USA: Biden defends record after first year in office

US President Biden has been in the White House for a year – time for a temporary assessment. While his popularity ratings have fallen dramatically in recent months, Biden sees “tremendous progress.”

A year after taking office, US President Joe Biden defended his administration’s record against criticism. At a press conference at the White House, Biden spoke of a year of challenges, but also of “tremendous progress.”

Among other things, the US president noted an increase in vaccination rates since taking office a year ago. Regarding the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is spreading rapidly in the United States, he said there is no need to panic. The pandemic is now on a different level.

Biden also noted economic successes. Six million new jobs were created during his reign. Unemployment and poverty decreased while wages increased.

Biden is approved

Biden’s acceptance rates have fallen dramatically, according to polls, only 42 percent of Americans are satisfied with his work. “I know there is a lot of frustration in the country,” he said. Biden is under pressure, among other things, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which his administration has suffered setbacks against in combating it. While the unemployment rate has fallen near pre-pandemic levels, inflation is a concern, with US consumer prices rising at their highest rate in 40 years.

In terms of foreign policy, the disaster surrounding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has hurt the president. Biden also failed to deliver on several key promises. So far, he has failed in Congress with plans for electoral law reform and a legislative package for social and climate protections – even though Democrats have narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. In congressional elections in November, Republicans can regain a majority in both houses.

Democrat Biden took over the presidency from Republican Donald Trump on January 20, 2021. To this day, Trump sees himself denied victory by electoral fraud without any evidence, and has never conceded his defeat. The Trump camp failed with dozens of lawsuits against the outcome.