“Americans no longer understand what Washington wants” – Kommersant FM

Donald Trump will handle international crises better. A Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll found that US residents consider the 45th president to be their preferred candidate when it comes to foreign policy. Respondents were asked which of the contenders for the post of head of the White House in 2024 would be able to resolve three international problems: tensions between the United States and China, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the war between Israel and Hamas. On each issue, the Republican was able to get ahead of his opponent Joe Biden. Kommersant FM columnist Mikhail Gurevich believes that foreign policy remains the weak point of the current US president.

If Biden loses the 2024 election, the main reasons for the fiasco will be Afghanistan, Ukraine and Israel. It is believed that Americans, when voting for a presidential candidate, first of all pay attention to their own pockets. If it is crowded with banknotes, then the current president is almost guaranteed to remain for the second term. Although there are exceptions. For most of Trump’s term, the American economy was doing great, but COVID-19 happened, and the president’s controversial approach took precedence over everything else.

Biden also seems to be doing well with the economy. The country has a minimal unemployment rate, and even inflation is no longer a serious concern. Although there are also negative signs. In August, Fitch cut the US credit rating from triple A to AA+. In their justification, experts cited a high debt burden and expectations of a worsening fiscal situation over the next three years. Last weekend, Moody’s changed its outlook from “stable” to “negative”, while leaving the highest level – triple A.

But still, it is not these macroeconomic indicators that Americans care about today. Judging by the data of sociologists, much more attention in the United States is paid to Biden’s age and health, as well as to his unclear international policy. In fact, throughout the years of his presidency he has been trying to eclipse the shameful footage of the evacuation of American troops from Kabul.

It was believed that Ukraine’s support would give the Democratic leader the image of a decisive and consistent freedom fighter. But for almost two years, Americans have been at a loss. They no longer understand what Washington wants: to really help Ukraine or just keep it afloat, keeping the military conflict in Eastern Europe on low flame?

If the latter, then where do such significant budget allocations go? And why does assistance to Kyiv finance the purchase of grain for third countries or teaching English to all refugees in the United States? It turned out even more interesting with Israel. Having supported Israel at the beginning of the war, Biden is already starting to back away and almost loudly calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a humanitarian ceasefire.

As a result, pro-Israeli voters do not go to him, and the far left, on the contrary, turn away. The latest polls show Biden trailing Trump in six swing states. It was in those where victory three years ago secured him the top post.

This situation could lead to the emergence of additional candidates, primarily from the liberal side. They, of course, will not win the elections, but they will take votes away from the Democrats. Traditionally, Republican supporters are much more conservative in this regard, and even if they do not sympathize with Trump, at hour X they will give him their vote.

But this will happen in a year. Provided that in the remaining time, Joe Biden is unable to bring at least one of his international projects to victory. And at the same time, show yourself as a person not only in words, but also in deeds.

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