to end the DACA program.
However, recently, President Biden has taken a different approach to immigration.
On Oct. 4, the Department of Homeland Security waived environmental and other reviews to construct new portions of the border wall in South Texas, despite Biden’s campaign promise to not build “another foot” of wall. Additionally, the administration resumed deportations to Venezuela shortly after granting protected status to thousands of people from the country.
Between Jan. 20, 2021, and March 31, 2023, there were over 5 million encounters with illegal aliens at the southern border. Of these encounters, more than 2.4 million had no confirmed departure from the United States, indicating issues with deportation procedures. During the same period, the DHS released at least 2.1 million illegal immigrants into the country, with only 5,993 placed in removal proceedings and subsequently removed from the country.
“I never thought I would agree with Biden on anything, but when he said he would start expanding Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, I thought that was the best thing he’s done in his presidency so far,” Mr. Ripley commented.
However, this move has angered some Democratic voters.
“I didn’t vote to reelect Trump in 2020, and I really wish he didn’t do that,” Ms. Bailey said. ”Then he’s actually increased deportations; I think we’re moving in the wrong direction.”
Upon taking office, President Biden paused border wall construction and canceled the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” program. However, expulsions under Title 42 continued until May 2023.Economy
Despite ongoing inflation concerns, President Biden is campaigning for a second term, claiming that “Bidenomics” is working.
The White House stated, “Our economy has added more than 13 million jobs, including nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs, and we’ve unleashed a manufacturing and clean energy boom. There were more than 10 million applications for new small businesses filed in 2021 and 2022—the strongest two years on record.”
However, some Americans argue that their lives have not significantly improved.
“There has been no difference between what I made when Trump was in office and what I am making now. The only difference is that the price of gas is higher, and so is the price of food,” said Mr. Ripley, a Republican.
According to a Forbes report, gas prices nearly doubled under the Biden administration compared to the Trump administration.“I think what [Biden] is doing to build more clean energy jobs is great,” said Ms. Bailey, a Democrat. “But I still don’t have as much money as I used to when I leave the grocery store.”
The White House maintains that its “Inflation Reduction Act” has been effective, creating over 170,000 jobs.
“Maybe there are more jobs out there now, but they’re low-paying jobs,” Mr. Kinnison remarked.Racial Divides
During his 2020 campaign, President Biden promised to address racial divisions in the United States and received the endorsement of the Black Lives Matter movement, which claimed credit for his victory, stating, “Once again, Black people—especially Black women—have saved the United States.”
However, after taking office, President Biden’s call to “fund the police” during his first State of the Union address created tension with activist groups like BLM.
“Let’s not abandon our streets. Or choose between safety and equal justice,” President Biden stated. “We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police. The answer is to fund the police. Fund them with resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
“I don’t think that’s something Bernie would have done,” Ms. Bailey expressed. “When I voted for Biden, I thought he was on board with fighting police violence. It was disappointing to hear him say that during his first SOTU.”
However, some individuals in the middle ground found reassurance in his words.
“We [thought] that he was going to be another Democratic radical,” Mr. Kinnison said. “But it turns out he’s not too far left on social issues.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
How might President Biden’s age and potential health issues impact his ability to effectively carry out his duties in relation to the region
To the region. This intervention has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the President’s commitment to allies and others expressing concerns about further entanglement in the region’s conflicts.
Health and Congress
President Biden’s health has been a topic of discussion among voters, particularly due to his age. At 79 years old, he is the oldest person to hold the office of the President. Some worry that his age and any potential health issues may hinder his ability to effectively carry out the duties of the presidency.
Hunter Biden Scandal
The controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine continues to be a source of contention. Critics argue that President Biden’s involvement or lack thereof in his son’s affairs raises questions about his integrity and potential conflicts of interest. The President has maintained that he was unaware of his son’s business dealings and has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Conclusion
As President Biden seeks re-election, he faces concerns from voters across party lines. From his health and ability to work with Congress to his handling of foreign policy crises and the ongoing Hunter Biden scandal, there are areas where voters feel there is much to be desired. The coming months and years will be a test for the President as he works to address these concerns and fulfill his promises to the American people.
