Fade To Black: Biden Fades Into The Background

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As Joe Biden approaches the twilight of his political career, he seems to be fading into the background, even before Donald Trump potentially returns to the White House. This comes amid escalating turmoil both domestically and internationally.

The 82-year-old president’s silence on the looming government shutdown over the Christmas period serves as another example of critics claiming he is physically present but politically absent.

Though Biden still occupies the world’s most powerful position, he has remained largely absent from public discourse, particularly regarding his loud successor, whom he previously described as a threat to democracy.

While Biden stays largely out of sight, it is Trump who is taking center stage, whether through his unofficial foreign policy actions or by blocking efforts to fund the government. “This is a Biden problem to solve!” Trump declared on his TruthSocial platform last Friday.

When asked by AFP whether Biden would take action on the shutdown, a White House spokesperson declined to comment and instead pointed to a statement issued by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Jean-Pierre emphasized Biden’s support for an earlier bipartisan funding agreement, noting, “not this giveaway for billionaires.”

A Painful Exit

Biden’s exit was always expected to be a painful one, particularly after he had to drop out of the 2024 election in June following a disastrous debate with Trump. He passed the Democratic nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris, but was widely believed to have felt that he could have succeeded where she failed against the Republican frontrunner.

The White House maintains that Biden is in what his chief of staff Jeff Zients calls a "sprint to the finish line" as he seeks to cement his legacy before January 20, when the next president is sworn in.

In recent weeks, Biden has launched a series of last-minute efforts to protect policies on issues ranging from student loan forgiveness to the economy. He has delivered speeches touting accomplishments such as a ceasefire in Lebanon and claiming credit for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even as his administration pushes for a truce in Gaza.

In an article for American Prospect, Biden reflected on his economic achievements, saying, "It will take years to see the full effects in terms of new jobs and new investments, but we have planted the seeds that are making this happen."

Yet, at times, Biden’s actions have emphasized his fading presence rather than a strong final push. During a speech to highlight his economic legacy last week, Biden was visibly struggling with a cough, shortly after Trump held a vibrant press conference.

Meanwhile, Biden's foreign trips, intended to showcase his stature as a global leader and reassure allies uncertain about Trump's potential return, often had the opposite effect.

A "Diminished" Figure

On one such trip, Biden appeared frail during a visit to the Amazon, where he was briefly seen wandering off into the jungle. He also missed a group photo with G20 leaders in Brazil, as they refused to wait for him. In Angola, during his first trip as president to sub-Saharan Africa, Biden appeared to be nodding off at times during a summit and was assisted up a flight of steps by Angola’s president.

The man once known for his garrulousness has also been largely silent in response to questions from reporters. Biden has notably avoided commenting on whether he still considers Trump a threat to democracy, despite his vocal condemnation of the Republican’s actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Biden has also refused to address one of the most high-profile events since his election defeat: a pardon for his son, Hunter, on charges related to gun possession and taxes.

The perception of Biden's decline has only been compounded by media reports about his diminishing presence. A Wall Street Journal article this week revealed that White House gatekeepers had created a “wall” around the president, keeping meetings short and limiting access. While the White House denies claims of physical or mental decline, these reports continue to raise concerns.