The US president’s substantial patriotism was ultimately outweighed by his vanity.
The spectacle of American politics reached new heights of intensity as President Joe Biden’s tenure drew to a close. The ongoing feud between Biden and former President Barack Obama was often portrayed as Shakespearean in nature, with the media comparing it to a tragic drama. However, the analogy of Biden as Shakespeare’s Macbeth, isolated and haunted by his own ambition, also rings true. But perhaps the most fitting comparison is that of King Lear, an aging ruler unable to relinquish power, furious at a party he believes he has sacrificed for and a country he thinks he has served.
Like Lear, Biden was confronted with the harsh reality of political ruthlessness. His sense of betrayal, by a party and a nation he had devoted himself to, mirrored the king’s own anguish. However, once Biden stepped off the stage, the inevitable applause followed. His departure was hailed by liberal media as an act of selflessness, a final service to his party and the country. In reality, Biden’s recognition of his political demise was not a moment of clarity but a painful acknowledgment that his influence had evaporated—his money, his support, and his voter base had all disappeared.
Many have pointed to Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump as the key factor in his decline. However, this was simply the culmination of an already untenable situation. For months, Biden’s approval ratings had been dismal, with polling numbers showing that he was outpaced by Trump in the critical swing states, even after Trump’s conviction in late May. Americans had long believed that, despite his achievements, Biden could no longer be the vigorous president they needed to guide the country through another term.
Biden’s substantial patriotism was ultimately overshadowed by his deep-seated vanity. His decision to stay in the race for as long as he did, disregarding his earlier promise to be a “transitional” president, and his insistence that the presidency could defy the natural passage of time, had consequences. His refusal to relinquish power created chaos within the Democratic Party, triggering a crisis of confidence not just in Biden but in the party’s future as well. The long wait and stubbornness have only intensified the disorder, leaving the Democrats grappling with the fallout.
