As a failed president, he presided over the decline of America's influence in the world. He weakened America's position in the Middle East, with virtually all U.S. bases coming under attack and allied countries left exposed, revealing that America could not fully defend them against an enemy it could not decisively defeat itself. He also handed them control of the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to skyrocketing oil prices, and, combined with reckless tariffs, he virtually wrecked the global economy.
He also made corruption appear official, even attempting to take $10 billion from American taxpayers through what critics described as a baseless lawsuit, while living at the White House at taxpayers' expense. He accepted gifts, including a private jet that was retrofitted using taxpayer money, with the hope of eventually converting it into his personal aircraft. There were also crypto ventures here, executive orders that benefited his businesses there. To many, it appeared to be corruption on a scale never before seen from an American president.
By being so open about it, he also undermined the moral authority that America had long claimed on the world stage. It was not just corruption; it was also narcissism on a level never seen before. He put his image on the U.S. passport, the U.S. dollar, and on U.S. bridges and buildings, including one named after the assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
Supporters who had attacked President Biden over allegations involving his son's business dealings largely remained silent, speaking out of both sides of their mouths and seemingly unsure how to respond. It was, in my view, a global and domestic disaster unfolding live on television for the entire world to witness.