Joe Biden

{{bronze}}
[[File:President Joe Biden departs after speaking at the NAACP Convention (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|165px|America's oldest president.]]{{uspolitics}}
{{cquote|I know liberals say, 'Don't say Joe Biden is old' — don't say what people see with their own eyes. I know you know how fucking old he is, and I know you don't want to say it because Trump is so scary, but he's so fucking old. When you watch him on television, you're nervous, aren't ya? I'm not saying that Biden can't contribute to society, he just shouldn't be president.|||[[Jon Stewart]], May 2024.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-trump-may-be-scary-biden-too-old-president-2024-5 Jon Stewart says Biden is so old he 'shouldn't be president']. ''Business Insider.''</ref>}}

'''Joseph Robinette "Big Fucking Deal"<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/richard-adams-blog/2010/mar/23/joe-biden-obama-big-fucking-deal-overheard Joe Biden: 'This is a big fucking deal']. ''[[The Guardian]].''</ref> Biden, Jr.''' (also known as '''Sleepy Joe''',<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/sleepy-joe-crooked-joe-trump-tries-redraw-portrait-biden-rcna102383 From 'Sleepy Joe' to 'Crooked Joe': Trump tries to redraw his portrait of Biden]. ''NBC News.'' Sept. 4, 2023.</ref> '''Dark Brandon''',<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171885259/dark-brandon-meme-makes-an-appearance-on-bidens-new-campaign-website 'Dark Brandon' meme makes an appearance on Biden's new campaign website]. ''NPR.'' April 25, 2023.</ref> and '''[[Genocide]] Joe''')<ref>[https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5103727/genocide-joe-yelled-president-biden-campaign-event-virginia "Genocide Joe" Yelled at President Biden During Campaign Event in Virginia]. ''C-SPAN''.</ref> {{lived|1942|}}  is a very elderly statesman from the [[Democratic Party]] who served as the 46th [[President of the United States]] from 2021 to 2025, having been elected to set the country back on the right track after the disastrous term of his predecessor [[Donald Trump]]. He is the second [[Catholic]] president in US history, after [[John F. Kennedy]],<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/20/biden-only-second-catholic-president-but-nearly-all-have-been-christians-2/ Biden is only the second Catholic president, but nearly all have been Christians]. ''Pew Research Center.'' January 20, 2021.</ref> and currently the third-ever [[clone]] of the original Joe Biden.<ref>Brian Linder (May 31, 2025). [https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/06/donald-trump-shares-post-claiming-joe-biden-was-executed-replaced-by-clones.html "Donald Trump shares post claiming Joe Biden was executed, replaced by clones"]. ''The Patriot-News''.</ref><ref>Raquel Coronell Uribe (June 1, 2025). [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-shares-unfounded-conspiracy-theory-claiming-biden-was-executed-2-rcna210244 "Trump shares unfounded conspiracy theory claiming Biden was 'executed' in 2020"]. ''NBC''.</ref> 

While he had some notable achievements, such as signing the American Rescue Plan, ending the [[Afghanistan War]], implementing pro-labor policies, protecting the environment, tackling climate change, and effectively ending drone warfare,<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/02/02/joe-biden-30-policy-things-you-might-have-missed-00139046  30 Things Joe Biden Did as President You Might Have Missed]. ''Politico''.</ref> post-[[COVID]] economic troubles and persistent inflation troubled his administration,<ref>[https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-money/2024/07/18/the-bad-news-about-bidens-good-economy-00169327 The bad news about Biden’s good economy]. ''Politico.''</ref> and his enabling of [[Israel]]'s atrocity-laden conduct in its war against the Gaza Strip further eroded support from much of the Democratic base, especially from younger and minority voters.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/20/biden-weapons-israel-gaza-war Biden wants progressives to believe he’s reining in Israel. He isn’t.] ''The Guardian.''</ref> His approval rating tanked in mid-2021 and never recovered,<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-BIDEN/POLL/nmopagnqapa/ 57% of Americans disapprove of the president]. ''Reuters.''</ref> even as the Democratic Party fared historically well in the 2022 midterms.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house/index.html  How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history ]. ''CNN.''</ref> He also struggled against questions about his fitness for office and the inherent difficulty in convincing American public that he should serve a second term that he would have finished at age 86. Ultimately, a disastrous debate performance in 2024 led to the age problem taking the forefront of political discourse, and Biden eventually withdrew from the race on 21 July 2024.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/biden-drops-out-2024-election-ddffde72838370032bdcff946cfc2ce6 Biden drops out of 2024 race after disastrous debate inflamed age concerns. VP Harris gets his nod]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> Biden was the first incumbent president since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1968 to withdraw from the race, the first since the 19th century to withdraw after serving only one term, and the first ever to withdraw after already winning his party's primaries.<ref>[https://theconversation.com/biden-steps-aside-setting-in-motion-an-unprecedented-period-in-american-politics-235189 "Biden steps aside, setting in motion an unprecedented period in American politics," The Conversation]</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/22/biden-drops-out-presidential-history/74491426007/ "It’s unprecedented’: Biden’s exit is a history-making moment in the American presidency," Chris Kenning and Darren Samuelsohn, USA TODAY]</ref>

Before taking the White House, Biden served as a Senator from [[Fun:Delaware|Delaware]] and then as a vice president and important negotiator for [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2013/0101/In-fiscal-cliff-deal-Joe-Biden-upstages-President-Obama-video In 'fiscal cliff' deal, Joe Biden upstages President Obama], ''Christian Science Monitor''</ref> He retired from politics for a while after his son Joseph "Beau" Biden III died from [[brain]] [[cancer]] in 2015,<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/21/politics/joe-biden-not-running-2016-election/index.html Joe Biden won't run for president]. ''CNN''.</ref> but Joe reemerged from the ground like a zombie during the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination]]. He began as the front-runner but almost managed to fuck it up for himself by fumbling debates and losing early elections. Still, he regained his footing thanks to winning significantly in the South and convincing other establishment candidates to withdraw from the race to back him against populist senator [[Bernie Sanders]].<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2020/08/16/902640265/joe-bidens-long-and-rocky-road-to-the-democratic-nomination Joe Biden's Long And Rocky Road To The Democratic Nomination], ''NPR''.</ref> Ultimately, Joe Biden benefited from his name-recognition in connection to former President Obama as well as Sanders' tendency to overestimate his reach outside of the progressive core base.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out/index.html Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 race, clearing Joe Biden's path to the Democratic nomination]</ref> However, there was definite voter suppression from the [[Republican Party]] involved in a lot of cases. Biden is known to have issues with young voters, who overwhelmingly favor Bernie Sanders.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/us/politics/joe-biden-young-voters-bernie-sanders.html Joe Biden’s Young Voter Problem: They Don’t Think He’s Listening]</ref> Related to this, Republicans have been actively suppressing votes on college campuses, resulting in an effective lower turnout for Bernie Sanders and an increased turnout for Biden.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/us/voting-college-suppression.html The Student Vote Is Surging. So Are Efforts to Suppress It.]</ref>

During the campaign for the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]] against incumbent [[Donald Trump]], Biden and his team generally focused on targeting [[centrist]] swing voters while pushing back against more progressive policies.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-seize-the-center-campaign-strategy-working-moderate-polling-2020-10 Biden's 'seize the center' campaign strategy may just deliver him the White House]. ''Business Insider.''</ref> Biden also generally limited large-scale campaign events, both due to the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]] as well as his contentment to just sit on his consistently higher poll numbers and wait out the race.<ref group=note>As any good lawyer can tell you, the first rule of being an attorney is that when you're winning, ''be quiet''.</ref><ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/520921-team-bidens-new-strategy-run-out-the-clock Team Biden's new strategy: Run out the clock]. ''The Hill.''</ref> Biden won a clear majority of electoral votes thanks to reclaiming the Rust Belt states Trump flipped in 2016, but unlike Trump, his victory did not translate into down-ballot victories for other Democrats.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/04/democrats-senate-house-down-ballot-races-biden Joe Biden bullish but down-ballot races deliver disappointment for Democrats]. ''The Guardian.''</ref><ref>[https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/there-wasnt-that-much-split-ticket-voting-in-2020/ There Wasn’t That Much Split-Ticket Voting In 2020]. ''FiveThirtyEight.''</ref> Trump refused to concede and decided to launch numerous ill-concieved legal challenges, at which point most of his legal team (notably excluding [[Rudy Giuliani]]) said "fuck you" and left.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-lawyers-rudy-giuliani-sidney-powell-desperate-b1724470.html/ Most respectable lawyers have quit Trump’s lawsuits. The ones who haven’t are getting desperate and dangerous]. ''The Independent''</ref> In a last act of desperation, Trump staged [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot|an attempted self-coup]], which Biden condemned as "one of the darkest days" in US history.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/07/joe-biden-capitol-riot-assault-democracy-trump-blm-bts-nr-vpx.cnn Biden: Capitol attack 'one of the darkest days' in US history.] ''CNN''</ref> Unfortunately, all of Biden's attempts at fixing the country were swiftly undone by Trump once he got back into power.

Fun fact: Biden is now the best President from [[Fun:Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]] despite various setbacks during his term, purely because his competition is [[James Buchanan]] — and it's impossible to top that trainwreck.

==Political career==
[[File:Joe Biden first official photo.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Freshman Senator Biden.]]
Joe Biden's political career has been built up by two rather stunning successes, preceded by remarkable incompetence, embarrassing gaffes, and failures.

===1972 run for Senate===
In 1972, Biden pulled off an astonishing victory against an incumbent politician at age 29 while having to use relatively limited resources. {{wpl|J. Caleb Boggs}} was considered a popular incumbent, and the Delaware Democratic Party picked their most unknown politician (he was only a member of the New Castle County Council) to serve as the sacrificial lamb against Boggs in the election.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/us/politics/24biden.html Father’s Tough Life an Inspiration for Biden]. ''New York Times.''</ref> Since the Dems had no real hope of winning, they gave him almost no money and no manpower. Biden instead relied on friends and family members to deliver platform pamphlets by hand, which was only possible in a small state like Delaware.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14999603 Biden's Road to Senate Took Tragic Turn]. ''NPR.''</ref>

Biden won the race very narrowly, due to offering himself as the candidate of the modern era while attacking Boggs as a crusty, out-of-touch old man. He presented Boggs's continuous civil rights support and past poll tax opposition as out-of-touch in an ad, appealing to Delaware's then-status as a ''de facto'' segregated society:<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-a-young-joe-biden-used-his-opponents-age-against-him/ When a young Joe Biden used his opponent's age against him]. ''CBS News.'' June 4, 2019.</ref>
{{cquote|To Cale Boggs an unfair tax was the 1948 poll tax. To Joe Biden an unfair tax is the 1972 income tax.}}

Biden also campaigned against the [[Vietnam War]] and criticized Boggs for failing to pressure the [[Watergate|rather corrupt and unpopular]] president [[Richard Nixon]] into ending it.<ref>[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/06/joe-biden-1972-race-senate.html When Joe Biden Was the Candidate of the Young]. ''Slate.''</ref> Biden defeated Boggs by a little over 3,000 votes.<ref>{{wpa|1972 United States Senate election in Delaware|}}</ref>

Unfortunately, his victory was marred by tragedy when his wife Neilia Hunter and infant daughter Naomi perished in a car accident a little over a month after the election while out to buy a [[Christmas]] tree.<ref>{{wpa|Neilia Hunter|}}</ref> Biden's sons Beau and Hunter survived, albeit with serious injuries.

===In the Senate===
[[File:Joe and Jilly Biden early photo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Senator Biden and his second wife Jill.]]
{{main|US Senate}}
====Amtrak Joe====
{{main|Amtrak}}
In the Senate, Joe shaped much of his political image around his family and especially public transportation. With his wife and daughter dead after the accident in 1972, Biden took the train daily from Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington and then back again to be home with his two young sons.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-pennsylvania-latrobe-a9de72369754152f98e0ee740161fd9f Amtrak rider-in-chief Biden embarks on Rust Belt train tour]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> It was a nice gesture, but it also served Biden's political career by establishing him as an "everyman". In his first term as senator, Biden said that he was angry and had trouble focusing due to his personal tragedy.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12389154 On Becoming Joe Biden]. ''NPR.''</ref> However, Biden also met English teacher and divorcee, Jill Jacobs, during this time and eventually married her in 1977.<ref>[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2008-10-24-a3bidenwife24-story.html Bidens met, forged life together after tragedy]. ''Orlando Sentinel.''</ref>

As a frequent rider on Amtrak, it should come as no surprise that Biden is a fan of [[Rail transportation|rail as a mode of transportation]], and he has consequently been called "railfan in chief" and "Amtrak Joe" among other things. The Obama administration's ambitious [[high-speed rail]] plan unveiled in 2009 is believed to be mostly thanks to his influence. When a train derailed on the Northeast Corridor, a visibly shaken Biden told the media that he had been on the same route numerous times and that more investments in Amtrak are needed now more than ever. The Republicans, of course, voted to [[Sociopath|cut Amtrak funding on the very same day.]]<ref>Jeremy Diamond and Eric Bradner, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/politics/congress-amtrak-funding-crash/index.html "House committee passes bill that cuts Amtrak funding after crash"], CNN.</ref>

====Officer Joe====
[[File:President Ronald Reagan meeting with Senator Joe Biden.jpg|thumb|right|365px|Biden with Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office, 1984.]]
{{cquote|Every time Richard Nixon, when he was running in 1972, would say, 'Law and order,' the Democratic match or response was, 'Law and order with justice' — whatever that meant. And I would say, 'Lock the SOBs up.'|||Joe Biden in 1993.<ref name="sobs"/>}}
{{cquote|The truth is, every major crime bill since 1976 that’s come out of this Congress, every minor crime bill, has had the name of the Democratic senator from the State of Delaware: Joe Biden.|||Joe Biden, speech to the Senate in 1994.<ref name="sobs">[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/us/joe-biden-crime-laws.html ‘Lock the S.O.B.s Up’: Joe Biden and the Era of Mass Incarceration]. ''New York Times.''</ref>}}
One of the worst aspects of his political career was one common to Democrats of the era, as they tried to shake off their perception of being "soft on [[crime]]" by pushing for mass incarceration. Biden was a ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee by the 1980s, and he used that position to push for a harsher [[War on Drugs]] and harsher prison sentencing. He was such a hardass that freaking [[Ronald Reagan]] actually vetoed a Biden-written bill that called for more funding to build lots more prisons.<ref name="officerj">[https://theintercept.com/2019/09/17/the-untold-story-joe-biden-pushed-ronald-reagan-to-ramp-up-incarceration-not-the-other-way-around/ Joe Biden Pushed Ronald Reagan to Ramp Up Incarceration]. ''The Intercept.''</ref> Biden also cooperated heavily with Dixiecrat [[Strom Thurmond]] to jail more people.

[[File:Biden Crime Bill.jpg|thumb|right|345px|Officer Joe during the 1994 Crime Bill signing.]]

Crime legislation written, sponsored, or campaigned for by Biden include:

*The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, which established mandatory minimum sentencing rules for [[drug]]-related offenses.<ref name="nytcop">[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/joe-biden-crime-bill-mass-incarceration.html Joe Biden on Crime and Mass Incarceration]. ''New York Times.''</ref> It also greatly expanded powers of civil asset forfeiture.<ref name="voxcop">[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/4/25/18282870/joe-biden-criminal-justice-war-on-drugs-mass-incarceration Joe Biden’s long record supporting the war on drugs and mass incarceration, explained]. ''Vox.''</ref> 
*The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which further strengthened prison sentences for drug possession. It also imposed harsher penalties for crack than for powder cocaine, leading to greater racial disparities in prison populations.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2015/8/5/9097307/mandatory-minimums-fair-sentencing-act More evidence that harsh mandatory minimums for drug offenses don't work]. ''Vox.''</ref> 
*The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Biden's most infamous crime legislation, imposed tougher sentencing across the board and escalated mass incarceration with devastating impact on black communities.<ref name="sobs"/>

However, amid rising crack addiction and violent crime of the era, the 1994 and other crime bills really weren't too controversial at the time, even among African-Americans.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/09/joe-biden-crime-bill-and-americans-short-memory/597547/ The Crime-Bill Debate Shows How Short Americans’ Memories Are]. ''The Atlantic.''</ref> However, today, the bill's impacts are more fully understood, and Biden faced tough criticism for the law during the 2020 campaign season. Biden eventually stated that he thinks the bill was a mistake. However, he blames much of it on implementation rather than his actions.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/17/joe-biden-race-crime-bill-1994-policing 'Things have changed': can Biden overcome the racist legacy of the crime bill he backed?] ''The Guardian.''</ref>

=====Racial issues and other skeletons in his closet=====
[[File:Strom Thurmond and Joe Biden 1986.webp|thumb|right|275px|Joe Biden and [[Strom Thurmond]] laugh it up during a 1986 Senate hearing.]]
Alongside being a crusader for mass incarceration, Joe Biden's early Senate record was pretty rough on racial issues. Biden, for instance, has long boasted about his friendly personal relationship with the infamous [[segregation]]ist [[Strom Thurmond]].<ref>"[https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/06/06/biden-eulogy-strom-thurmond-friendship-politics/676708002/ Biden eulogy for Strom Thurmond shows political opponents don't have to be enemies]." ''Delaware Online.'' 6 June 20158.</ref> This was to highlight his bipartisanship, but in modern times it looks pretty fucking bad to have been pals with the guy who gave a filibuster speech against civil rights legislation in 1957 for 24 hours straight.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/03/07/173736882/how-did-strom-thurmond-last-through-his-24-hour-filibuster How Did Strom Thurmond Last Through His 24-Hour Filibuster?]. ''NPR.''</ref> 

Furthermore, Biden supported legislation that would have prevented federal courts from ordering [[public school]] busing (a measure to promote racial integration),<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/us/joe-biden-busing-timeline.html A Brief History of Joe Biden and School Busing]. ''New York Times.''</ref> something for which his future vice president [[Kamala Harris]] harshly criticized him in the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination|2020 presidential debates]].<ref>[https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/05/joe-biden-busing-problem-226791  Here’s How Deep Biden’s Busing Problem Runs]. ''Politico Magazine.'' May 05, 2019.</ref> In 1975, Joe Biden joined the virulently racist [[North Carolina]] senator [[Jesse Helms]] in voting against a measure that would have required public schools to provide information on the racial makeup of their student bodies, thereby kneecapping any federal effort to enforce integration.<ref name="intllgencr">[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/03/joe-biden-record-on-busing-incarceration-racial-justice-democratic-primary-2020-explained.html Biden's record on race explained]. ''New York Magazine.'' 12 March 2019.</ref> After the Helms proposal failed, Biden then proposed his own budget measure seeking to bar schools from using federal funds to "assign teachers or students to schools … for reasons of race."<ref name="intllgencr"/> Some of Biden's Democratic colleagues, such as Senators Warren Magnuson and Scoop Jackson of Washington, Thomas Eagleton and Stuart Symington of Missouri, and Mike Mansfield of Montana, jumped on board this new measure.<ref name="intllgencr"/> In the ensuing vote, Biden's anti-integration measure succeeded where Helms' had failed. The [[NAACP]] lambasted this result, and the Senate's sole black member (Ed Brooke of [[Massachusetts]]) called it "the greatest symbolic defeat for civil rights since 1964."<ref name="intllgencr"/>

====Zionist Joe====
[[File:Joe Biden on the senate floor 1986.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Joe Biden on the Senate floor, 1986.]]
Joe Biden was noted throughout his Senate tenure as one of the most pro-[[Israel]] elected officials in the entire US. He claims this is a legacy of his father, who he says had a "preoccupation with the [[Holocaust]]" and would frequently discuss "how the world stood silently by in the 1930s in the face of [[Hitler]]".<ref name="golda">[https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-israel-gaza-dachau-holocaust-hamas-919058eec36dca4c06cf9fc4355fe302 A ‘Zionist in my heart': Biden’s devotion to Israel faces a new test]. ''Associated Press.'' October 12, 2023.</ref> Seeking to impress this lesson on his children, Biden took all of them on trips to Dachau, a [[Nazi]] [[concentration camp]]. 

In 1973 (the very year he was sworn in), Senator Biden visited Golda Meir, Israel's Prime Minister at the time. He said his main takeaway was a comment she made to him about how Israel's "secret weapon" was that they have "no place else to go."<ref name="golda"/> Biden was also close friends with Senator "Scoop" Jackson from Washington, a hawkish Democrat whose staff included future [[neoconservative]] figures like [[Paul Wolfowitz]].<ref name="scoop">[https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-israel-policy-netanyahu/ The Lifelong Incoherence of Biden’s Israel Strategy]. ''The Nation.''  June 19, 2024.</ref> Biden spoke at Jackson's funeral in 1983, saying Jackson had "changed my whole perspective on an issue that I had up to that point felt not nearly as strongly about, and that was Israel."<ref name="scoop"/> Senator Jackson had been a major proponent of aiding Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and he vocally saw Israel as an American outpost in a hostile region.<ref name="scoop"/> 

In 1982, Israeli PM Menachem Begin visited the United States after having ordered the invasion of [[Lebanon]]. During a private meeting with US Senators, Begin says he was shocked at Biden's enthusiasm for the military expedition. Begin claimed that Biden "said he would go even further than Israel, adding that he’d forcefully fend off anyone who sought to invade his country, even if that meant killing women or children."<ref>[https://theintercept.com/2021/04/27/biden-israeli-invasion-lebanon/ 1982: Israeli Invasion of Lebanon ]. ''The Intercept.'' April 27 2021.</ref> This stands in stark contrast to Biden's public statements at the time, which were critical of Israel's actions. Biden did, however, try to dissuade Begin during this conversation from continuing Jewish settlements in occupied [[Palestine]], but only because he feared that the settlements would turn public opinion against Israel.<ref>[https://jacobin.com/2023/10/joe-biden-menachem-begin-israel-lebanon-war-civilian-casualties-canada-gaza EXCLUSIVE: In the ’80s, Joe Biden Speculated to Israel’s PM About Wiping Out Canadians]. ''Jacobin.'' 10.22.2023.</ref> 

President [[Ronald Reagan]], on the other hand, was more doveish on the Lebanon invasion, especially after an Israeli air raid on Beirut that killed over 100 people. In a phone call with Begin, Reagan said, "Menachem, this is a holocaust".<ref name="reagleb">[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/21/biden-stop-gaza-bombing-genocide-israel Biden can end the bombing of Gaza right now. Here’s how]. ''The Guardian.'' 21 Feb 2024.</ref> Yeah, ''that'' word came out. Although Begin reacted as poorly to that as you might expect, it only took twenty minutes of Reagan angrily demanding a ceasefire in Beirut before Begin caved.<ref name="reagleb"/> So yes, Reagan was more of a dove on this issue than Biden was. 

Biden later went on the record to defend a $3 billion aid package to Israel in 1986, saying "It is the best $3 billion investment we can make. Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region".<ref name="reagleb"/>

====Borking Joe====
As the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden played a vital role in scuttling the wingnut Reagan nominee for the Supreme Court, [[Robert Bork]]. Biden's treatment of Bork drew heavy criticism for attacking Bork like a prosecutor to criticize Bork's original-intent judicial philosophy.<ref>[https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/517743-joe-biden-the-father-of-borking Joe Biden, the father of 'Borking']. ''The Hill.''</ref> This was an early sign that Supreme Court nominations would start getting more politically fraught and angry. 

The hearing also took place during Biden's infamous failed 1988 presidential run.

===1988 run for president===
[[File:Joebiden1988.gif|thumb|right|300px|Poor Joe probably doesn't like to see this logo anymore.]]
{{main|1988 United States presidential election}}
{{cquote|I think I probably have a much higher [[IQ]] than you do.|||Angry Joe Biden after being asked about his law school grades.<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/joe-biden-plagiarism/ Did Joe Biden Drop Out of the ’88 Presidential Race After Admitting to Plagiarism?] ''Snopes.''</ref>}} 
Biden's campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1988 was an embarrassment, and it collapsed after just three months. Biden once again played himself as a youth candidate, and he also tried to play up his everyman reputation. That last part killed his campaign. Biden gave a speech referencing his family's old traditional jobs as coal workers in [[Pennsylvania]]. Still, his speech very blatantly [[plagiarism|plagiarized]] the very similar words of British politician Neil Kinnock.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2019/12/21/789323826/for-joe-biden-1987-brought-triumph-in-the-wake-of-political-setback For Joe Biden, 1987 Brought Triumph In The Wake Of Political Setback].''NPR.''</ref> The press jumped on him and questioned his character. Then it got even worse when an old law school paper emerged, which Biden had improperly cited sources and was thus an inadvertent act of plagiarism.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/18/us/biden-admits-plagiarism-in-school-but-says-it-was-not-malevolent.html Biden Admits Plagiarism in School But Says It Was Not 'Malevolent']. ''New York Times.''</ref> This type of "gotcha journalism" had been the rule until the period of the Trump Presidency.<ref>https://prospect.org/culture/logic-trump-s-war-media/</ref>
Biden then made some misleading statements about his academic successes and, most egregiously, falsely claimed that he had marched with the Civil Rights Movement.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/us/politics/biden-1988-presidential-campaign.html Biden’s First Run for President Was a Calamity. Some Missteps Still Resonate.] ''New York Times.''</ref>

===Back to the Senate===
[[File:Anita Hill testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|275px|Anita Hill testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.]]
====No testimony Joe====
{{cquote|"Have I forgiven Joe Biden? I'm ready to move on, but I am also ready to hold Joe Biden accountable. Accountability means acknowledging your role in a problem and the harm it's caused. Acknowledging that you have culpability.|||Anita Hill, 2019.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/24/politics/anita-hill-senate-allegations-kavanaugh/index.html Anita Hill says she's 'ready to hold Joe Biden accountable' for role in 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearings]. ''CNN.''</ref>}}
In 1991, Biden played an unfortunate role as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee in managing the confirmation of [[Clarence Thomas]]. As chair, Biden became aware that university law professor Anita Hill had accused Thomas of sexual harassment. During the committee's questioning of Hill, Biden turned the proceedings into a farce. He refused to allow testimony from people who would have corroborated Hill's account, and he allowed his 14 white male colleagues to demonize and bully Hill.<ref>[https://theintercept.com/2019/04/27/anita-hill-joe-biden-non-apology/ What Joe Biden’s (Non-)Apology to Anita Hill Reveals About Him]. ''The Intercept.''</ref> Biden also showed that he was more sympathetic to Thomas during his questions, and he allowed Thomas to testify twice while only allowing Hill to testify once. 

However, Biden did vote against Thomas' confirmation, but apparently based on legal differences rather than Hill's account. Biden eventually apologized to Hill in 2019, but she says his apology left her unsatisfied and that he had set the stage for [[Brett Kavanaugh]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/politics/joe-biden-anita-hill.html Joe Biden Expresses Regret to Anita Hill, but She Says ‘I’m Sorry’ Is Not Enough]. ''New York Times.''</ref>  

====No homo Joe====
Biden's record on [[LGBT]] issues during his time as a senator also drew some harsh criticism during his later political career. For instance, Biden voted for the "[[don't ask, don't tell]]" policy, which prohibited openly gay individuals from serving in the US military.<ref name="nohomo">[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-biden/bidens-lgbtq-record-draws-scrutiny-at-iowa-presidential-forum-idUSKBN1W603A Biden's LGBTQ record draws scrutiny at Iowa presidential forum]. ''Reuters.''</ref> The policy also allowed the military to investigate service members if there was "credible" evidence that the individual was gay or lesbian.

Biden also voted for the 1992 "[[Defense of Marriage Act]]", although he previously opposed denying same-sex couples benefits.<ref name="nohomo"/> Biden subsequently changed his mind, supporting the law's repeal in 2010 and telling "Meet the Press" in 2012 that he was "comfortable" with marriage equality.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vice-president-biden-gay-marriage_n_1489235 Joe Biden Tells 'Meet The Press' He's 'Comfortable' With Marriage Equality]. ''Huffington Post.''</ref>  DOMA was ruled unconstitutional by the [[US Supreme Court]] in the 2015 ''Obergefell v. Hodges'' case.

====Foreign policy Joe====
[[File:Joe Biden addresses the press after having a brief meeting with Iraq's interim Prime Minister lyad Allawi.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Biden in Baghdad, 2004.]]
Biden was a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the '90s and early 2000s. Biden voted against the [[Gulf War]] in 1991 and disliked the other Middle Eastern coalition members because they saddled the US with most of the effort.<ref name="bidfp">[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/01/joe-bidens-history-making-wrong-call/332431/ Joe Biden's History of Making the Wrong Call]. ''The Atlantic.''</ref> During the Clinton years, though, Biden supported US intervention in the [[Yugoslav Wars]], and he still considers that support a point of pride.<ref>[https://balkaninsight.com/2020/10/20/joe-biden-woos-americas-bosnian-albanian-voters-before-polls/ Joe Biden Woos America’s Bosnian, Albanian Voters Before Polls]. ''Balkan Insight.''</ref> 

Biden's role in the lead-up to the 2003 [[Iraq War]] was where things got terrible. In 2002, Biden ran the Senate Foreign Relations hearing on [[Iraq]]'s alleged [[WMD]] stockpile and made it clear that he wanted the committee to support deposing [[Saddam Hussein]] regardless of the facts.<ref name="bidfp"/> He even allowed the egregious lies that Saddam would have [[nuclear weapon]]s "sometime this decade" and that Iraqis would "welcome the United States as liberators" to go unchallenged.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/17/joe-biden-role-iraq-war Joe Biden championed the Iraq war. Will that come back to haunt him now?] ''The Guardian.''</ref> Biden then voted in support of the 2003 invasion, although he later admitted that vote to be a mistake. In 2006 he announced that he wanted to do an [[imperialist]]-style carve-up of Iraq into three ethnostates based on the premise that the Iraqis couldn't handle living in the same country.<ref name="bidfp"/> On the plus side, he voted against the 2007 troop surge. Not too much war. 

Biden's later claims that he opposed the war from the beginning are blatantly false.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/06/politics/fact-check-biden-iraq-war-repeat-iowa/index.html Fact check: Biden again dishonestly suggests he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning]. ''CNN.''</ref>

===2008 run for president===
[[File:Joe Biden Presidential Campaign Logo 08.svg|thumb|right|300px|Biden's ugly campaign logo. Ugh, the font choice!]]
{{cquote|You've got the first sort of mainstream [[African American]] who is articulate and bright and clean and nice looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook man.|||Joe Biden referring to [[Barack Obama]] in 2007.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/31/biden.obama/ Biden's description of Obama draws scrutiny]. ''CNN.''</ref>}}

Biden's second failed attempt at the White House was a miserable failure but less so than in 1988. One of his worst moments in the race came from the above quote about Barack Obama, which implicitly insulted African-Americans with faint praise for Obama. The comment was, like many others Biden would make, racially insensitive. He also struggled to explain a comment he made about the rising Indian-American population in Delaware, having stated, "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13757367 Biden explains Indian-American remarks]. ''NBC News.''</ref> During his campaign, Biden focused on his superior foreign policy experience compared to the other candidates, although much of that foreign policy experience was not good. 

The worst part was that Biden failed to attract name recognition, and by this point, he was seen as an old man concerned with old issues. He struggled to fundraise or attract people to his rallies. Much of his failure can be attributed to the fact that Biden was overshadowed by the much more famous [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]]. In the [[Iowa]] Caucus, Biden received less than 1% of the state's support.<ref>{{wpa|2008 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses|}}</ref>

Obama ultimately picked Joe Biden as his running mate, partly because of their personal rapport but mostly because Biden would reassure voters who were worried about Obama's relative lack of government experience.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/us/politics/24biden.html Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate]. ''New York Times.''</ref> Biden at this time was in support for [[abortion]] rights, and his role in the national race caused him to conflict with [[Catholic]] clergy in Pennsylvania.<ref>[https://catholicexchange.com/bidens-bishop-will-not-permit-him-even-if-elected-vp-to-speak-at-catholic-schools Biden’s Bishop Will not Permit Him, Even if Elected VP, to Speak at Catholic Schools]. ''Catholic Exchange.''</ref> Obama and Biden won the 2008 election in a landslide. 

==Vice President Joe==
[[File:Biden Obama 3b.jpg|thumb|right|325px|Obama and Biden in Springfield, Illinois.]]
Obama's decision to pick Biden as his VP effectively saved Biden's career from political obscurity. Obama and Biden served as senators together on the Foreign Relations Committee, and the two men had initially disliked like each other since Biden resented Obama's fame, and Obama saw Biden as patronizing.<ref>Heilemann, John; Halperin, Mark (2010). ''Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime''. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-173363-5. p.28</ref> They only warmed up to each other on the 2008 primary campaign trail, as Obama liked Biden's appeals to the working class. 

Biden's toughest job as VP was learning how to be deferential to Barack Obama, but he did prove loyal. From the outset, he was the primary architect of the Obama policy towards Iraq.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-skunk-at-the-family-picnic-027211 'The skunk at the family picnic']. ''Politico.''</ref> Obama and other administration members described Biden as the "devil's advocate" who would force them to defend their positions and decisions.<ref>Baker, Peter (April 28, 2019). "Biden and Obama's 'Odd Couple' Relationship Aged Into Family Ties". ''The New York Times''. ISSN 0362-4331.</ref> He repeatedly visited Iraq, explaining what steps would need to be taken before the US would withdraw, and simultaneously warning the Iraqis that the US would back away regardless if the Iraqi government allowed their country to descend into a sectarian civil war.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-skunk-at-the-family-picnic-027211 
‘The skunk at the family picnic’]. ''Politico.'' 09/16/2009.</ref> Biden was also known for being the most skeptical voice within the administration against Secretary Clinton's plan to increase troop levels in [[Afghanistan]] in 2009.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067 Clinton toils in the shadows]. ''Politico.'' 06/23/2009.</ref>

After the Democratic Party's disastrous losses in the 2010 midterm elections, Biden's relationships with his former Senate colleagues became vital to keeping the administration's agenda alive. In 2011, Biden cooperated with [[Mitch McConnell]] in the Senate to hash out a debt limit deal avoiding a US default at the last moment.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463 Biden, McConnell and the making of a deal]. ''Politico.''</ref> Biden and McConnell had served in the Senate together for 25 years. 

In May of 2012, right in the middle of the re-election campaign, Biden [[Freudian slip|misspoke (or maybe not)]], saying that "I am absolutely comfortable with [[gay marriage]]."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/06/us-usa-biden-idUSBRE84507820120506 Biden 'absolutely comfortable' with gay marriage], Reuters</ref> This gaffe forced Obama to have to actually ''address'' the gay marriage issue head-on. The President said he had evolved and now accepted gay marriage.  This was one of several turning points in the campaign, so thank him for that. (There's some not-entirely-unfounded speculation that Biden's "gaffe" was a trial balloon for a planned announcement by the President: if the media didn't make ''too'' much of a fuss about Biden's statement, or made a fuss in a positive direction, it was safe for the Prez to, um, come out.)<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/joe-biden-gay-marriage-and-2016/2012/05/10/gIQA0y33FU_blog.html Obama: Biden “probably got a little bit over his skis” on the issue], ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref>

===The 2016 election===
{{main|2016 United States presidential election}}

Joe Biden had long flirted with running for president in 2016 after his boss had been term-limited. [[Hillary Clinton]], on the other hand, also had her eyes on the White House, and she spent much of 2015 planning for a campaign against him in the primaries.<ref name="bidcli16">[https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/21/politics/2016-election-joe-biden-impact/index.html  5 ways Joe Biden’s decision changes the 2016 race ]. ''CNN.''</ref> The two had notable differences, with Clinton using harsher language against the Republicans and opposing Obama's proposed [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (a flip-flop).<ref name="bidcli16"/> In October 2015, however, Biden announced that he wouldn't run, a decision influenced by the then-recent death of his son Beau.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/21/politics/joe-biden-not-running-2016-election/index.html  Joe Biden won’t run for president ]. ''CNN.''</ref> Biden changed his tone in January 2016, stating he regretted the decision "every day", but he acknowledged that it was too late to reenter the race.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/joe-biden-regrets-not-running-for-president/index.html  Joe Biden on 2016 decision: ‘I regret it every day’ ]. ''CNN.''</ref>

Hillary Clinton went on to run a poor campaign<ref>[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/25/13699146/clinton-campaign-strategy-win-polls The radically simple reason Hillary Clinton didn’t run a different campaign: she thought she was winning]. ''Vox.''</ref> and lose the 2016 election to [[Donald Trump]]. This would have disastrous consequences for the United States.

==2020 run for president==
[[File:Biden9 (32932624647).jpg|thumb|right|350px|Joe Biden's campaign kickoff rally in Philadelphia, [[Pennsylvania]].]] 
{{main|2020 United States presidential election}}
{{cquote|Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.|||Biden makes a classic gaffe in 2019.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/us/politics/joe-biden-poor-kids.html Joe Biden Says ‘Poor Kids’ Are Just as Bright as ‘White Kids’]. ''The New York Times''.</ref>}}
===Rough road in the primaries===
After four years of failure under Donald Trump, it was time for the 2020 Democratic primaries. This campaign was set to be a busy one, with the Trump administration looking vulnerable after various scandals, a weak midterm performance, and poor handling of [[COVID-19]]. Populist Senator Bernie Sanders quickly became a frontrunner in the race, hoping to avenge his 2016 defeat at the hands of Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, after giving non-committal answers for a number of months,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090215/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/joe-biden-close-running-president-despite-doubts/581956// Biden’s Anguished Search for a Path to Victory]. ''The Atlantic.'' 4 February 2019.</ref> Biden finally tossed his name in on 29 April 2019. He received attention for both his name-recognition and his favorable polls against Trump.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 Joe Biden is the Democrats' best chance to beat Trump in 2020. No other liberal darling even comes close.] ''NBC News.''</ref> Lagging behind were other hopefuls such as Kamala Harris, [[Elizabeth Warren]], and Pete Buttigieg. 

Trump immediately considered Biden to be his most likely rival, and on 25 July 2020, Trump made a phone call to the president of [[Ukraine]], [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], making it clear that he would only allow more military aid to Ukraine if Zelenskyy publicly opened a criminal corruption investigation into Hunter Biden, who had ties to a Ukrainian energy company.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49800181 Trump impeachment: The short, medium and long story]. ''BBC News.'' 5 February 2020.</ref> This became public knowledge in late August. Democrats, who controlled the [[House of Representatives]], investigated the issue and passed two articles of [[impeachment]] against Trump. While Trump was acquitted by Republican votes in the Senate, the affair gave the impression that Trump considered Biden a threat.

[[File:Democratic Party presidential primaries results, 2020.svg|thumb|right|300px|{{legend|#224192|Joe Biden       |border=1}}
{{legend|#228B22|Bernie Sanders  |border=1}}{{legend|#f2ba42|Pete Buttigieg  |border=1}}
{{legend|#9370db|Michael Bloomberg (he ''is'' on the map; look for [[American Samoa]])|border=1}}]]

On the other hand, eight women came forward in 2019 to accuse Biden of touching and kissing them inappropriately.<ref>[https://archive.ph/20201217214742/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden]. ''The Cut.'' 12 April 2020.</ref> The issue attracted some attention, and Biden made an apology video pledging to be "more mindful and respectful of people's personal space."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090251/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html/ Joe Biden, in Video, Says He Will Be ‘More Mindful’ of Personal Space]. ''New York Times.''</ref> Trump's attempt to capitalize on the issue fell somewhat flat, probably due to the 23 allegations of sexual misconduct against him.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/04/donald-trump-joe-biden-women Trump: You Wanna Talk About Inappropriate Touching, I’m Your Guy]. ''Vanity Fair.'' April 5, 2019.</ref> 

Biden hit another stumble in the first round of primary debates, when Kamala Harris jumped on his time in the Senate opposing busing for school integration.<ref name="bidhardeb">[https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/27/politics/democratic-primary-debate-night-two-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-kamala-harris/index.html  ‘That little girl was me’: Harris’ attack on Joe Biden steals spotlight at Democratic primary debate]. ''CNN.'' June 28, 2019.</ref> She then added, "it was actually hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of [[Strom Thurmond|two United]] [[Jesse Helms|States senators]] who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country."<ref name="bidhardeb"/> Looking visibly uncomfortable, Biden struggled to find a counter to the attacks (since there really weren't good ones), and he ended the night looking much weaker than he had. 

Another dangerous moment came in late March 2020, when former Senate staffer Tara Reade accused Biden of sexually assaulting her. She had been one of the women who spoke out in 2019, and the media quickly highlighted inconsistencies between her 2019 and 2020 version of events as well as her previous positivity towards Biden.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200412090835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html Examining Tara Reade’s Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden]. ''New York Times.'' April 12, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/15/tara-reade-left-trail-of-aggrieved-acquaintances-260771  ‘Manipulative, deceitful, user’: Tara Reade left a trail of aggrieved acquaintances]. ''Politico.''</ref>

Bad performances in the critical early [[Iowa]] and [[New Hampshire]] contests seemed to rob Biden of his momentum, and losing [[Nevada]] soon after didn't help matters.<ref name="bidpath">[https://www.npr.org/2020/08/16/902640265/joe-bidens-long-and-rocky-road-to-the-democratic-nomination Joe Biden's Long And Rocky Road To The Democratic Nomination]. ''NPR.''</ref> As the losses kept coming, the campaign's message shifted to, "nah, we'll turn things around at [[South Carolina]], just wait".<ref name="howbidwon">[https://time.com/5907674/joe-biden-wins-2020-election/ How Joe Biden Won the White House]. ''Time.''</ref> Surprisingly, this didn't end up being false hope. Ahead of the South Carolina primary vote, Rep. James Clyburn, the highest ranking Black member of Congress, endorsed Biden.<ref name="bidpath"/> This backing, combined with Biden's history as a loyal VP for Obama, helped Biden sweep the southern states on the power of Black electoral support. Moderate candidates dropped out to back Biden, and this change in momentum convinced Sanders to admit defeat and endorse Biden himself on 7 April.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out/index.html  Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 race, clearing Joe Biden’s path to the Democratic nomination]. ''CNN.''</ref>

===General election campaign===
[[File:Biden Harris 2020.png|thumb|right|250px|Campaign logo after selecting Harris as his running mate. ''Finally'' one that actually looks good.]]

Kamala Harris was an early favorite for the VP ticket,<ref name="harvpik">[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/27/kamala-harris-biden-vp-381829  ‘She had no remorse’: Why Kamala Harris isn’t a lock for VP ]. ''Politico.'' 07/27/2020.</ref> as she was a Black woman in a year marked by major [[Black Lives Matter]] protests after police unjustly murdered George Floyd and other Black Americans.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-kenosha-protests-racial-equality-trump-covid-pandemic/ Staring down Trump, Kamala Harris says she stands with protesters on racial equality]. ''CBS News.''</ref> However, her act of pouncing on Biden for the segregationist skeletons in his closet during the first primary debates left many Biden donors and campaign staff feeling bitter towards her.<ref name="harvpik"/> Biden ended up picking her anyway, partly due to her good relationship with his late son Beau, and partly to put a Black woman against the racial divisiveness of Donald Trump.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/11/joe-biden-vp-pick-kamala-harris-393768  Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee]. ''Politico.''</ref> 

Biden's campaign focused on improving federal COVID response, expanding [[Obamacare]], raising the minimum wage, reforming criminal justice, and reversing Donald Trump's immigration policies.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-53575474 Joe Biden: Where does he stand on key issues?] ''BBC News.'' 19 January 2021.</ref> However, with COVID rampant and Trump constantly shooting himself in the foot, Biden chose a cautious campaign strategy. He largely eschewed the massive indoor rallies Trump enjoyed, instead opting for smaller socially-distanced events.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/15/politics/gallery/trump-biden-2020-campaigns/index.html  In pictures: A tale of two campaigns]. ''CNN.''</ref> Despite being the oldest presidential candidate in American history, circumstances forced Biden to run a primarily online campaign, becoming the first presidential candidate to do so.<ref name="howbidwon"/> Trump mocked Biden for his lack of in-person campaigning, but an online strategy was a smart way to market a candidate who was just too old to have the stamina for constant rallying and door-knocking.<ref name="howbidwon"/> Biden also presented himself as the more empathetic candidate by releasing solemn videos marking COVID death milestones<ref name="howbidwon"/> while Trump spent his time golfing.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-golfed-25-times-covid-19-spread-killed-over-200000-2020-9 Trump went golfing 25 times as a virus swept across the US and killed over 200,000 Americans]. ''Business Insider.'' Sep 22, 2020.</ref> Amid the Black Lives Matter protests, Biden spoke at George Floyd's funeral and knelt with protestors<ref>[https://time.com/5852534/black-lives-matter-2020-elections-voting/ How Black Lives Matter Could Reshape the 2020 Elections]. ''Time.'' 17 June 2020.</ref> while Trump threatened protesters with "vicious dogs" and "ominous weapons"<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-threatens-vicious-dogs-ominous-weapons-could-have-been-used-n1219596 Trump threatens 'vicious dogs' and 'ominous weapons' could have been used on White House protesters]. ''NBC News.'' May 30, 2020.</ref> and said "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/864818368/the-history-behind-when-the-looting-starts-the-shooting-starts The History Behind 'When The Looting Starts, The Shooting Starts']. ''NPR.'' 29 May 2020.</ref>

===Result and aftermath===
[[File:ElectoralCollege2020.svg|thumb|right|350px|2020 Electoral College result.]]
The 2020 election saw a sharply increased turnout, and Biden won by making gains with white working-class voters as well as suburban voters.<ref name="pew20">[https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/ Behind Biden’s 2020 Victory]. ''Pew Research Center.''</ref> For the first time, Silent Generation and Baby Boomers were less than 50% of the electorate.<ref name="pew20"/> Trump, for his part, greatly improved his numbers with Hispanic voters, especially in [[Florida]]. Biden ultimately returned [[Wisconsin]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Michigan]] to the Democratic column, and he narrowly flipped the long-Republican states of [[Georgia]] and [[Arizona]]. Amusingly, Biden won the same share of electoral votes Trump did (306-232), although he actually received more due to faithless electors costing Trump two votes in 2016.

Trump reacted to this about as well as you might expect. He refused to concede, claiming the election had been "stolen" from him through "[[voter fraud]]", and he lodged numerous legal challenges. The lawsuits all resulted in dead-ends, and various state recounts confirmed Biden's victory (even adding votes in some cases).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204403/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/09/bidens-transition-continues-trump-refuses-concede-timeline/3801714001/ Timeline: Trump insists he won the election as Biden prepares to take the White House]. ''USA Today.''</ref> In five states, Trump loyalists attempted to send "fake electors" to rig the Electoral College vote (those people were charged with crimes).<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/trump-election-interference-indictments-giuliani-meadows-8137b90da8c3a971316e0cfa3acfd6a9 These people were charged with interfering in the 2020 election. Some are still in politics today]. ''Associated Press.''  April 26, 2024.</ref> Trump also made an hour-long phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (a Republican), repeating false claims and demanding that Raffensperger "find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won this state."<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2022/06/21/1106472863/georgia-officials-fact-check-infamous-trump-phone-call-in-real-time Georgia officials fact-check an infamous Trump phone call in real time]. ''NPR.''</ref> 

[[File:2021 storming of the United States Capitol 2021 storming of the United States Capitol DSC09363-2 (50820534723).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Trump supporters attack the US Capitol to stop the democratic transfer of power.]]

Events culminated on 6 January 2021, the day Congress was supposed to meet to certify the election results. After unsuccessfully launching a public pressure campaign against his Vice President, [[Mike Pence]], to toss out the votes from swing states during the certifying process (under the theory that Pence could do so in his capacity as President of the Senate), Trump gave a speech to his supporters in Washington DC, saying,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210209013727/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-01-13/transcript-of-trumps-speech-at-rally-before-us-capitol-riot Transcript of Trump's Speech at Rally Before US Capitol Riot].</ref> 

{{cquote|All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats, which is what they're doing. And stolen by the fake news media. That's what they’ve done and what they’re doing. We will never give up, we will never concede. It doesn't happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore and that's what this is all about. And to use a favorite term that all of you people really came up with: We will stop the steal.|}}

The crowd of Trump supporters immediately thereafter [[2021 U.S. coup attempt|stormed the US Capitol]] in an attempt to disrupt Congress from tallying Electoral Votes. US elected officials hid under desks and donned gas masks as police failed to barricade the building; a woman rioter was shot during the violence.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818 Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn election]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> This was an severe and dangerous challenge to the American democratic transfer of power. During the attack, Biden gave an address calling it, "an unprecedented assault unlike anything we've seen in modern times, an assault on the rule of law."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210129142525/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-capitol-c68378d16055c53e3942da66e968ea6b Biden urges restoring decency after ‘assault’ on democracy]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> 

While some Republicans stood down when Congress reconvened, others still voted to object to the Electoral College votes from certain Biden-won states, although the objections failed to overturn Biden's victory.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/insurrection-at-the-capitol/2021/01/07/954380156/here-are-the-republicans-who-objected-to-the-electoral-college-count Here Are The Republicans Who Objected To The Electoral College Count]. ''NPR.''</ref> Joe Biden became president of a deeply broken United States.

==President Joe==
[[File:Dark Brandon meme.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The Dark Brandon rises.]]
{{cquote|Dark Brandon is real.|||Joe Biden<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-raises-record-26-million-at-star-studded-new-york-campaign-event Biden raises record $26 million at star-studded New York campaign event]  by Colleen Long & Chris Megerian (Mar 29, 2024 10:22 AM EDT) ''PBS''.</ref>}}

Although Biden had fulfilled his dream of becoming President, he did so under unfortunate circumstances. His inauguration was shadowed by extensive security measures by the National Guard, pandemic precautions, and a crybaby bitch of a predecessor who refused to attend.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55710436 Biden inauguration: How security threats and Covid have changed ceremony]. ''BBC News.''</ref> The country, meanwhile, suffered from a deep economic recession<ref>[https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/tracking-the-post-great-recession-economy Chart Book: Tracking the Post-Great Recession Economy]. ''Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.'' May 27, 2022.</ref> and the ongoing aftereffects of Donald Trump's four years of failure. This wasn't going to be easy.

===Emergency measures===
[[File:P20210712AS-1842 (51417132507).jpg|thumb|right|325px|President Biden on the phone in the Oval Office, 2021.]]
Biden immediately set about signing an onslaught of executive orders to staunch the bleeding. Pandemic-related orders implemented mask mandates, reestablished the Obama-era Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense (which had been disestablished by Trump), and halted Trump's process of leaving the World Health Organization (WHO).<ref name="bidorders">[https://web.archive.org/web/20210120233631/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/ Biden signs executive actions on COVID, climate change, immigration and more]. ''CBS News.''</ref> Biden then instructed the [[Centers for Disease Control]] (CDC) to revive the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums that Trump had allowed to expire.<ref name="bidorders"/> He also implemented a pause on student loan payments.

His early executive orders also sought to somewhat right the course on [[climate change]] policy by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and halting the Keystone XL pipeline construction project.<ref name="bidorders"/> Yet more orders served to shield Dreamers (almost a million undocumented young people who were brought to the country as children) from deportation, end the "Muslim travel ban", and stop construction on the border wall.<ref name="bidorders"/>

On 11 March, Biden signed the colossal $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package called the American Rescue Plan, which allocated federal funding to vaccines, schools, small businesses, and anti-poverty programs such as an expanded child tax credit.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/09/974841565/heres-whats-in-the-american-rescue-plan-as-it-heads-toward-final-passage Here's What's In The American Rescue Plan]. ''NPR.''</ref> A minimum wage hike to $15 an hour was proposed, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the mandate wasn't allowed to be placed in during budget reconciliation (a processed used to expedite budget bills), and Republican support obviously wasn't going to happen.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/25/15-minimum-wage-decision-biden-covid-relief-bill.html $15 minimum wage not allowed in Biden’s Covid relief bill, Senate official says]. ''CNBC.'' Feb. 25 2021.</ref>

===Civil rights===
[[File:P20221213AS-3092 (52651361435).jpg|thumb|right|325px|The White House lit up to celebrate Biden's signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, 2022.]]

Biden's policies towards the [[LGBT]] community went a long way towards rectifying his earlier support for DOMA. One of his earliest actions as president was to sign an executive order reversing Donald Trump's ban on [[transgender]] individuals from serving in the US military.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-reverse-trump-s-transgender-military-ban-n1255522 Biden reverses Trump's transgender military ban]. ''NBC News.'' Jan. 25, 2021.</ref> On 20 September, 2021, Biden marked the 10th anniversary of the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" in the US military and instructed the Department of Veterans Affairs to make former servicemen who had been discharged over homosexuality or [[HIV]] status eligible for veterans benefits.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/biden-recognizes-10th-anniversary-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-rcna2086 Biden recognizes the 10th anniversary of 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal]. ''NBC News.'' Sept. 20, 2021.</ref> 

On racial issues, Biden was keen to reward Black Americans for bailing his ass out during the primaries (since he wouldn't have won without winning the southern states with Black support). One of Biden's first executive orders allocated federal funds to Historically Black Colleges, [[Native American]] tribes, and new programs to help close racial disparities in job and housing opportunities.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3861230-biden-signs-executive-order-to-address-racial-inequity/  Biden signs executive order to address racial inequity]. ''The Hill.'' 02/16/23.</ref> Also in 2021, Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth (June 19th) a federal holiday; the day had long been celebrated by many Black Americans as the day the last slaves in the US were freed after the [[American Civil War]].<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4 The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> In 2022, Biden issued a blanket pardon for all people convicted of simple [[cannabis]] possession under federal law and DC statutes.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2022/10/06/1127302410/biden-pardon-marijuana-possession-convictions Biden to pardon simple federal marijuana possession convictions]. ''NPR.'' Oct. 6, 2022.</ref>

Biden then signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and mandated states to respect previously conducted [[same-sex marriage]]s.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2022/12/08/1140808263/what-does-the-respect-for-marriage-act-do-the-answer-will-vary-by-state What does the Respect for Marriage Act do? The answer will vary by state.] ''NPR.'' December 8, 2022.</ref> Unfortunately, the bill does not prevent states from banning future same-sex marriages.

===Obstructionism in the Senate===
[[File:Manchin and Sinema.jpg|thumb|right|325px|Manchin and Sinema discuss how to further sabotage their own party's president, 2021.]]
{{cquote|They are, in effect, holding the president's priorities hostage to their personal whims. That's not a new story in politics. But their stubbornness in the face of contemporary challenges reveals the bottomless emptiness of their brand of centrist politics.|||Sarah Jones, ''New York Magazine'', 29 September 2021.<ref name="manchema">[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/03/joe-manchin-kyrsten-sinema-democrats-biden Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema: the centrists blocking Biden’s agenda]. ''The Guardian.''</ref>}}

Unfortunately, Biden's difficult task was only made more difficult by the narrow Democratic majority in the [[US Senate]]. While Democrats had successfully flipped both Georgia Senate seats, a massive achievement, that still only left them with 50 seats. Even with Vice President Harris as a tiebreaker, that left no room for defections. Defections, of course, ensued from two conservative-leaning Democrats: [[Joe Manchin]] of [[West Virginia]] and [[Kyrsten Sinema]] of [[Arizona]].

The two sabotaged the first stages of Biden's legislative agenda with two mutually exclusive objections: Sinema wouldn't support higher taxes on the wealthy, and Manchin wouldn't support increasing the capital gains tax.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-taxes-manchin-sinema_n_61798a8ee4b065735743e3d2 Democrats Hit Tax Snag As They Finalize Build Back Better Deal]. ''Huffington Post.''</ref> The two also split from the party on social spending. Manchin was content to sit on the American Rescue Plan and allocate "zero" additional dollars to social spending, a position which infuriated Bernie Sanders and began a feud between the two.<ref>[https://www.axios.com/2021/10/21/manchin-sanders-reconciliation-fight Scoop: “How about zero?” Manchin, Sanders get heated behind closed doors]. ''Axios.''</ref> During discussions over a proposed infrastructure spending bill, Manchin demanded that the cost be reduced from $3.5 trillion to $1.5, further complicating the effort to overhaul America's crumbling transportation network.<ref name="manchema"/>

The two also joined Republicans in voting against changing filibuster rules to allow passage of a key voting rights bill in early 2022.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html  Senate Democrats suffer defeat on voting rights after vote to change rules fails]. ''CNN.''</ref> In May, Bernie Sanders raged at them on behalf of his onetime adversary, saying they "have sabotaged what the president has been fighting for."<ref name="sansabo">[https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/15/manchin-sinema-sabotage-sanders-00032579 Manchin and Sinema ‘sabotaged’ Biden’s plans, Sanders says]. ''Politico.''</ref> Sanders later doubled down on "Meet the Press", saying, "You have a better word than 'sabotage'?"<ref name="sansabo"/>

===The economy (stupid)===
[[File:Inflation rate, United States and eurozone, January 2018 through June 2023.png|thumb|right|400px|Inflation rate in the US (blue) vs. the Eurozone (red), June 2018-June 2023.]]

Biden's early months in office coincided with a general recovery from the economic recession caused by COVID. Government subsidies to American families boosted consumer spending, and the GDP grew by 5.9% in 2021.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-economic-growth-revised-up-gap-between-gdp-gdi-narrows-sharply-2022-09-29/ U.S. economic growth revised up; gap between GDP and GDI narrows sharply]. ''Reuters.''</ref> A national worker shortage also drove wages up much faster than usual in 2021.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220203205842/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/wage-growth-may-be-slowing-from-breakneck-pace.html Wage growth may be slowing from ‘breakneck’ pace]. ''CNBC.'' Jan 31 2022.</ref> 

Unfortunately, the nation still felt that the economy was in the shitter in large part due to high levels of [[inflation]] that had set in after the pandemic. Biden and Trump persistently blamed the other for the inflation issue, although economists noted that the issue was a multifaceted one and that things weren't so simple as to make it one person's fault.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/03/is-inflation-bidens-or-trumps-fault-the-answer-isnt-so-simple.html Is inflation Biden’s or Trump’s fault? The answer isn’t so simple, economists say]. ''CNBC.'' Jul 3 2024.</ref> So-called "greedflation" played a major role, as major companies, especially in the energy and commodities sectors, raised prices far beyond what should have been justified by inflation and therefore raked in record profits.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/07/greedflation-corporate-profiteering-boosted-global-prices-study Greedflation: corporate profiteering ‘significantly’ boosted global prices, study shows]. ''The Guardian.''</ref> 

Americans also struggled against a sluggish job market, increased prices, much higher debts, and much lower savings.<ref>{{cite web | last=Narea | first=Nicole | title=Why Democrats couldn’t sell a strong economy, in 3 charts | website=Vox | date=2024-11-07 | url=https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/383397/economy-inflation-2024-election-democrats-trump }}</ref> The Biden era also saw all-time record crises in homelessness<ref>{{cite web | last=Meador | first=Sophia | title=US homelessness hits record levels | website=Public Health Newswire | url=http://publichealthnewswire.org/?p=homeless-report|}}</ref> and evictions.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lab | first=Eviction | title=Preliminary Analysis: Eviction Filing Patterns in 2023 | website=Eviction Lab | date=2024-04-22 | url=https://evictionlab.org/ets-report-2023/ |}}</ref> The administration completely abandoned renters experiencing the crushing burden of paying for a place to live.<ref>Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. [https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Americas_Rental_Housing_2024.pdf America's Rental Housing 2024].</ref> Not helping matters was Biden's dismantlement of pandemic-era [[welfare]] programs, which ended the eviction moratorium and threw millions of people (and their children) off their health insurance during 2023 and 2024.<ref>Branko Marcetic . [https://jacobin.com/2023/04/joe-biden-shrinking-welfare-state-medicaid-health-insurance-social-programs Joe Biden Is Shrinking the Welfare State]. ''Jacobin.'' 04.03.2023.</ref> Nice one, Joe! 

On the other hand, the US economy performed much better than Europe's, in large part due to Biden's decisive economic stimulus packages as well as the US being an exporter of energy rather than an importer.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68203820 Why US economy is powering ahead of Europe's]. ''BBC News.'' 12 February 2024.</ref> The Biden administration took this fact and used it in a very tone-deaf attempt to convince the American people that the economy was actually doing swell despite the aforementioned cost-of-living and housing crises.<ref>{{cite web | last=Stewart | first=Emily | title=Can Joe Biden convince Americans the economy is actually good? | website=Vox | date=2023-08-01 | url=https://www.vox.com/23815490/joe-biden-economy-bidenomics-jobs-inflation-2024-election}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Nichols | first=Hans | title=Biden's challenge: Convince voters this isn't the economy they think it is | website=Axios | date=2024-01-14 | url=https://www.axios.com/2024/01/14/biden-economy-message-election |}}</ref> Voters weren't convinced of course, and Biden was reduced to making desperate trips to swing states like Pennsylvania rather than continue wrangling with Manchin and Sinema.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220204225558/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/politics/joe-biden-pittsburgh-trip/index.html Biden is aiming to hit the road to reset his presidency. He starts with yet another stop in Pennsylvania.] ''CNN.'' January 28, 2022.</ref>

===Withdrawal from Afghanistan===
[[File:Evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport 210821-M-AU949-0155.jpg|thumb|right|350px|US Marines guard a checkpoint during the Kabul airlift.]]
{{main|Afghanistan War}}
In February 2020, President Trump negotiated an agreement with the [[Taliban]] setting 1 May 2021 as the date whereupon US troops would exit Afghanistan.<ref name="withdrawal">[https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan]. ''FactCheck.org''</ref> Although Trump was voted out, Biden chose to stick to the deal despite increasing signs the Taliban were intent on taking over Afghanistan once the US had left. Biden claimed that the collapse of the Afghan government "was not inevitable" and completed the troop withdrawal by the (renegotiated) date of 31 August.<ref name="withdrawal"/>

Biden's eagerness to end America's longest war led to disagreements with top military brass, as the military wanted Biden to maintain 2,500 service members in Afghanistan to maintain stability.<ref name="afgchaos">[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-top-former-generals-say-planning-failures-of-biden-administration-drove-chaotic-fall-of-kabul Top former generals say planning failures of Biden administration drove chaotic fall of Kabul]. ''PBS. Mar 19, 2024.</ref> The State Department also waited too long to withdraw non-combatant personnel, not issuing the directive until 14 August, a delay which caused a mad scramble to get US citizens out.<ref name="afgchaos"/> The Afghan government collapsed only a day later on 15 August, and Afghan civilians piled into Kabul Airport in the hopes the US military would be able to evacuate them.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58238497 Biden defends 'messy' US pull-out from Afghanistan]. ''BBC News.''</ref> On 26 August, a suicide bombing at the airport killed 13 American servicemen and dozens of Afghans; the families of the fallen criticized Biden for never saying their names in any broadcast.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/gold-star-families-rnc-gop-convention-b8d043475a5cb8cb7735c366ba75502d Families of service members killed during Afghanistan withdrawal criticize Biden at GOP convention]. ''Associated Press.'' July 18, 2024.</ref> 

Although Biden took responsibility for the "messy" withdrawal, he also defended his decision to do so in the first place, saying "American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves."<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-taliban-decision/ Biden says "buck stops with me" and defends Afghanistan withdrawal]. ''CBS News.''</ref> 

===The Russo-Ukrainian War===
[[File:Joe Biden visit to Kyiv 06.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Biden and Zelenskyy in Kyiv, 2023.]]
Throughout February 2022, Biden apparently groundlessly warned that Russia was imminently going to invade Ukraine, and he spent the time attempting to rally international leaders to deter [[Vladimir Putin]]'s invasion plans.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220226045105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/inside-biden-putin-ukraine/ 13 days: Inside Biden’s last-ditch attempts to stop Putin in Ukraine]. ''Washington Post.''</ref> This attempt was unsuccessful in preventing the attack, which began on 24 February. 

Biden immediately branded Putin a "war criminal" and authorized $800 million in security assistance as well as shipments of anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons for Ukraine.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080135/https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-new-security-assistance-ukraine-after-signing-massive-spending-2022-03-16/ Biden calls Putin a 'war criminal,' sending more weapons to Ukraine]. ''Reuters.''</ref> For once, media attention was no longer on the economy or the fall of Afghanistan. Biden also enacted punishing economic sanctions on Russia, prompting many multinational companies to sever ties.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-business-4d4e4c0ef4c8ff96d5936b98eb77e80f No economic ‘knockout’ yet from West’s sanctions on Russia]. ''Associated Press.''</ref> [[Oil]] prices immediately skyrocketed following the war's beginning, as Russia is an OPEC member and much of the world had begun refusing imports.<ref>[https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/how-does-the-war-in-ukraine-affect-oil-prices/ How does the war in Ukraine affect oil prices?] ''World Economic Forum''. Mar 4, 2022.</ref> Biden visited [[Poland]] in March, a [[NATO]] ally Ukraine's border, to a crowd that included Ukrainian refugees on the importance of rallying Europe and other democracies against Russian aggression.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-rally-support-ukraine-efforts-speech-warsaw-rcna21382 Biden rallies support for Ukraine in speech from Warsaw: 'We stand with you']. ''NBC News.''</ref>

In April, Biden requested a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine, and the US House ended up increasing that number to $40 billion.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2 House approves $40B in Ukraine aid, beefing up Biden request]. ''Associated Press.'' May 11, 2022.</ref> Biden remained a staunch supporter of Ukraine's war effort, and he paid a visit to Kyiv in 2023.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/20/this-is-a-part-of-history-kyiv-citizens-delighted-by-joe-biden-surprise-visit ‘This is a part of history’: Kyiv citizens delighted by Joe Biden’s surprise visit]. ''The Guardian.'' 20 Feb 2023.</ref>

===And then the abortion ruling happened===
[[File:-i---i- (52380995447).jpg|thumb|right|325px|Abortion rights protestors outside the Supreme Court, 24 June 2022.]]
On 24 June 2022, the [[US Supreme Court]] overturned the 1973 ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision, on the basis that the prior ruling's reasoning was "exceptionally weak"  and "an abuse of judicial authority."<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2022/06/24/1102305878/supreme-court-abortion-roe-v-wade-decision-overturn Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades]. ''NPR.'' June 24, 2022.</ref> This effectively repealed the national right to an [[abortion]] American women had enjoyed for decades.

This placed Joe Biden in a strange position. He was a devout Catholic who had repeatedly said in the past that ''Roe'' "went too far",<ref name="joedobbs">[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/bidens-roe-v-wade-abortion-rcna147021 Biden's 50-year journey as a skeptic of Roe v. Wade to its ultimate protector]. ''NBC News.'' April 20, 2024.</ref> In a statement on the new Court decision, Biden admitted that he was "not big on abortion".<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-abortion-catholic-faith-roe-v-wade-got-it-right/ Biden says he's "not big on abortion" because of Catholic faith, but Roe "got it right"]. ''CBS News.'' June 28, 2023.</ref> However, Biden ended up as the country's most powerful abortion rights defender. 

During his 2022 State of the Union address, Biden invited multiple women who had been impacted by the waves of state-level abortion bans in order to highlight his new agenda of enshrining to the degree possible abortion rights in the US.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/state-union-guest-list-attendance-2024-biden-003c5da894f9fd7af2c8289a267ac7b0 State of the Union guests spotlight divide on abortion and immigration but offer some rare unity]. ''Associated Press.'' March 7, 2024.</ref> During the speech, Biden seemed visibly uncomfortable in his role as an abortion rights protector, notably not saying the world "abortion" even once.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-2024-reproductive-rights-harris-494af752992ba88fa6e3d53fbd54f716 Biden’s big speech showed his uneasy approach to abortion, an issue bound to be key in the campaign]. ''Associated Press.'' March 10, 2024.</ref> 

Nonetheless, Biden went full steam ahead on the abortion issue. His reelection campaign churned out advertisements presenting him as the stalwart defender of abortion and blaming the repeal on Trump.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/donald-trump-new-biden-abortion-ad-features-woman-says-almost-died-tex-rcna146869 'Donald Trump did this': New Biden abortion ad features a woman who says she almost died because of the Texas ban]. ''NBC News.'' April 8, 2024.</ref> By 2024, Biden had started swearing to pass a national abortion rights act should he be reelected with enough of a Congressional majority to do so.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-big-abortion-promise-fact-check-roe-v-wade-rcna146668 'Major hurdles': The reality check behind Biden's big abortion promise]. ''NBC News.'' April 9, 2024.</ref>

===2022 midterm elections===
[[File:President Biden at a press conference after the mid-term election.jpg|thumb|right|275px|A relieved Joe Biden praises his party's midterm performance at a press conference.]]
{{main|2022 midterm elections}}
The aftershock of the abortion decision carried into the midterm elections. In the months leading to the election, the media and GOP strategists expected a "red wave" election in response to high inflation and the other challenges which had swamped Biden's presidency.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/11/27/23475262/midterm-elections-2022-results-red-wave-democrats The guy who got the midterms right explains what the media got wrong]. ''Vox.''</ref> When the incumbent is below 50% in approval ratings, as Biden was, the incumbent party on average loses 43 House seats.<ref name="midabort">[https://www.npr.org/2022/11/25/1139040227/abortion-midterm-elections-2022-republicans-democrats-roe-dobbs What we know (and don't know) about how abortion affected the midterms]. ''NPR.'' November 25, 2022.</ref> The abortion ruling dramatically changed the outcome of this election.

Democratic governor candidates won landslides in the swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania as well as legislative majorities, election denying Republicans universally lost their elections in even remotely competitive states, and Democrats in the House came very close to keeping their majority and even almost ousted Rep. [[Lauren Boebert]].<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/seven-shocking-results-2022-midterm-elections-rcna61462 The seven most shocking results from the 2022 midterm elections]. ''NBC News.'' Dec. 27, 2022.</ref> Democrats also not only held their majority in the Senate, but actually expanded it by flipping Pennsylvania's seat.<ref>[https://www.axios.com/2022/11/09/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-election-results-senate Fetterman flips Pennsylvania Senate seat in victory over Oz]. ''Axios.''</ref>

While inflation consistently polled as the top issue for voters, but the abortion issue proved decisive for many voters.<ref name="midabort"/> It also drove turnout among women and caused women over 65 to move significantly towards the Democrats.<ref name="midabort"/> Democratic strategist Tom Bonier expressed his view that, "When you think of sort of just the general narrative on democracy and the sanctity of our electoral process, Democrats were talking about a lot, but it wasn't really making a dent in the numbers. And then ''Dobbs'' happens. And I think it made this argument of Republican extremism more real to voters. It connected the dots."<ref name="midabort"/>

===The classified documents investigation (and Republican tomfoolery)===
[[File:Robert Hur Official Photo (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|175px|Robert Hur, special counsel in the documents matter. Now best known for revealing Biden's memory problems.]]
In November 2022, Biden's legal team found classified documents lying around the offices of a think tank he ran, and yet more emerged in January 2023.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/politics/biden-classified-documents/index.html  Biden’s legal team found another batch of classified documents in search of second location]. ''CNN.'' January 11, 2023 .</ref> These dated back to his time as VP, and were a major deal because federal law stipulates that people ''not'' leave classified intelligence where anyone can get to it. Biden's team handed the materials over to the National Archives, and Attorney General Merrick Garland quietly opened an investigation.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/garland-attorney-general-statement-01-12-23#h_d0728a48029a6407e468b05806963497 Garland lays out timeline of investigation into Biden classified documents so far]. ''CNN.'' January 12, 2023.</ref> This became public knowledge in 2023, when Garland appointed a special counsel to look into the matter.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148425062/special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-robert-hur A special counsel will probe government documents at Biden's home and private office]. ''NPR.''</ref> After searching Biden's home in Delaware, the [[FBI]] found more classified documents.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-delaware-0827b59ee141b33af95023377713e075 FBI searched Biden home, found items marked classified]. ''Associated Press.'' January 21, 2023.</ref> 

The special counsel ultimately decided that Biden had retained the documents willfully, but also decided that he couldn't prove as much in court and therefore dropped the case.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4456524-special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-probe-no-charges/  Special counsel finds Biden ‘willfully’ retained classified documents, no charges filed].  ''The Hill.''</ref> Yet, in a damning comment, the special counsel also noted that Biden's defense would likely be that he was just " a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory".<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/08/politics/takeaways-joe-biden-special-counsel-report/index.html  Takeaways from special counsel’s report into Biden’s handling of classified documents ]. ''CNN.'' February 8, 2024.</ref> This was not a statement that a president already struggling with questions about his age really wanted the public to hear.

Disappointed by the end of this saga, House Republicans launched an investigation into Biden's son Hunter based on the allegations that material from a laptop he had left lying around had proved both him and the president guilty of corruption.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3808729-new-gop-oversight-chair-asks-treasury-for-biden-family-financial-information/  New GOP Oversight chair launches probes into Biden finances, Hunter Biden laptop story ]. ''The Hill.'' 01/11/23.</ref> On 12 September 2023, House Speaker [[Kevin McCarthy]] began preparing a formal impeachment inquiry even though the House investigation had not completed.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/politics/biden-impeachment-house-gop/index.html  McCarthy calls for formal impeachment inquiry into Biden amid pressure from conservatives]. ''CNN.'' September 12, 2023.</ref> This proved embarrassing for the Republicans when the House Republicans announced that they could find no evidence of Biden's wrongdoings.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/hunter-biden-house-republicans-report.html House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden]. ''New York Times.'' 5/10/23.</ref> Further proving themselves to be a group of clowns, the House still voted 221–212 to formalize the inquiry on 13 December.<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4362989-biden-impeachment-inquiry-backfiring-on-house-gop/  Biden impeachment inquiry risks backfiring on House GOP]. ''The Hill.'' 12/17/23.</ref> 

On 24 February, the House case fell apart when key witness Alexander Smirnov admitted that his statements on the Bidens' corruption were all a false story given to him by the Russian government.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/biden-former-fbi-informant-russian-intelligence/index.html  Indicted ex-FBI informant told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian intelligence officials]. ''CNN.'' February 20, 2024.</ref> Looks like Putin was still crying over how his invasion of Ukraine had stalled.

===(Shut the fuck up about) NATO enlargement===
[[File:President Biden signing the Instruments of Ratification to approve Finland & Sweden's membership in NATO.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Biden signs America's approval of Finland and Sweden's bids to join NATO, August 2022.]]

Alongside a stagnating war in Ukraine, Russia took another series of diplomatic humiliations in 2024. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Biden vocally supported [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]]'s bids to join the NATO alliance on the basis that Russia could no longer be trusted to leave its neighbors the fuck alone. The countries submitted their membership applications in May 2022, and Biden met the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the White House a day later.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-meets-heads-finland-sweden-show-support-nato-membership-rcna29621 Biden meets with heads of Finland, Sweden in show of support for NATO membership]. ''NBC News.'' May 19, 2022.</ref> Typical threats and crying from Moscow ensued.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/12/europe/putin-finland-sweden-nato-backfire-cmd-intl/index.html  Putin’s bullying backfires as Finland and Sweden edge closer to joining NATO]. ''CNN.'' April 13, 2022.</ref> Maybe if Russia was a better country and a better neighbor, it wouldn't have to worry about countries on its border joining NATO.

In order to join NATO, every member of the alliance must approve the application. Biden signed off on both applications, with the Senate having approved as well with a 95-1 vote.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-biden-finland-6a04422190bdd7e75440f7e176a88109 Biden formalizes US support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO]. ''Associated Press.'' August 9, 2022.</ref>{{efn|The one vote against was [[Josh Hawley]], while noted vatnik [[Rand Paul]] voted "present".<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3587073-hawley-is-only-senator-to-vote-against-finland-sweden-nato-membership/ Hawley is only senator to vote against Finland, Sweden NATO membership], Mychael Schnell, ''The Hill'' 3 August 2022</ref>}} Finland became an official member in April 2023,<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html  Finland joins NATO, doubling military alliance’s border with Russia in a blow for Putin]. ''CNN.'' April 4, 2023.</ref> but Sweden's application faltered due to objections from [[Turkey]] (because something something Kurdish terrorists)<ref>[https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/01/28/turkey-sweden-nato-erdogan-foreign-policy-history-us-europe-west/ Why Turkey Took Its Time on Sweden]. ''Foreign Policy.'' January 28, 2024.</ref> and [[Hungary]] (because [[Viktor Orbán]] is Putin's butt boy).<ref name="swenato">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68405893 Hungary's parliament clears path for Sweden's Nato membership]. ''BBC News.'' 26 February 2024.</ref> Biden focused on making diplomatic overtures to Turkey, eventually helping convince them to drop the veto in January 2024.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-nato-finland-716380d2299ccbfcfd73745a8327119a Biden proclaims NATO alliance ‘more united than ever’ in contrast to predecessor Trump]. ''Associated Press.'' July 12, 2023.</ref> This left Hungary holding the bag as the sole target of wrath from its fellow [[EU]] and NATO members, and Orbán finally caved in late February, albeit not without much bitching and moaning.<ref name="swenato"/>

===Support for Israeli atrocities in Gaza ("Genocide Joe")===
[[File:Isaac Herzog at Ben Gurion Airport, October 2023 (ABG 4491).jpg|thumb|right|350px|Biden greets Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv, October 2023.]]
On 7 October 2023, the terrorist group [[Hamas]] which has governed the {{wpl|Gaza Strip|}} since 2007, attacked [[Israel]], an event which took the [[Israeli Defense Forces]] by surprise because the Israeli leadership paid more attention to Hezbollah on its northern border and believed that Hamas was busy with internal affairs in Gaza and not interested in war.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2023/11/02/1210076717/everybody-got-it-wrong-how-did-israel-fail-to-detect-hamas-planned-invasion 'Everybody got it wrong': How did Israel fail to detect Hamas' planned invasion?] ''NPR.'' November 2, 2023.</ref> The attack resulted in the deaths of 695 Israeli civilians, including 36 children, as well as 373 security forces and 71 foreigners, giving a total of 1,139.<ref>[https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths]. ''France 24.'' 15/12/2023.</ref> In addition, the terrorists took two and a half hundred hostages<ref>BBC [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67053011 Hamas hostages: Stories of the people taken from Israel]</ref> and stated that they would continue such attacks ‘again and again’.<ref>U.S. Department of State - Office of the Spokesperson - Press Statement [https://www.state.gov/this-weeks-international-court-of-justice-hearings This Week’s International Court of Justice Hearings]</ref>

Surprisingly, the bloody Zionists did not wait for this and attacked Hamas (and other Palestinian jihadists, PIJ) in the Gaza Strip. Iran and its proxies supported Hamas: Hezbollah launched massive rocket attacks in northern Israel, then the Yemeni Houthis joined in, and then it came to direct exchanges of blows between Israel and Iran.<ref>''[[The Guardian]]'' [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/02/irans-axis-of-resistance-call-for-further-attacks-on-israel Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’ call for further attacks on Israel] Oct 2, 2024</ref> Israel on 9 October implemented a "siege" of the Gaza Strip by halting shipments of food, water, and fuel.<ref>[https://www.csis.org/analysis/siege-gazas-water The Siege of Gaza’s Water ]. ''Center for Strategic and International Studies.'' January 12, 2024.</ref> Gaza, an arid region with few sources of water, was quickly plunged into a humanitarian crisis. In addition, Israel began an indiscriminate bombing campaign that leveled entire portions of Gaza and wiped out numerous civilian families.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/damning-evidence-of-war-crimes-as-israeli-attacks-wipe-out-entire-families-in-gaza/ Damning evidence of war crimes as Israeli attacks wipe out entire families in Gaza]. ''Amnesty International.'' October 20, 2023.</ref> By December, the [[United Nations]] said that 70% of school buildings in Gaza had been attacked despite schools being used to shelter civilians.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israels-military-campaign-in-gaza-is-among-the-most-destructive-in-history-experts-say Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is among the most destructive in history, experts say]. Dec 21, 2023.</ref> 

[[File:Damage in Gaza Strip during the October 2023 - 26.jpg|thumb|left|275px|Damage in Gaza City, October 2023.]]

As these clearly evident [[war crimes]] went on, Joe Biden remained a steadfast supporter of Israel. He immediately responded to Hamas' attack with a furious national address, calling the events "pure, unadulterated evil", "sickening", "abhorrent", and "a violation of every code of human morality."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231012001950/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html In Unforgiving Terms, Biden Condemns ‘Evil’ and ‘Abhorrent’ Attack on Israel]. ''New York Times.'' Oct. 10, 2023.</ref> Between the beginning of hostilities and May 2024, Biden signed off on $12.5 billion in aid to Israel, and Biden placed no restrictions on how Israel would use the weapons it received from the US.<ref>[https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts]. ''Council on Foreign Relations.'' May 31, 2024.</ref> Materiel support included tank and artillery ammunition, bombs, rockets, and small arms. These are weapons Israel immediately turned around and used on Gazan civilians.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/concerns-grow-us-weapons-gaza-signs-waning-wh/story?id=108792458 Even as concerns grow about US weapons used in Gaza, no signs of waning WH support for Israel military aid]. ''ABC News.'' April 3, 2024.</ref>  

[[File:March on Washington Free Palestine - 1.jpg|thumb|right|245px|Pro-ceasefire protestors in Washington DC, November 2023.]]

In private, Biden repeatedly expressed his frustration at the intransigence of Israeli PM [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], as Biden had tried and failed to convince the former to take measures to reduce civilian casualties and open negotiations with Hamas.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/biden-disparages-netanyahu-private-hasnt-changed-us-policy-israel-rcna138282 Biden disparages Netanyahu in private but hasn’t significantly changed U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza]. ''NBC News.'' Feb. 12, 2024.</ref> In public, Biden did nothing to change US policy and bluntly rejected the idea of a ceasefire.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-gaza-cease-fire-no-possibility_n_654d0b36e4b088d9a74da287 Joe Biden On The Chances Of A Gaza Cease-Fire: 'None. No Possibility.'] ''Huffington Post.'' Nov 9, 2023.</ref> 

Polls showed that voter approval of Biden's actions in regards to the Israel-Gaza conflict collapsed between December 2023 and March 2024 as more evidence and more instances of Israeli war crimes emerged.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/israel-joe-biden-gaza-polling-approval-rating-fall-1886966 Joe Biden's Approval Rating Has Catastrophically Fallen Over Israel]. ''Newsweek.'' Apr 06, 2024.</ref> Protestors stuck him with the nickname "[[Genocide]] Joe,"<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/28/if-biden-loses-in-november-dont-blame-voters-who-are-angry-over-gaza If Biden loses in November, don’t blame voters who are angry over Gaza]. ''The Guardian.'' 28 Feb 2024.</ref> especially after the International Court of Justice held on 26 January that it was "plausible" that Israel was committing acts that violate the {{wpl|Genocide Convention||.}}<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2024/01/26/1227078791/icj-israel-genocide-gaza-palestinians-south-africa A top U.N. court says Gaza genocide is 'plausible' but does not order cease-fire]. ''NPR.'' January 26, 2024.</ref> Biden later made things worse for himself by denouncing the International Criminal Court for seeking warrants against Israeli leaders.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/biden-us-israel-attack-icc-arrest-warrants-netanyahu-hamas-rcna153211 Biden at odds with allies as U.S. and Israel attack ICC over arrest warrants]. ''NBC News.'' May 21, 2024.</ref>

===2023 Biden-Hur interview controversy===
In May 2025, audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur were released, which took place on October 8 and 9, 2023. The interview, conducted as part of an investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, lasted approximately five hours. The recordings revealed moments where Biden exhibited memory lapses and lengthy pauses, even displaying an inability to recall the year his own son Beau Biden passed away. Hur's report described Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” This characterization was contested by Biden and his supporters, who claimed it was politically motivated. The release of the audio reignited public debate about Biden’s cognitive fitness, particularly in the context of his 2024 presidential campaign, as well as the Democrat party's and media's coverup of Biden's mental decline. <ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/16/biden-hur-audio-recording/]. ''Washington Post'' May 16, 2025.</ref>

==2024 reelection campaign==
[[File:Joe Biden 81st birthday.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Biden and his 81st birthday cake.]]
{{main|2024 United States presidential election}}
On 25 April 2023, Biden announced that he would seek reelection,<ref name="finishjb">[https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b Biden announces 2024 reelection bid: ‘Let’s finish this job’]. ''Associated Press.'' April 25, 2023.</ref> much to the chagrin of people who'd thought that he would only serve one term. Biden had stated during his 2020 campaign that he saw himself as "a bridge, not as anything else."<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/09/biden-reelection-transition-president/675395/ So Much for Biden the Bridge President]. ''The Atlantic.''</ref> Meanwhile, people pointed out that Biden would be 86 at the end of a potential second term, and his approval rating at the point of this announcement had slipped to its lowest point ever at 37%.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/poll/505202/biden-begins-reelection-bid-low-point-presidency.aspx Biden Begins Reelection Bid at Low Point in His Presidency]. ''Gallup.'' April 27, 2023.</ref> This was not an auspicious way to begin his campaign. His rallying cry, "lets finish this job,"<ref name="finishjb"/> fell flat with the many, many Americans who didn't want him to do that. 

===Protest votes in the primaries===
Biden faced little formal opposition in the 2024 primary elections, likely due to lingering trauma in the party over the 1980 Democratic primaries when [[Ted Kennedy]] massively weakened incumbent [[Jimmy Carter]] with a hard-fought primary bid.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/08/politics/democrats-biden-carter-what-matters/index.html  Democrats are praying 2024 is not 1980 and Biden is not Carter]. November 8, 2023.</ref> This contributed to Carter's defeat and the rise of [[Ronald Reagan]]. This didn't mean Biden was in the clear. Former 2020 rival [[Marianne Williamson]] and liquor magnate Rep. Dean Phillips of [[Minnesota]] both announced their intent to challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination,{{efn|As well as a few [[perennial candidate|joke candidates]], like Cenk Uygur of [[The Young Turks]] (who isn't constitutionally eligible to run), [[Joe Exotic]], and the requisite [[Vermin Supreme]] (who switched to running under the [[Pirate Party]])}} the latter receiving the support of prominent Never Trump GOP strategist Steve Schmidt and anti-affirmative action billionaire Bill Ackman. Neither candidate found much traction; Williamson didn't win a single delegate and Phillips' best finish was 19.7% of the vote in New Hampshire, which sounds good on its face for a challenger to an incumbent until you factor in that Joe Biden wasn't on the ballot, didn't campaign in New Hampshire due to party rules, and won 63.8% of the vote as a write-in candidate.<ref>[https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/01/23/biden-wins-the-new-hampshire-democratic-primary-without-showing-up/ Biden wins the New Hampshire Democratic primary, without showing up], Ethan DeWitt, ''New Hampshire Bulletin'' 23 January 2024</ref> 

He did have to deal with a protest campaign encouraging primary voters to cast "uncommitted" ballots to signal that Biden had lost their support over his enabling of Israel's war crimes in Gaza.<ref name="primprot">[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2024/apr/27/uncommitted-voters-democratic-party-palestine Uncommitted voters are not apathetic. The Democratic party is]. ''The Guardian.'' 27 Apr 2024.</ref> Although the movement was no threat to his nomination, it garnered headlines when over 100,000 voters in Michigan handed in "uncommitted" ballots, allowing "uncommitted" to receive actual delegates.<ref name="uncomitmap">[https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236295096/super-tuesday-results-uncommitted-biden-gaza-israel 'Uncommitted' movement spreads to Super Tuesday states]. ''NPR.'' March 6, 2024.</ref> And although fewer votes were registered, "uncommitted" received 12.7% in [[North Carolina]], 19% in Minnesota and 29% (!) in [[Hawaii]]. In New York, which does not have an "uncommitted" option, 11.5% of voters returned blank ballots.<ref name="uncomitmap"/>

So on the one hand, nobody (significant) tried to primary the sitting president, which was a good sign for him. On the other hand, "nobody" actually managed to win delegates, which was a very bad one. Curiously enough, Joe Biden became the first incumbent president to lose a presidential primary since [[Jimmy Carter]], when he lost the [[American Samoa]] caucuses to venture capitalist Jason Palmer, someone most national media didn't know was running.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/who-is-jason-palmer-american-samoa-primary-c4bc109a16c7ee7b083f6216b44ba0c4 Who is Jason Palmer? A previously unknown Democrat beats Biden in American Samoa’s Democratic caucus], Chris Megerian, ''AP News'' 6 March 2024</ref> We all remember what happened to Carter, right?

===Don't you think he looks tired?===
[[File:President Joe Biden delivers remarks from the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Biden explains his historic decision to end his reelection campaign, 24 July 2024.]]
{{cquote|We finally beat Medicare.|||One of the numerous gaffes from his disastrous debate performance.<ref>[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/06/biden-trump-debate-how-bad-was-it.html "You Can’t Expect People to Vote for This," Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate]</ref> <ref>[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/06/biden-trump-debate-how-bad-was-it.html Joe Biden Mumbles and Stumbles the Democrats Into Crisis]  by Jose Pagliery and Jake Lahut, Daily Beast.</ref>}}

On 27 June, Joe Biden met Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on the debate stage. Much was riding on Biden's performance, as he needed to assuage concerns about his age and put on a good enough performance to at least somewhat recover his poll numbers. This did not happen. In what would become perhaps the most consequential debate fuckup in modern history (up there with [[Nixon]] in 1960)<ref>[https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-debate-that-changed-the-world-of-politics How the Kennedy-Nixon debate changed the world of politics]. ''National Constitution Center''. September 26, 2017.</ref>, Biden immediately appeared raspy, mumbling, and forgetful, and at times, barely coherent.<ref name="dempanic">[https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9 A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but sparks Democratic anxiety about his candidacy]. ''Associated Press.'' June 28, 2024.</ref> The fears about his age and his ability to defeat Trump were vindicated. Democratic strategists went into panic mode before the debate had even finished.<ref name="dempanic"/> His poll numbers against Trump, which were already bad before, fell even further, to the point where Democratic leaders, donors, voters, and strategists feared Biden would damage down-ballot races.<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/07/11/amid-doubts-about-bidens-mental-sharpness-trump-leads-presidential-race/ Amid Doubts About Biden’s Mental Sharpness, Trump Leads Presidential Race]. ''Pew Research Center.'' July 11, 2024.</ref> Biden later admitted that he had "screwed up" during the debate.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgrwgnvqgvo Biden says he 'screwed up' debate but vows to stay in election]. ''BBC News.'' 4 July 2024.</ref>

===It ain't Joever 'til it's Joever===
"Screwed up" was putting it mildly. The next 25 days saw Biden's reelection bid implode. On 2 July, Rep. Lloyd Doggett from [[Texas]] became the first national-level Democrat to call for Biden to drop out; four additional congressmen followed suit on the 7th.<ref name="droptl">[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/timeline-biden-withdrawal-trump-debate-25-days-us-politics-rcna162965 Timeline: From the Biden-Trump debate to Biden’s withdrawal: 25 days that shook American politics]. ''NBC News.'' July 21, 2024.</ref> Biden stayed defiant, repeatedly stating that he would stay in the race. But he didn't help matters for himself when he referred to Trump as his Vice President on 11 July.<ref name="droptl"/> On the 17th, high-profile Rep. Adam Schiff called on him to "pass the torch" amid Biden's third COVID diagnosis and rising enthusiasm for Trump after the latter survived an assassination attempt.<ref name="droptl"/> What quite possibly sealed the deal was the private urging from both [[Nancy Pelosi]] and [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/biden-democrats-drop-out-election-2024-3f9e3d15431fd4974771a54e1d0e4ea7 Biden is isolated at home as Obama, Pelosi and other Democrats push for him to reconsider 2024 race]. ''Associated Press.'' July 18, 2024.</ref> 

On 21 July, he finally announced that he was dropping out of the race and endorsing his VP, [[Kamala Harris]], as his successor. Within two days, Kamala Harris and her team had effectively ensured her nomination by making a marathon of phone calls to delegates, high-profile party members, and anyone who could have posed a threat at the convention.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/us/politics/kamala-harris-democrats-nomination.html How Kamala Harris Took Command of the Democratic Party in 48 Hours]. ''New York Times.'' July 26, 2024.</ref> On 25 July, Biden gave a televised address explaining that he had been convinced that he wasn't the best person to take on Donald Trump and rescue American [[democracy]] from a potential second Trump administration and that he would now focus entirely on the presidency for his remaining time in office.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/24/joe-biden-oval-office-speech Biden explains decision to drop out of election: ‘Best way to unite our nation’]. ''The Guardian.'' 25 Jul 2024.</ref> Biden was the first president to end an ongoing reelection bid since [[Lyndon Johnson]] in 1968, and he was the first president ever to do so after already having won his party's primaries.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/nx-s1-5048115/biden-harris-drop-out-election-analysis 6 political takeaways from Biden's decision to step aside]. ''NPR.'' July 22, 2024.</ref>

Trump, meanwhile, had been genuinely surprised and dismayed by something he had always maintained he wanted, especially after the GOP had spent most of its time at the Republican National Convention attacking Biden rather than Harris.<ref>[https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/trump-biden-harris-withdrawal-surprise Why Trump's team was caught off guard by Biden-Harris switch]. ''Axios.'' Jul 25, 2024.</ref> Trump later whined on [[Truth Social]] that his campaign should be "reimbursed" for having spent so much money going after Biden, only for him to drop out.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-reimbursed-fighting-joe-biden-election-truth-social-kamala-harris-1928235 Donald Trump Wants to Be 'Reimbursed' After Spending Money Fighting Biden]. ''Newsweek.'' Jul 22, 2024.</ref>

But ultimately it didn't matter. Harris lost to Trump anyway, cementing Biden's legacy as a failed president who couldn't stop another Trump term.

== Allegations of inappropriate physical contact and sexual assault ==
{{cquote|I'm a tactile politician.|||Joe Biden, March 2019<ref>https://www.c-span.org/video/?458705-1/joe-biden-i-progressive-record-run</ref>}}

{{cquote|Not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately.|||Joe Biden, March 2019<ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-responds-to-allegation-of-unwanted-touching-kissing-not-once--never--did-i-believe-i-acted-inappropriately/2019/03/31/6b62e67c-53b8-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html Biden responds to allegation of unwanted touching, kissing: ‘Not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately’]|work=Washington Post|date=March 2019}}</ref>}}

There are several videos and pictures of Biden engaging in what commentators consider to be inappropriate proximity to women and children, including kissing and or touching.<ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-2020-harvey-weinstein_n_5a0a0ba8e4b00a6eece3a13e Joe Biden 2020 Is A Terrible Idea In A Post-Weinstein America]|date=November, 2017|work=HuffingtonPost}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/29/18241598/joe-biden-lucy-flores-touching-women-media-history-explained Lucy Flores isn’t alone. Joe Biden’s got a long history of touching women inappropriately]|date=March 2019|work=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=[http://time.com/3713264/joe-biden-stephanie-carter-shoulder-rub/ America Shouldn't Tolerate 'Biden Being Biden']|date=February, 2015|work=Time}}</ref> Biden described himself as a "tactile politician", admitting this behavior caused trouble in the past.<ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html Nevada Democrat accuses Joe Biden of touching and kissing her without consent at 2014 event]|date=March 29, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> 

In March 2019, Lucy Flores, former Nevada assemblywoman, accused Biden of having kissed her without her consent at a 2014 campaign rally in Las Vegas. Flores wrote that Biden walked up behind her, put his hands on her shoulders, smelled her hair, and kissed the back of her head, in "an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners – and I felt powerless to do anything about it."<ref name=Assemblywoman>{{cite news|title=[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-lucy-flores-kiss_n_5c9e8025e4b0474c08cea7aa Ex-Nevada Assemblywoman Says Joe Biden Inappropriately Kissed Her]|date=March, 2019|work=HuffingtonPost}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lucy-flores-joe-biden-apology-2020-democrats_n_5ca256a9e4b09786986aaa0a Lucy Flores Still Wants An Apology From Joe Biden]|work=HuffingtonPost|date=April, 2019}}</ref> Few days later, three additional women came forward with allegations of inappropriate conduct. Amy Lappos, a former congressional aide, accused Biden of having crossed a decency line when he touched her in a non-sexual but inappropriate way by holding her head to rub noses with her at a political fundraiser in Greenwich in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-biden-grabbed-aide-20190401-vl7chim3hrdjtcwu2tszrhozzm-story.html Connecticut woman says then-Vice President Joe Biden touched her inappropriately at a Greenwich fundraiser in 2009]|work=Hartford Courant|date=April, 2019}}</ref> Another woman said that Biden ran his hand from her shoulder down her back, and the other said that he placed his hand on her thigh.<ref>{{cite news|title=[https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437069-two-more-women-accuse-biden-of-inappropriate-touching Two more women accuse Biden of inappropriate touching]|date=April, 2019|work=TheHill}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/us/politics/joe-biden-women-me-too.html Biden’s Tactile Politics Threaten His Return in the #MeToo Era]|date=April, 2019|work=New York Times}}</ref> By April 2019, a total of seven women accused Biden of inappropriately touching them.<ref>{{cite news|title=[http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden]|date=April, 2019|work=New York (magazine)}}</ref>

===Tara Reade===
Tara Reade had accused Biden of making inappropriate physical contact with her in 1993 when she worked in the then-senator's office from December 1992 to August 1993.<ref name=reinhard>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html Sexual assault allegation by former Biden Senate aide emerges in campaign, draws denial] by Beth Reinhard, Elise Viebeck, Matt Viser & Alice Crites (April 12, 2020, at 8:20 p.m. PDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> Reade has given many interviews about this incident, including multiple interviews with ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name=reinhard/> Lucy Flores' story of Biden's inappropriate touching inspired Reade to initially allege that Biden had inappropriately touched her, which was published in her hometown newspaper, ''The Union'',  on April 3, 2019.<ref name=riquelmy>[https://www.theunion.com/news/nevada-county-woman-says-joe-biden-inappropriately-touched-her-while-working-in-his-u-s-senate-office/ Nevada County woman says Joe Biden inappropriately touched her while working in his U.S. Senate office] by Alan Riquelmy (April 3, 2019) ''The Union''.</ref> In that article, Reade's accusation at that time was:<ref name=riquelmy/>
{{cquote|He used to put his hand on my shoulder and run his finger up my neck,” Reade said. “I would just kind of freeze and wait for him to stop doing that.}}
This was similar to what other women have accused Biden of doing, and it was reported that Reade did not consider that behavior sexualization.<ref name=riquelmy/>

Reade told ''The Union'' that she left her job with the Senator because she refused to serve drinks at a fundraiser and because she felt sidelined because of that.<ref name=riquelmy/> In a 2019 interview with ''The Washington Post'', Reade laid blame for her leaving Senator's office for "[[bullying]]" by the Senator's staff rather than by Biden himself:<ref name=reinhard/>
{{cquote|This is what I want to emphasize: It’s not him. It’s the people around him who keep covering for him…&nbsp;For instance, he should have known what was happening to me… Looking back now, that’s my criticism. Maybe he could have been a little more in touch with his own staff.}}
By her differing accounts, Reade either left voluntarily because she felt sidelined, or she was forced out by Ted Kaufman, Biden's chief of staff.<ref name=lerer/>

As recently as 2017, Reade tweeted positively about Biden.<ref name=reinhard/> But starting in January 2020, Reade began publicly supporting [[Bernie Sanders]]' presidential campaign, and called Biden "a [[misogynist]] pred".<ref name=reinhard/> In March 2020, Reade gave an interview with Katie Halper, a Bernie supporter,<ref name=reinhard/> in which she changed her story that Biden had sexually assaulted her in the Senate.<ref>[https://soundcloud.com/katie-halper/joe-bidens-accuser-finally-tells-her-full-story Tara Reade, Joe Biden's accuser, finally tells her full story (excerpt)] (March 26, 2020) ''SoundCloud''.</ref><ref>[https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/joe-biden-metoo-times-up/ Time’s Up Said It Could Not Fund a #MeToo Allegation Against Joe Biden, Citing Its Nonprofit Status and His Presidential Run] by Ryan Grim (March 24, 2020, 12:58 p.m.) ''The Intercept''.</ref> In a subsequent interview with ''The Washington Post'', Reade could not remember where in the Capitol she was allegedly sexually assaulted by Biden.<ref name=reinhard/> Reade’s younger brother, Collin Moulton, confirmed Reade's initial story of inappropriate touching but then revised his story to conform to Reade's revised story.<ref name=reinhard/>

Biden's presidential campaign has called this sexual assault allegation false:<ref name=reinhard/>
{{cquote|He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard — and heard respectfully. Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: It is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.}}

Marianne Baker, who was one of Reade's supervisors, also denied Reade's claim of having made a formal complaint of the assault:<ref name=reinhard/>
{{cquote|In all my years working for Sen. Biden, I never once witnessed, or heard of, or received, any reports of inappropriate conduct, period — not from Ms. Reade, not from anyone. I have absolutely no knowledge or memory of Ms. Reade’s accounting of events, which would have left a searing impression on me as a woman professional, and as a manager. These clearly false allegations are in complete contradiction to both the inner workings of our Senate office and to the man I know and worked so closely with for almost two decades.}}
Two of Reade's other supervisors, Dennis Toner and Ted Kaufman, also flatly denied that the complaint was made, and both stated that they would have remembered it if such a complaint had been made.<ref name=reinhard/><ref name=lerer>[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html Examining Tara Reade’s Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden: Ms. Reade, a former Senate aide, has accused Mr. Biden of assaulting her in 1993 and says she told others about it. A Biden spokeswoman said the allegation is false, and former Senate office staff members do not recall such an incident.] by Lisa Lerer & Sydney Ember (Published April 12, 2020; Updated May 8, 2020) ''The New York Times''.</ref>

Reade had told ''The Washington Post'' that she had confided in her mother, who died in 1993, regarding the allegations.<ref name=reinhard/> Subsequently, Reade told ''The Intercept'' that her mother had made a phone call to ''Larry King Live'' some time in 1993 which referenced her daughter's experience at The Capitol.<ref name=grim>[https://theintercept.com/2020/04/24/new-evidence-tara-reade-joe-biden/ New Evidence Supporting Credibility of Tara Reade’s Allegation Against Joe Biden Emerges] by Ryan Grim (April 24, 2020, 11:39 a.m.) ''The Intercept''.</ref> ''The Intercept'' was able to find a recording of the radio conversation, the complete transcript of which is:<ref name=grim/>
{{quotebox|'''King''': San Luis Obispo, California, hello.<BR>
'''Caller''': Yes, hello. I’m wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington? My daughter has just left there, after working for a prominent senator, and could not get through with her problems at all, and the only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him.<BR>
'''King''': In other words, she had a story to tell but, out of respect for the person she worked for, she didn’t tell it?<BR>
'''Caller''': That’s true.}}
Assuming that the anonymous caller was Reade's mother, one does not know what exactly the issue was that her mother was referring to. Was it the inappropriate touching that Reade had initially alleged, was it her difficulties with the Senator's office staff, or was it the sexual assault that she is currently alleging? Ms. Reade has taken up residence in Russia as of late May 2023. She has claimed her move was motivated by her desire to avoid imprisonment and being murdered.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/30/us/tara-reade-russia.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap</ref> The story in the Russian propaganda mill, ''Sputnik International'' begins with the headline: "Biden Accuser Tara Reade: My Two Choices in US Were to Walk Into Cage or be Killed."<ref>https://sputnikglobe.com/20230530/biden-accuser-tara-reade-my-two-choices-in-us-were-to-walk-into-cage-or-be-killed-1110800326.html</ref> Believe what you will. 

===="Believe all women"====
{{cquote|"What we are witnessing is another instance of the right decrying what it imagines the American women’s movement to be."|||{{wpl|Susan Faludi}}<ref name="faludi">[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/opinion/tara-reade-believe-all-women.html "‘Believe All Women’ Is a Right-Wing Trap"] by Susan Faludi, New York Times, 2020 May 18</ref>}}
Concomitant with Reade's 2020 accusation against Biden, the phrase "Believe all women" began cropping up.<ref name=hesse>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/believe-women-was-a-slogan-believe-all-women-is-a-strawman/2020/05/11/6a3ff590-9314-11ea-9f5e-56d8239bf9ad_story.html 'Believe Women' was a slogan. 'Believe All Women' is a straw man.] by Monica Hesse (May 12, 2020, at 3:00 a.m. PDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> It is noteworthy because the phrase "Believe women" (without the 'all') began in 2016 with Harvey Weinstein's downfall and rose to prominence with the #MeToo hashtag that began in 2017.<ref name=hesse/>
{{cquote|"Believe women" was a reminder, not an absolute rule; the beginning of a process, not an end. It was flexible enough to apply to various contexts: Believe women … enough to seriously investigate their claims. Believe women … when they tell you about pervasive indignities — catcalling, leering — that happen to them and their friends when you’re not around.|||Monica Hesse (ellipses hers)<ref name=hesse/>}}
"Believe all women" is a phrase that is generally used to taunt Democrats by the right-wing, who seek to make a [[straw man]] argument against concerns over sexual abuse and sexual harassment of women, using the original "Believe women" slogan that originated with the #{{wpl|MeToo|MeToo}} movement.<ref name=hesse/><ref name="faludi"/> In this specific case (utilized by the usual right-wing suspects such as [[Glenn Beck]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200514035520/https://www.facebook.com/GlennBeck/videos/517558828939446/ The Standard We Should Have With Tara Reade's Case Against Joe Biden] by Glenn Beck (May 7 at 5:10 PM) ''Facebook'' (archived from May 14, 2020).</ref> [[Megyn Kelly]],<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HeZiKvOA0o The MK Interview: Tara Reade] by Megyn Kelly (May 8, 2020) ''YouTube''.</ref> and Fox news anchor Martha MacCallum<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/media/maccallum-pelosi-biden-allegations-metoo-movement MacCallum knocks Pelosi over response to Biden allegations: 'Drives a stake into the heart' of #MeToo] by Yael Halon (May 6, 2020) ''Fox News''.</ref>) the flawed argument concerns the assertion that they're not going to believe ''this'' woman, Tara Reade, so Democrats are [[hypocrite]]s.<ref name=hesse/> The problem with the phrase "Believe ''all'' women" is that it is inherently contradictory (or [[paradox]]ical): it's not unrealistic that two women could have contradictory opinions about something, and so it would be irrational to believe both of them. The phrase "Believe all women" is, in fact, used as a [[straw man]] and a [[gaslighting]] technique — an intentional misrepresentation of "Believe women" to try to trip up people who might want to give Biden the benefit of the doubt. The counterpoint to this is that anyone who said “Don’t believe women” would obviously be taken as a misogynist exhorting people to disbelieve ''all'' women, not just certain women in certain contexts. Therefore, it’s actually fair to interpret “Believe women” as “Believe all women” because “Don’t believe women” would absolutely be interpreted as “Don’t believe any women”. <ref name=hesse/>

==See also==
{{Fun}}
*[[Lyndon Baines Johnson]]: Biden is in many ways the spiritual successor of LBJ, as their careers mirror greatly.
*[[Barack Obama]]: The man who chose him to be Vice President.
*[[Donald Trump]]: His 2016 predecessor, 2020 opponent  ''and'' 2024 successor.
*[[Dick Cheney]]: Joe Biden's predecessor as VP.
*[[Al Gore]]:  Cheney's predecessor and the other most recent Vice President to win the popular vote as a presidential candidate.
*[[Mike Pence]]: Biden's successor as VP.
*[[Kamala Harris]]: Biden's running mate in 2020 and Pence's successor.
*[[Robert Hunter Biden]]: His son, and the subject of numerous [[conspiracy theories]] involving Biden.
*[[Fun:List of Joe Biden gaffes]]
*[[Fun:Socialism with Biden characteristics]]

==External links==
*''[[The Onion]]'''s [https://archive.fo/xvEUn coverage] of Joe. ([http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/joe-biden-responds-to-the-onions-joe-biden_n_2506609.html ''Of course'' he responded back.])
*[http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/exploring-the-origins-of-the-joe-biden-legend Exploring the Origins of the Legend of Joe Biden], TPM
* [https://twitter.com/joebiden Joe Biden on Twitter]
* [https://www.facebook.com/joebiden/ Joe Biden on Facebook]
* [https://joebiden.com Joe Biden's 2020 campaign website]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2|80%}}

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