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US President turns 80 – That could be expected by Joe Biden in the second half of his term – News

20 November 2022

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US President Joe Biden turns 80. After the midterm elections, power in Parliament will be shared for the second half of his term. It will be correspondingly more difficult for the President.

Some things were different in these midterm elections, because they are actually used as a yardstick for the incumbent president. In view of the low approval ratings for Joe Biden, the Democrats had to expect much larger losses. But the abortion issue mobilized numerous young voters – and they voted for the Democrats.

However, this does not change the fact that these voters want a younger president. According to surveys, a total of around 60 percent of democratic voters are against Joe Biden going into the presidential race again in 2024.

Joe Biden says he hasn’t made a definitive decision on whether to run for a second term. It was always his intention, but it was a family matter that had yet to be discussed. He doesn’t feel any rush and thinks he’ll announce the decision early next year.

Legend:

Joe Biden speaking at the Building and Economy for Working Families meeting at the White House (November 2022).

IMAGO/EVER COUNTESS

Playing for time is probably the right strategy. There is no reason for Joe Biden to officially announce now whether he wants to run again. Especially since a no would weaken his position in office.

Nancy Pelosi makes way for next generation

Joe Biden was the oldest president in US history when he took office. Nobody from the party wants to comment publicly on the question of age. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a clear signal this week. The 82-year-old announced that she was no longer available to the party as a group leader.

President Joe Biden delivers a State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the Capitol.

Nancy Pelosi chose clear words and spoke of a new era – that it was time to make room for the next generation.

She is grateful that others are now ready to take on the responsibility of leading the Democratic Party. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to be elected House Democrat leader next week. The New York MP is 52 years old and would be the first African American to become the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives.

When it comes to a possible successor to Joe Biden, it is far less clear who will come up. The natural successor, Vice-President Kamala Harris, kept a relatively low profile and underperformed for the first two years in office.

Opportunities are given to the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, or the governor of California, Gavin Newsom. Both are in their 50s and thus significantly younger than Joe Biden, who originally described himself as interim president.

Republicans want a majority in the House of Representatives

A rougher wind will be blowing against it in the next two years. The Republicans have already announced that they will use their new majority in the House of Representatives for various parliamentary investigations. Among other things, in connection with son Hunter Biden’s foreign business in China or Ukraine.

Republican Rep. James Comer said this week in no uncertain terms: Even if it involves the family, the investigation is for Joe Biden.

Republicans also plan to halt or at least reduce spending by the Biden administration. In terms of domestic policy, for example, it is about further research funds for Corona, and in terms of foreign policy it is about aid money and arms deliveries for Ukraine. During the election campaign, the likely future speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, even threatened to stop these funds altogether.

There may also have been a great deal of campaign rhetoric in those words, as until now Biden has had bipartisan support when it comes to spending on Ukraine. However, solidarity diminishes the longer the war lasts.

In addition, the Republicans can block legislative initiatives from the White House for the next two years.

Democrats retain majority in Senate

But Joe Biden can also reap the rewards – the rewards of the legislation he pushed through in the first two years, but whose effects will only really be felt from next year.

These include, for example, lower drug prices that are included in the $500 billion climate protection and health package. Or new jobs that are created with state subsidies for the chip industry or in connection with the infrastructure project.

With Democrats retaining a majority in the Senate, Biden can still appoint key federal figures, such as federal judges, ambassadors, or cabinet members.

Best birthday gift from electorate

Joe Biden can celebrate his 80th birthday more calmly than he could have expected before the midterm elections. Because the voters gave him the best gift.

Biden stressed that democracy has been tested in recent years, but US voters have spoken with their voice and proved that the US stands for democracy.

Nevertheless: The election results for the Democrats turned out better than expected, but they didn’t make Joe Biden more popular and certainly not younger.