If he were the principal of a college, he would address the encouragement to his administration. During a marathon press conference of nearly two hours, a Joe Biden in the midst of turbulence defended the results of his first year in the White House. But his focus was overshadowed by the Ukraine crisis, as he sounded fatalistic about a likely “minor incursion” by Russia. And a few hours later, the Democrats failed in the Senate to pass the electoral reform defended by the American president, an emblematic setback of the last twelve months. And no doubt the next ten, before the November midterms which promise to be perilous for the Democrats.
Satisfecit on employment, infrastructures and vaccination
“Can you name another president who has accomplished as much as I have in a year? Recovered, Joe Biden first took stock of his successes: 6 million jobs created, an unemployment rate at a historic low, below 4%, and an investment of 1.2 trillion dollars to renovate infrastructure. passed with the help of some Republicans.
On the Covid-19, the situation is more mixed. Joe Biden is proud to have more than 200 million Americans vaccinated. But while the United States has long been in the lead, this only represents 63% of the population. France, by comparison, is approaching 78%. And if the American president tried to impose an obligation on large companies, the Supreme Court blocked his decree.
Inflation promises
Realistically, Joe Biden acknowledged that the United States was facing “challenges”. Fighting inflation will require “a long-term effort”, he conceded. “By then, it will be painful for many people”, faced with prices which have soared by 7% over one year, in particular on gasoline, rents and food. The American president called on the central bank to tackle this scourge, and asked Congress to pass a law to accelerate growth and optimize the supply chain.
Hopes for a legislative compromise
Will Joe Biden have to lower his ambitions in the face of Democratic divisions in the Senate? No, he assures while conceding that two bills were badly embarked. In the evening, the Senate also rejected the electoral reform it was defending: two centrist Democrats, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, refused to vote to change the majority from 60 to 50 votes, dealing a fatal blow to the text.
Joe Biden, however, assured that “large parts” of his social and climate investment plan “Build back Better” could be adopted in the coming months. He will probably have to give up the tax credit for dependent children, which Joe Manchin opposes.
Ukraine controversy
Joe Biden does not like the exercise of press conferences and has the annoying habit of tripping when he improvises. The American president raised the possibility of a “minor” incursion by Russia into the country, in which case the NATO countries would risk, according to him, being divided on the response to be provided. “If Russian military forces cross the border of Ukraine, it will constitute a new invasion which will attract a rapid, severe and united response from the United States and our allies”, hastened to clarify the spokesperson of the White House, Jen Psaki. The Republican opposition has nevertheless seized on the subject, accusing the American president of resigning himself to an attack from Moscow, provided that it is not too spectacular.