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Gulf Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
‘Original Sin' depicts Biden's mental, physical decline
John Bowden, The Independent Democrats are not doing themselves any favours with their reactions to the new book on Joe Biden coming out from Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper. The two reporters are due to release Original Sin, a collection of their reporting on the cover up around Biden's mental and physical decline, on May 20. The book's excerpts are already causing a ruckus, as they detail startling instances of Biden's gaps in mental acuity that were reportedly hidden from the public through 2024. Biden, whom aides reportedly considered putting in a wheelchair at points, reportedly did not recognise Hollywood megastar George Clooney at an event the president had flown in to Los Angeles specifically for Clooney to host on his behalf. Other excerpts claimed he forgot the names of longtime aides, including that of his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. The top quote of the week: 'It's all Biden.' David Plouffe's declaration in Original Sin gives voice to the party's furious silent undercurrent of supporters, many of whom did vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 but still watched helplessly on election night as she underperformed nationally and lost ground to Republicans even in deep blue states. The architect of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign juggernaut, Plouffe's complaint followed an evisceration of the Biden administration policy on IsraelGaza by the Obamaworld hosts of Pod Save the World. The right, meanwhile, keeps hammering the two reporters and the Washington media at large for the so-called revelations. Arguing that reporters (including from Tapper's network, CNN) led the charge to hide Biden's deficiencies, Republicans argued this week that the two are attempting to cash in on their own failures. They are correct to do so. Democrats (led by Biden's inner circle and a defiant president himself) willingly undermined their own credibility by getting the party into this mess, and should show some capacity for self-reflection — not more breathless attacks on the press — to overcome it. 'I think some of the criticism is fair, to be honest,' said Tapper on Wednesday. Inside Washington claims at least partial innocence here; in February of 2024, we wrote that Biden's age provoked real questions for voters, and that his team 'risk(ed) being seen as trying to conceal something' by ignoring those concerns. But with the imminent release of Tapper and Thompson's book, questions are likely to be raised about just how far back the former president's decline really went. Many Bidenworld loyalists continue to circle the wagons, in true Trumpian fashion. Whether denying the book's revelations outright or chastising reporters falsely for 'focusing' on the issue, the former president and his loyalists continue to insist that they are beyond reproach. 'The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn't want to have a divided Democratic Party,' he told the hosts of The View this month. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, interviewed this week by CNN's Kasie Hunt, dodged questions on the issue entirely. MSNBC's Chuck Todd, who called the criticism of the media a 'right-wing manufactured' narrative, tore into Schumer on a CNN panel. 'He's as responsible as anybody else,' said Todd. 'He was a leader in the party. He could've said something sooner, and he didn't.' The defenses are beginning to become grating to hear even for Democrats, who believe that Biden is doing himself no favours. Steve Schale, who ran the 'Draft Biden' PAC ahead of the 2016 primary, said: 'There is a way for President Biden to build his post-presidency, but this isn't it. 'I really wish he'd embrace the thing that's been his calling card for 50 years: his humanity.' Most importantly: the president's defenders give voters the impression that Democrats are still engaged in deception — at a time when the party's supposed advantages include Donald Trumps' low marks for honesty and integrity. The ex-president was underwater on this issue through the entirety of 2024. The release of Original Sin is going to be the last nail in the coffin, not the first. No one is going to believe the denials now — especially when many of the people making them insisted that there were no problems and that the president wouldn't even consider withdrawing from the race. It's time for Joe to ride off into the sunset. His defenders need to stop lashing out at everyone around them and get back to rebuilding voter trust ahead of the next election cycle.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Is Doing a Good Job of Making Biden Look Bad
Imagine the news cycle that would have ensued if President Barack Obama had met with an ex-jihadist, whom the United States had labeled a terrorist, and praised him as a 'tough guy.' What if President Joe Biden's first planned tour abroad was to the Middle East, but he spurned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hobnob with autocrats (and shake hands with the aforementioned ex-jihadist)? What if he struck a hostage deal with Hamas and kept it secret from Israel? What if he lifted sanctions on Syria after it was taken over by rebels once aligned with Al Qaeda? 'Can you imagine if a Democratic president had done that?' has been one of the defining clichés of the Trump era, whose 10-year anniversary is a month away. It is certainly true that Trump gets away with quite a lot that no one else could. Over the last few days, he has done everything listed in the paragraph above. But now, at least in some quarters on the left, the question is shifting to: Why didn't a Democratic president do that? Watching Trump's flurry of moves, Democratic foreign policy experts sounded almost jealous—and it's hard to blame them. 'He does all this, and it's kind of silence, it's met with a shrug,' Ned Price, who worked in Biden's State Department, told Tommy Vietor on the former Obama staffer's Pod Save the World podcast. 'He has the ability to do things politically that previous presidents did not, because he has complete unquestioned authority over the Republican caucus.' On Syria, Ben Rhodes, a national security adviser under Obama, said lifting sanctions on Syria was 'so clearly the right decision. I don't know why Joe Biden didn't do this.' Indeed. The full consequences of Trump's trip to the Gulf are still not known, but the trip itself has thus far served as an indictment of much of his predecessor's foreign policy. Yes, many of Biden's most notable accomplishments came in that realm, such as strengthening global alliances and, foremost, aiding Ukraine. But in the Middle East, Biden and other Democrats were far too cautious. They were unwilling to risk controversy, at the expense of doing the right thing. And now Trump seems poised to accomplish things Biden should have done, like providing a badly needed lifeline to Syria and improving relations with Iran. OK, yes, it's true: The deal Trump reportedly is close to striking with Iran—lifting all economic sanctions in exchange for an end to its nuclear weapons program—is essentially a recreation of Obama's deal (though Trump certainly would never admit it). And yes, when Obama struck that deal it created a firestorm that, at least on the political right, still burns today. Meanwhile, Trump is also busy finding ways for oil-rich Gulf nations to enrich his family businesses, not to mention his determination to accept a $400 million jumbo jet from Qatar that he's angling to turn into his personal plane after he leaves office—controversies that almost certainly won't have the staying power that even Hunter Biden's relatively minor Burisma scandal has had. Vets of past Democratic administrations are right to be frustrated. But when it comes to Israel, Biden has only himself to blame. Of all the black marks on his presidency, his steadfast backing of an Israeli prime minister who treated him with contempt as tens of thousands were killed in Israeli bombardments is the worst. Biden and his foreign policy team owe some responsibility for the horrific situation in Gaza now—and Trump's current trip through the Middle East serves as a reminder that they could have done more. Not that Trump's Israel policy has been better—far from it. He's done nothing to push back as Israel pushes Gaza to the brink of starvation by cutting off all aid, done almost nothing to advance a ceasefire, and has repeatedly said he would like the U.S. to take over the territory and essentially turn it into a colony. (That Marco Rubio reportedly chastised Israel for the current humanitarian situation in Gaza on Thursday is a sign of how bad that humanitarian situation is, not a shift in administration policy.) But at least Trump has shown a willingness to sideline Netanyahu, who played Biden like a fiddle during his last two years as president. Imagine if Biden had given Netanyahu the cold shoulder, and more importantly withheld military aid, toward the goal of ending the slaughter of Gaza? It would have been the morally courageous thing to do, and for all we know, given how the November election turned out, it might have been the politically expedient thing to do too. What makes Democrats envious of Trump is that he simply doesn't give a shit, which is a powerful attribute that can be used for good or ill. Even when Trump does the right things—as in Syria and Iran—it's never entirely clear he's doing them to promote peace or prosperity. His primary motivation in most of his dealings in the Gulf still, as ever, is promoting himself and his businesses, particularly a shady (even by his standard) cryptocurrency venture being hawked by his sons. But much of Biden's foreign policy was too slow, too old-fashioned, too afraid of controversy. 'I don't like Trump's motivations for lots of things he does,' Rhodes told Vietor. 'But one thing you will say is he's not tied to this constant fear of some bad-faith right-wing attacks or stupid Blob-type, 'We don't do this, we must leverage the sanctions for blah blah blah.' No! Sometimes you just have to try something different.' Democrats have something to learn from Trump, after all—and these days they have nothing to lose, either.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats keep trying to move past the cover up around Biden's decline. It's not helping their credibility
Democrats are not doing themselves any favors with their reactions to the new book on Joe Biden coming out from Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper. The two reporters are due to release Original Sin, a collection of their reporting on the cover up around Biden's mental and physical decline, on May 20. The book's excerpts are already causing a ruckus, as they detail startling instances of Biden's gaps in mental acuity that were reportedly hidden from the public through 2024. Biden, whom aides reportedly considered putting in a wheelchair at points, reportedly did not recognize Hollywood megastar George Clooney at an event the president had flown in to Los Angeles specifically for Clooney to host on his behalf. Other excerpts claimed he forgot the names of longtime aides, including that of his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. The top quote of the week: 'It's all Biden. He totally f***ed us.' David Plouffe's declaration in Original Sin gives voice to the party's furious silent undercurrent of supporters, many of whom did vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 but still watched helplessly on election night as she underperformed nationally and lost ground to Republicans even in deep blue states. The architect of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign juggernaut, Plouffe's complaint followed an evisceration of the Biden administration policy on Israel/Gaza by the Obamaworld hosts of Pod Save the World. The right, meanwhile, keeps hammering the two reporters and the Washington media at large for the so-called revelations. Arguing that reporters (including from Tapper's network, CNN) led the charge to hide Biden's deficiencies, Republicans argued this week that the two are attempting to cash in on their own failures. They are correct to do so. Democrats (led by Biden's inner circle and a defiant president himself) willingly undermined their own credibility by getting the party into this mess, and should show some capacity for self-reflection — not more breathless attacks on the press — to overcome it. 'I think some of the criticism is fair, to be honest,' said Tapper on Wednesday. Inside Washington claims at least partial innocence here; in February of 2024, we wrote that Biden's age provoked real questions for voters, and that his team 'risk[ed] being seen as trying to conceal something' by ignoring those concerns. But with the imminent release of Tapper and Thompson's book, questions are likely to be raised about just how far back the former president's decline really went. Many Bidenworld loyalists continue to circle the wagons, in true Trumpian fashion. Whether denying the book's revelations outright or chastising reporters falsely for 'focusing' on the issue, the former president and his loyalists continue to insist that they are beyond reproach. "The only reason I got out of the race was because I didn't want to have a divided Democratic Party," he told the hosts of The View this month. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, interviewed this week by CNN's Kasie Hunt, dodged questions on the issue entirely. MSNBC's Chuck Todd, who called the criticism of the media a 'right-wing manufactured' narrative, tore into Schumer on a CNN panel. 'He's as responsible as anybody else,' said Todd. 'He was a leader in the party. He could've said something sooner, and he didn't.' The defenses are beginning to become grating to hear even for Democrats, who believe that Biden is doing himself no favors. Steve Schale, who ran the 'Draft Biden' PAC ahead of the 2016 primary, said: 'There is a way for President Biden to build his post-presidency, but this isn't it. 'I really wish he'd embrace the thing that's been his calling card for 50 years: his humanity.' Most importantly: the president's defenders give voters the impression that Democrats are still engaged in deception — at a time when the party's supposed advantages include Donald Trumps' low marks for honesty and integrity. The ex-president was underwater on this issue through the entirety of 2024. The release of Original Sin is going to be the last nail in the coffin, not the first. No one is going to believe the denials now — especially when many of the people making them insisted that there were no problems and that the president wouldn't even consider withdrawing from the race. It's time for Joe to ride off into the sunset. His defenders need to stop lashing out at everyone around them and get back to rebuilding voter trust ahead of the next election cycle.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Biden officials offer rare praise for Trump's bold Middle East moves
Former top officials in the Biden administration admitted they were impressed by President Donald Trump's bold moves this week during his historic tour in the Middle East, according to a new report. In a dramatic policy shift, Trump announced on Tuesday he would be lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria, before meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday, becoming the first U.S. president to meet with a Syrian president in 25 years. He also secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S., and agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, Reuters reported. Axios spoke to several top Biden administration officials about Trump's "audacious" foreign policy moves, which have "astounded even some of his harshest critics," according to the outlet. Trump Asks Syria To Join Abraham Accords, Normalize Ties With Israel In Return For Sanctions Relief "Gosh, I wish I could work for an administration that could move that quickly," one official admitted. Read On The Fox News App "It's hard not to be simultaneously terrified at the thought of the damage he can cause with such power, and awed by his willingness to brazenly shatter so many harmful taboos," Rob Malley, former special envoy to Iran under Biden, also said. "He does all this, and it's kind of silence, it's met with a shrug," Ned Price, a former State Department spokesperson in the Biden administration, added. "He has the ability to do things politically that previous presidents did not, because he has complete unquestioned authority over the Republican caucus." Trump's visit to the Middle East is his first major overseas trip since retaking office. The White House says he hopes to strengthen strategic partnerships in the region for stability and economic prosperity. Trump's Middle East Tour Begins With Syria Looming As Strategic Opportunity Trump said Tuesday during a speech in Saudi Arabia that he was dropping U.S. sanctions on Syria, implemented under ousted President Bashar al-Assad, "in order to give them a chance at greatness." "In Syria, they've had their share of travesty, war, killing many years. That's why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade," Trump said. Former Obama administration officials Tommy Vietor and Ben Rhodes hailed the move on their "Pod Save the World" podcast on Wednesday. "It's a very big deal," Vietor said. "So I think Trump deserves a lot of credit for this decision. It was politically difficult… but it's unequivocally the right thing to do." "It's so clearly the right decision," Rhodes agreed. "I don't know why Joe Biden didn't do this." "I don't like Trump's motivations for lots of things he does," Rhodes added. "But one thing you will say is he's not tied to this constant fear of some bad-faith right-wing attacks or stupid Blob-type, 'we don't do this, we must leverage the sanctions for blah blah blah.' No! Sometimes you just have to try something different." Despite their praise, the former Democratic officials who spoke with Axios also questioned Trump's motives for the foreign policy shifts, as the president faces backlash for planning to accept a luxury jet, on behalf of the U.S. government, as a gift from the Qatari royal family. On Thursday, Trump arrived at his final stop of his tour, the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first U.S. president to travel to the nation in nearly 20 article source: Former Biden officials offer rare praise for Trump's bold Middle East moves
Axios
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Biden officials "awed" by Trump's rule-breaking Middle East moves
President Trump's recent series of audacious foreign policy moves has astounded even some of his harshest critics. The big picture: Just in the Middle East and just in the past week, Trump has met with a leader the U.S. officially considers a terrorist, announced he'll lift all sanctions on Syria, and cut a truce with the Houthis plus a hostage deal with Hamas, both of which excluded Israel. What they're saying: Biden administration veterans who spoke with Axios raised questions about Trump's motivations but grudgingly saluted his boldness. "Gosh, I wish I could work for an administration that could move that quickly," one admitted. "He does all this, and its kind of silence, it's met with a shrug," says Ned Price, a former senior State Department official under President Biden. "He has the ability to do things politically that previous presidents did not, because he has complete unquestioned authority over the Republican caucus." "It's hard not to be simultaneously terrified at the thought of the damage he can cause with such power, and awed by his willingness to brazenly shatter so many harmful taboos," says Rob Malley, who held senior posts in three Democratic administrations including handling Iran talks under Presidents Obama and Biden. Zoom out: On issue after issue, for better or worse, Trump is taking steps no recent president would have even considered. He's abandoned the unified Western position to back Ukraine"as long as it takes" by negotiating directly with Vladimir Putin and declaring that Kyiv will never get Crimea back and must cut a deal now. He inserted himself directly in the recent Kashmir crisis, something past administrations have avoided so as not to antagonize India. He's endorsed direct talks with Iran and shrugged off hawks at home and abroad who tied the Obama and Biden administrations in knots. It helps that many of them, like Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, are loath to cross Trump. Zoom in: On Syria, Trump's own State Department had espoused a policy similar to the Biden administration's before it — sanctions relief might be possible if militant-turned-statesman Ahmed al-Sharaa's government met a number of criteria, such as suppressing extremist groups. That meant that, somewhat perversely, the new administration was being strangled by sanctions imposed on the dictator they toppled. But it was also just the way these things work, until Trump decided it wasn't. "It's so clearly the right decision," said Ben Rhodes, a national security aide to President Obama, on the "Pod Save the World" podcast. "I don't know why Joe Biden didn't do this." "I don't like Trump's motivations for lots of things he does," Rhodes continued, "but one thing you will say is he's not tied to this constant fear of some bad faith right-wing attacks or stupid Blob-type, 'we don't do this, we must leverage the sanctions for blah blah blah.' No! Sometimes you just have to try something different." Perhaps most shocking to veterans of previous administrations, Trump authorized direct talks with Hamas last month that Israeli officials only learned about through espionage (or by reading Axios). Driving the news: This week, Trump's envoy-for-everything Steve Witkoff used backchannel talks to negotiate the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, undercutting Israel's own negotiating tactics. "I suspect Witkoff doesn't have to look over his shoulder as much as others have. His predecessors have had to make sure the secretary of defense is on board and the secretary of the Treasury is on board, and head of the CIA is on board. He just does it," the former Biden official said. Flashback: The Biden administration considered but ultimately rejected opening direct talks with Hamas. "This is not about President Biden, this is about President Trump and the advantage that he has with Bibi [Netanyahu]," Price said. "If the Biden administration had done something like this, Bibi would have gone out guns blazing." Now, even with the daylight between him and Trump growing more glaring, Netanyahu is keeping uncharacteristically quiet. The flipside: Trump has also not pushed back hard as Netanyahu cut off all aid to Gaza, refused to budge in ceasefire negotiations, and announced a military operation to flatten and occupy the enclave. Price argues that's the more nefarious side of Trump's a-la-carte "America First" approach. "Unfortunately, we have a real-life experiment going on right now where we see exactly what happens when an administration abdicates that concerted pressure on the Israelis." Between the lines: All the former Democratic officials who spoke to Axios questioned Trump's motives, even for policies they personally agreed with, noting that he's not just breaching norms to make peace, but also to sell cryptocurrency, expand his real estate portfolio or obtain a $400 million jet. The Syria announcement notably came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, two leaders fluent in Trump-style transactionalism.
