If I were Vladimir Putin, I would carefully consider who I would want to see as the next U.S. president in 2024, and it certainly would not be Joe Biden.
This sentiment became even clearer on Tuesday, as President Biden delivered a strong and emphatic address to the United Nations. He unequivocally denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an “illegal war of conquest” that was initiated without any provocation. Biden emphasized that this war not only violates the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld by the U.N., but also poses a threat to the fundamental human rights that the organization strives to protect. He firmly stated that Russia must not be allowed to achieve even a partial victory in this conflict.
“If we allow Ukraine to be divided and conquered, can any nation’s independence truly be secure? To that, I respectfully answer no,” he declared. “We must confront this brazen aggression today and deter any potential aggressors in the future.”
The words spoken by President Biden carried great weight. They put Putin in his place and positioned Biden as a true leader on the global stage. He went on to speak about the significance of international cooperation and mutual interests, while also reasserting his approach towards China. Biden intends to “responsibly manage the competition between our countries to prevent it from escalating into conflict,” but he made it clear that the United States will firmly push back against any aggression or intimidation.
However, the delivery of the speech presented a different challenge. At times, Biden, who has admirably persevered with a stutter in full public view for decades, stumbled over certain words, exhibited occasional hesitation, corrected mistakes, and occasionally slurred his speech. Consequently, what could have been a passionate and fiery address felt mostly subdued. To his administration’s credit, they released an unedited transcript of the speech, including all the flubs and corrections. This transparency stands in stark contrast to the documented 30,000-plus misleading statements and outright lies made by his predecessor during his four-year term in office.
While it remains uncertain whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or other attendees paid much attention to these minor delivery hiccups, the upcoming 2024 election undoubtedly looms large in everything Biden says or does nowadays. In the United States, his delivery does matter to the average voter, potentially even more than the eloquent expression of American values and affirmation of the U.N.’s lofty aspirations embedded within the words themselves (which, incidentally, opens up a whole other discussion about the right-wing’s disdain and paranoia towards the U.N.).
As an electorate, we are often overly influenced by style, and constantly distracted by the news cycles that Donald Trump so masterfully dominated, much like a captivating car crash or a wardrobe malfunction. Trump is acutely aware of how short the public’s memory can be.
In his typical bombastic fashion, Trump often boasts that he could bring an end to the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if he were president. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, he was questioned about the specifics of his plan, particularly whether he would allow Putin to keep the land he has taken in the conflict. Initially, he adamantly responded in the negative. However, he then revised his stance, stating, “I would negotiate a fair deal for everyone.” Finally, he suggested the possibility of a deal where Russia would maintain control of “lesser territory” than what it currently possesses.
Wait a minute. No land? Some land? Trump deliberately leaves these conflicting outcomes unresolved. This is his typical modus operandi – making promises such as presenting evidence that Barack Obama is not a citizen, but never delivering. Or pledging a “beautiful healthcare” program to replace Obamacare, yet failing to produce one. Or vowing to implement a grand infrastructure revitalization plan, and never following through.
Nevertheless, the same man who built his political career on exacerbating divisions among Americans is now positioning himself as an international peacemaker and an impartial mediator between President Zelenskyy and President Putin. This is the same Zelenskyy whom Trump had previously attempted to coerce into providing damaging information about Biden in exchange for military aid. It is also the same Putin whom Trump openly supported, contradicting the findings of the U.S. intelligence community regarding Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
While President Biden’s words may hold more importance to President Zelenskyy than their delivery, the Ukrainian leader understands, like any politician, that electability is a crucial factor in any election. It must be concerning for him, as it should be for all of us, that current polls show Biden and Trump being roughly neck and neck, considering that the election is still more than a year away.
In terms of Ukraine and how the United States portrays itself on the global stage, there are two distinct visions at play. On one hand, there is the narrow-minded “America first” vision that Trump championed throughout his presidency. On the other hand, there is the broader perspective described by Biden in his speech:
“As the President of the United States, I understand the responsibility that my country has to lead during this critical moment. We must work alongside countries from all regions, uniting them under a common purpose. We must collaborate with partners who share our vision of a future where hunger is eradicated, quality healthcare is accessible to all, workers are empowered, the environment is protected, entrepreneurs and innovators thrive globally, conflicts are resolved peacefully, and nations have the autonomy to forge their own paths.”
Furthermore, Biden succinctly stated, “We recognize that our future is intricately connected to yours.”
The speech delivered by President Biden left a lasting impression on me. Throughout his address, I couldn’t shake off the realization that a war, the fate of the United Nations, and the choice between these two contrasting visions of America’s role in the world could ultimately hinge on who possesses the more polished rhetorical skills.
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