Progressive Dems rage at Biden for giving Trump the spotlight during final weeks in office
Progressive Democrats are expressing frustration with President Biden’s approach during his lame duck era, as President-elect Donald Trump continues to dominate the news cycle with Cabinet nominations and high-profile meetings with world leaders. Biden has been notably quiet since Trump’s re-election, allowing Trump to take center stage at significant events. For instance, Biden sent his wife, first lady Jill Biden, to attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, giving Trump the opportunity to interact with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the spotlight.
“This is one of the lamest lame duck periods we’ve witnessed under a Democratic administration. It’s a huge missed opportunity,” stated Usamah Andrabi, a spokesman for the progressive group Justice Democrats, in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. Democrats are particularly disappointed by the lack of criticism from Biden and the White House towards Trump’s Cabinet nominees. With one nominee already withdrawing and another, Pete Hegseth, drawing criticism for his background as a former Fox News host, many Democrats feel that stronger opposition is warranted.
“We should be more proactive and less restrained. We should be vocal in pushing back against these nominees who could spell disaster,” Washington Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee remarked in response to the situation. Waleed Shahid, a progressive Democratic strategist, emphasized the importance of Biden engaging with voters to explain the potential implications of these nominees, a step that Biden has seemingly avoided taking.
In defense of Biden, the White House pushed back against these criticisms, highlighting the president’s busy schedule with foreign trips. White House spokesman Andrew Bates asserted, “President Biden is maximizing every day of his term by advancing an ambitious agenda that will benefit hardworking Americans for years to come.”
Leading Democratic governors have been more vocal in their opposition to the incoming administration. California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled plans to “Trump-proof” California, earmarking $25 million for potential legal battles with the Trump administration. Similarly, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy pledged to “fight like hell” against Trump’s policies while acknowledging the necessity of maintaining a working relationship with the White House.
In conclusion, as the Biden administration navigates its lame duck period, tensions are rising among progressive Democrats who are eager to see more assertiveness in challenging Trump’s Cabinet nominees and policies. The dynamic between the outgoing and incoming administrations will continue to evolve, with Democratic leaders preparing to push back against potential threats to their values and communities.
