The Last Days of a Presidency
As Biden approaches the end of his presidency, he finds himself concluding his term in a manner reminiscent of its outset: Trump.
TroibNews 
On a recent Tuesday morning in a dim underground parking garage in west Los Angeles, President Joe Biden found himself seemingly frozen in response to unfolding events.
Having traveled across the country to announce the establishment of two national monuments in California amidst a scenic backdrop, Biden aimed to make a significant contribution to land conservation and bolster a climate agenda he envisioned as transformative. Yet, nature had other plans. A powerful windstorm was brewing, raising safety concerns and ultimately derailing the carefully orchestrated event Biden had invested considerable staff effort and travel time into.
This was just one of many challenges during the final weeks of his presidency, a time Biden and his team hoped would solidify his political legacy. The experience underscored the limitations of a president's ability to control the narrative. The sense of futility that permeated these last moments reflected a four-year term that, despite numerous legislative achievements, was concluding much like it had begun—with Donald Trump still in the spotlight.
In those closing weeks, Biden’s administration faced difficulties in gaining traction with their messaging, struggling to capture national attention and polish what was perceived as a tarnished legacy.
External factors, such as the severe wind and drought conditions in Southern California or unexpected outbreaks of violence domestically and internationally, played a role in the challenges he faced. However, his own decisions, such as the controversial move to pardon his son Hunter after months of hesitation, further complicated his administration's efforts to maintain a favorable public image.
Biden and his supporters have frequently asserted that history will judge him more kindly. Nevertheless, many allies who once envisioned him as a transformative leader comparable to Franklin D. Roosevelt have now tempered their expectations, settling for comparisons to Jimmy Carter.
Instead of concluding a distinguished political career on a high note, Biden found himself leaving Washington in a position reminiscent of Willy Loman, with his party struggling and the nation rejecting his pledge to alleviate the realities of Trumpism.
Meanwhile, as Biden was stuck in Los Angeles, Trump managed to capture national attention again, delivering a bombastic press conference from Mar-a-Lago where he threatened to take Greenland and proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
This stark contrast frustrated Biden and his long-time aides. While Biden was attempting to engage in substantive policy with little public notice, Trump’s outlandish statements dominated media discourse.
“It has been a challenge,” stated former Alabama Senator Doug Jones, a close ally of Biden’s, recognizing the ongoing frustrations shared by Biden and those close to him over their inability to break through the media landscape.
Since he concluded his reelection campaign last summer, Biden urged his senior aides to ensure that his concluding months in office were as impactful as any, despite leading the country through the pandemic, revitalizing the economy, and enacting landmark legislation. Yet, his approval ratings plummeted to record lows, leaving many Democrats dissatisfied, some blaming him for facilitating Trump's rise.
As Biden's administration sought to finalize a series of priorities, including a critical cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, he faced the challenge of dispelling the notion that he had retreated from the public eye.
“There are certain presidencies that end with an acceleration of events and activities,” remarked Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian. “This presidency, on the other hand, just seems to have run out of gas.”
Biden noticeably avoided engaging in the heated debates within the Democratic Party regarding its reconstruction, remaining silent on the increasingly competitive race for the DNC chair as he harbored concerns about the challenges ahead for the party in a post-Trump era.
After Trump disrupted a funding agreement earlier, Biden, who was marking an anniversary in Delaware, opted not to intervene directly. He instead sent aides to liaise with Democratic leaders, a move his friends labeled strategic, albeit one that left lawmakers unsure of Biden’s stance on the resultant deal.
Among the greatest frustrations for supporters who believed in the existential stakes of Biden's reelection was his apparent reluctance to confront Trump. Biden had previously framed the political landscape as a “battle for the soul of America,” yet he expressed readiness to host Trump at the White House, refraining from even mentioning his name in a January 6 op-ed, which called for remembrance of the Capitol riot that Trump incited.
“Pretty disappointing,” admitted Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, an organization that had rallied support for Biden’s reelection bid. “He campaigned and many Democrats campaigned on this guy being an existential threat. I believed it, and many of the folks we were organizing believed it.”
Many staffers were understandably disheartened by Trump's upcoming return to the White House. Nevertheless, chief of staff Jeff Zients aimed to motivate remaining staff by emphasizing their collective accomplishments and urging them to see that there was still work to be done.
In his final weeks, Biden sought to ensure that his achievements would endure, announcing billion-dollar transportation initiatives, new military assistance for Ukraine, and signing the proclamations for national monuments. He also reversed Trump’s Cuba policy and introduced an executive order on cybersecurity.
However, these actions often received little media attention in a landscape preoccupied with upcoming political changes. Even Biden’s East Room celebration of 235 judicial appointees was overshadowed by a terrorist attack in New Orleans, and the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, where Biden delivered a eulogy, further elongated a somber narrative surrounding his presidency.
Interestingly, many in Biden’s inner circle did not shy away from comparisons to Carter, despite historians recognizing Carter’s post-presidency more favorably than his time in office.
“This is also a president who took the long view and is proud to have taken the long view on issues,” stated Anita Dunn, a long-time adviser to Biden. “And if that is his legacy and hallmark, I think he’ll be comfortable with that.”
"There are always going to be times, in solitude or late at night, when you're going to second-guess yourself," Jones said, reflecting on Biden's pivotal decisions. "But I think he is at peace with, No. 1, his decisions. And No. 2, what he has done and what he has accomplished the last four years."
Some of Biden’s most significant actions culminated in a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, underscoring the urgency of his depleted White House staff's response. Although the president managed to deliver remarks that day, he inadvertently overshadowed a scheduled address with earlier comments, dismissing questions of credit regarding the negotiations.
In a twist of irony, while Biden aimed to ensure the permanence of his policies, his most notable success during this period bore a connection to the incoming president, who pressured involved parties to finalize an agreement ahead of Biden's departure.
While pursuing personal matters in the weeks following the election—such as pardoning his son and planning to meet Pope Francis—Biden remained cautious about appearing disengaged.
As he traveled back from California aboard Air Force One, Biden communicated with senior aides still at the White House regarding upcoming decisions, including whether he should attend a meeting in Rome with Pope Francis. Southern California was grappling with severe wildfires, adding pressure to his obligations.
Though meeting the pope held personal significance for Biden, his commitment to responding to the natural disaster weighed heavily on him. He believed that presidents should remain in the country during such crises, a sentiment echoed by a senior adviser.
Aides quickly organized alternative arrangements, such as phone calls with the Italian and Ukrainian leaders to maintain commitments, while also planning a weekend ceremony at the White House for the pope.
As an institutionalist, beyond the high-profile responsibilities, Biden continued to engage in the routine aspects of his role. He organized farewell gatherings, shaking hands and presenting himself at various events leading up to his final address.
Throughout the preceding weeks, Biden focused on delivering a significant farewell address, initially planned for New York City but ultimately relocated to the Oval Office. Despite requiring brevity due to media demands, he was immersed in refining his message with his close aides.
In this speech, he conveyed warnings regarding threats to democracy and the challenges posed by climate change and artificial intelligence. His closing remarks, intended as a rallying cry for the nation's future, reiterated his belief in the enduring importance of democracy.
In his final address to the nation, Biden urged citizens to "stand watch," implying that the legacy he left behind would evolve over time. As he summarized substantial achievements, he posited that “the seeds are planted” for a better future.
Following the speech, news networks returned to their regular programming. However, a cluster of aides gathered at the White House, eager to celebrate and acknowledge Biden's journey. They rallied together, capturing the moment as he expressed his gratitude, illustrated by the grandeur of Abraham Lincoln’s portrait looming behind him before he headed upstairs.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
Having traveled across the country to announce the establishment of two national monuments in California amidst a scenic backdrop, Biden aimed to make a significant contribution to land conservation and bolster a climate agenda he envisioned as transformative. Yet, nature had other plans. A powerful windstorm was brewing, raising safety concerns and ultimately derailing the carefully orchestrated event Biden had invested considerable staff effort and travel time into.
This was just one of many challenges during the final weeks of his presidency, a time Biden and his team hoped would solidify his political legacy. The experience underscored the limitations of a president's ability to control the narrative. The sense of futility that permeated these last moments reflected a four-year term that, despite numerous legislative achievements, was concluding much like it had begun—with Donald Trump still in the spotlight.
In those closing weeks, Biden’s administration faced difficulties in gaining traction with their messaging, struggling to capture national attention and polish what was perceived as a tarnished legacy.
External factors, such as the severe wind and drought conditions in Southern California or unexpected outbreaks of violence domestically and internationally, played a role in the challenges he faced. However, his own decisions, such as the controversial move to pardon his son Hunter after months of hesitation, further complicated his administration's efforts to maintain a favorable public image.
Biden and his supporters have frequently asserted that history will judge him more kindly. Nevertheless, many allies who once envisioned him as a transformative leader comparable to Franklin D. Roosevelt have now tempered their expectations, settling for comparisons to Jimmy Carter.
Instead of concluding a distinguished political career on a high note, Biden found himself leaving Washington in a position reminiscent of Willy Loman, with his party struggling and the nation rejecting his pledge to alleviate the realities of Trumpism.
Meanwhile, as Biden was stuck in Los Angeles, Trump managed to capture national attention again, delivering a bombastic press conference from Mar-a-Lago where he threatened to take Greenland and proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
This stark contrast frustrated Biden and his long-time aides. While Biden was attempting to engage in substantive policy with little public notice, Trump’s outlandish statements dominated media discourse.
“It has been a challenge,” stated former Alabama Senator Doug Jones, a close ally of Biden’s, recognizing the ongoing frustrations shared by Biden and those close to him over their inability to break through the media landscape.
Since he concluded his reelection campaign last summer, Biden urged his senior aides to ensure that his concluding months in office were as impactful as any, despite leading the country through the pandemic, revitalizing the economy, and enacting landmark legislation. Yet, his approval ratings plummeted to record lows, leaving many Democrats dissatisfied, some blaming him for facilitating Trump's rise.
As Biden's administration sought to finalize a series of priorities, including a critical cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, he faced the challenge of dispelling the notion that he had retreated from the public eye.
“There are certain presidencies that end with an acceleration of events and activities,” remarked Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian. “This presidency, on the other hand, just seems to have run out of gas.”
Biden noticeably avoided engaging in the heated debates within the Democratic Party regarding its reconstruction, remaining silent on the increasingly competitive race for the DNC chair as he harbored concerns about the challenges ahead for the party in a post-Trump era.
After Trump disrupted a funding agreement earlier, Biden, who was marking an anniversary in Delaware, opted not to intervene directly. He instead sent aides to liaise with Democratic leaders, a move his friends labeled strategic, albeit one that left lawmakers unsure of Biden’s stance on the resultant deal.
Among the greatest frustrations for supporters who believed in the existential stakes of Biden's reelection was his apparent reluctance to confront Trump. Biden had previously framed the political landscape as a “battle for the soul of America,” yet he expressed readiness to host Trump at the White House, refraining from even mentioning his name in a January 6 op-ed, which called for remembrance of the Capitol riot that Trump incited.
“Pretty disappointing,” admitted Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, an organization that had rallied support for Biden’s reelection bid. “He campaigned and many Democrats campaigned on this guy being an existential threat. I believed it, and many of the folks we were organizing believed it.”
Many staffers were understandably disheartened by Trump's upcoming return to the White House. Nevertheless, chief of staff Jeff Zients aimed to motivate remaining staff by emphasizing their collective accomplishments and urging them to see that there was still work to be done.
In his final weeks, Biden sought to ensure that his achievements would endure, announcing billion-dollar transportation initiatives, new military assistance for Ukraine, and signing the proclamations for national monuments. He also reversed Trump’s Cuba policy and introduced an executive order on cybersecurity.
However, these actions often received little media attention in a landscape preoccupied with upcoming political changes. Even Biden’s East Room celebration of 235 judicial appointees was overshadowed by a terrorist attack in New Orleans, and the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, where Biden delivered a eulogy, further elongated a somber narrative surrounding his presidency.
Interestingly, many in Biden’s inner circle did not shy away from comparisons to Carter, despite historians recognizing Carter’s post-presidency more favorably than his time in office.
“This is also a president who took the long view and is proud to have taken the long view on issues,” stated Anita Dunn, a long-time adviser to Biden. “And if that is his legacy and hallmark, I think he’ll be comfortable with that.”
"There are always going to be times, in solitude or late at night, when you're going to second-guess yourself," Jones said, reflecting on Biden's pivotal decisions. "But I think he is at peace with, No. 1, his decisions. And No. 2, what he has done and what he has accomplished the last four years."
Some of Biden’s most significant actions culminated in a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, underscoring the urgency of his depleted White House staff's response. Although the president managed to deliver remarks that day, he inadvertently overshadowed a scheduled address with earlier comments, dismissing questions of credit regarding the negotiations.
In a twist of irony, while Biden aimed to ensure the permanence of his policies, his most notable success during this period bore a connection to the incoming president, who pressured involved parties to finalize an agreement ahead of Biden's departure.
While pursuing personal matters in the weeks following the election—such as pardoning his son and planning to meet Pope Francis—Biden remained cautious about appearing disengaged.
As he traveled back from California aboard Air Force One, Biden communicated with senior aides still at the White House regarding upcoming decisions, including whether he should attend a meeting in Rome with Pope Francis. Southern California was grappling with severe wildfires, adding pressure to his obligations.
Though meeting the pope held personal significance for Biden, his commitment to responding to the natural disaster weighed heavily on him. He believed that presidents should remain in the country during such crises, a sentiment echoed by a senior adviser.
Aides quickly organized alternative arrangements, such as phone calls with the Italian and Ukrainian leaders to maintain commitments, while also planning a weekend ceremony at the White House for the pope.
As an institutionalist, beyond the high-profile responsibilities, Biden continued to engage in the routine aspects of his role. He organized farewell gatherings, shaking hands and presenting himself at various events leading up to his final address.
Throughout the preceding weeks, Biden focused on delivering a significant farewell address, initially planned for New York City but ultimately relocated to the Oval Office. Despite requiring brevity due to media demands, he was immersed in refining his message with his close aides.
In this speech, he conveyed warnings regarding threats to democracy and the challenges posed by climate change and artificial intelligence. His closing remarks, intended as a rallying cry for the nation's future, reiterated his belief in the enduring importance of democracy.
In his final address to the nation, Biden urged citizens to "stand watch," implying that the legacy he left behind would evolve over time. As he summarized substantial achievements, he posited that “the seeds are planted” for a better future.
Following the speech, news networks returned to their regular programming. However, a cluster of aides gathered at the White House, eager to celebrate and acknowledge Biden's journey. They rallied together, capturing the moment as he expressed his gratitude, illustrated by the grandeur of Abraham Lincoln’s portrait looming behind him before he headed upstairs.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
