Progressive Democrats Frustrated with President Biden’s Lame Duck Era
Progressive Democrats are expressing frustration with President Joe Biden’s handling of his lame duck era, feeling he is allowing President-elect Donald Trump to dominate the news cycle. Biden has remained relatively quiet since Trump’s re-election, allowing Trump to steal the show at several notable events.
The group Justice Democrats, a progressive organization, has criticized Biden for sending his wife, first lady Jill Biden, to attend the re-opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris instead of attending the event himself. Trump used the opportunity to greet French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the cameras.
Democrats also feel that Biden and the White House have not been critical enough of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Trump has already had one nominee withdraw, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary and a former Fox News host, has also drawn criticism.
Governors Jay Inslee of Washington and Waleed Shahid, a progressive Democratic strategist, agree that Biden should be more vocal in pushing back against Trump’s nominees, saying that the president should use this time to engage with voters and explain the issues to them.
The White House has pushed back on the criticism, stating that Biden has been busy on foreign trips, accelerating the implementation of his agenda for the benefit of hardworking Americans.
However, top Democratic governors have been more vocal in criticizing the incoming administration, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring an effort to “Trump-proof” California last month, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy saying he is prepared to “fight like hell” against the Trump administration.