Staff Reports
In what can only be described as a turn of events straight out of a political sitcom, President Joe Biden recently met with his predecessor, Donald Trump. This groundbreaking encounter took place at the White House, a location that for some reason continues to be the epicenter of all things political. The optics of Biden and Trump sharing pleasantries paint a rather amusing picture: a sitting president, who once painted Trump as a looming threat to democracy and even likened him to infamous historical figures, suddenly acting like they were old pals reuniting after a long separation.
When Biden greeted Trump with an enthusiastic “Welcome back,” it seemingly threw a wrench in the narrative that Democrats have crafted over the past few years. Commentary writer Tiana Lowe Doescher of the Washington Examiner pointed out that Biden’s behavior suggests a rather significant departure from the previous rhetoric that painted Trump as the embodiment of all things evil. Instead of antagonism, Biden approached the meeting with a sense of camaraderie, emphasizing the importance of an “efficient and effective transition.” Ah, the wonders of politics when the cameras are rolling.
Lowe Doescher highlighted the ironic shift in Biden’s stance toward Trump—a figure he previously described as a “threat to democracy.” Rather than pulling out the heavy artillery of insults, Biden decided to extend an olive branch. One has to wonder if this newfound friendliness is an admission of something deeper; perhaps a tacit recognition that the country is indeed large enough for diverse opinions, including those of the 75 million Americans who voted for Trump. Rather than being straightforward about their past views, Biden and his administration appear to prefer the approach of pretending that all is well because, let’s face it, the opposition is merely a few hundred million voters and a bit of disagreement.
Biden doesn’t see Trump ‘as a Hitler wannabe’: Tiana Lowe Doescher https://t.co/IOZPhjDk7E
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 15, 2024
Interestingly, Biden’s team didn’t seem to take the opportunity for some introspection. Instead of engaging with the other half of the country or addressing their own past missteps, it appears they preferred to keep the facade up. If these meetings indicate a shift in their beliefs, one might think that Kamala Harris would want to rethink her scathing remarks about Trump aligning him with Hitler. But alas, self-reflection seems about as popular as a dentist appointment in the Democratic camp.
As the dust settles from this historic meeting, it is worth noting that Trump landed in the Oval Office with a solid Electoral College victory and a significant share of the popular vote. The Republican Party did not just show up; they clinched majorities in both the House and Senate, making the administration’s previous comments all the more curious. Perhaps next time, they might consider engaging more constructively with the “other audience,” which is, after all, 50% of the American populace. It seems that either the Democrats have come to terms with Trump’s tenure, or the reality is starting to sink in that maybe, just maybe, they don’t have to act like he’s a cartoon villain after all.
