My Take | Biden’s train wreck of a debate a sideshow for people outside West
- Whether the White House will be turned into a geriatric ward or a den of crime, whoever wins will pose an even greater danger to the world
A viral political cartoon says it all about the coming presidential election in the United States. On one side is Joe Biden sitting in a wheelchair and attached to a drip, with a nurse standing beside him. On the other is Donald Trump in a prisoner’s uniform, handcuffed to an armed guard.
The first presidential debate may have been terrible optics for Biden and the Democrats. But outside the West, it does not mean much substantial change whoever comes out on top.
Biden has to a large extent inherited the trade and foreign policies of Trump, and added some extra malignancy of his own.
While his predecessor demanded “America First” and launched the first salvo of a trade war against China, Biden has doubled down with protectionism and massive industrial policy – the Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act – while forcing European and Asian allies to follow suit.
Trump, against world opinion and America’s own previous policy, recognised Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
But the Biden administration has almost unconditionally backed Israel’s war in Palestinian territories. Israel now faces accusations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
