Joe Biden enters second year of presidency frustrated, looking to fight

US President Joe Biden running out of time, patience and allies to save what remains of his domestic ambitions after first year in power

Biden beset by Covid-19 health crisis, an evermore divided US, and the likely loss of Congress to the Republicans in November’s midterms

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US President Joe Biden is entering his second year in office. Photo: AP

Published: 1:35pm, 18 Jan 2022Updated: 1:37pm, 18 Jan 2022

Joe Biden 1.0 was a calming, grandfatherly figure, a low-key veteran coming out of retirement in 2020 to heal a nation deeply divided by Donald Trump. A year later, meet Biden 2.0 – the frustrated, angry fighter.

“I’m tired of being quiet,” he said last week in a blistering speech.

Biden was referring specifically to his many fruitless “quiet conversations” behind the scenes with senators in a doomed effort to get his signature legislation on voting rights passed. He could just as well have been summing up the exasperation of his first 12 months in the Oval Office.

And if 2021 saw mild Biden, 2022 looks set to feature a louder, more pugnacious version – a president running out of time, patience and allies to save what remain of his ambitions.

Biden took office January 20, 2021 – at 78, the oldest man to ever become US president – facing incredible challenges.

Covid-19 was out of control, Trump’s supporters had just two weeks earlier tried overturning the presidential election, the economy was comatose, and around the world US allies were reeling in Trump shock of their own.