In a rather jaw-dropping display of priorities, President Joe Biden has recently announced a whopping $1 billion in humanitarian aid aimed at assisting Africans displaced by droughts and food insecurity. While this announcement sounds noble and compassionate on the surface, many Americans are left scratching their heads at the timing and destination of such aid. With pressing issues right in his backyard—from struggling families in Asheville, North Carolina, to the lingering aftermath of natural disasters in places like Maui and East Palestine—the focus on faraway Angola raises eyebrows and concerns about the administration’s commitment to its own citizens.
As Biden embarks on what some have dubbed his “lame duck” tour, he has managed yet again to spark frustration among conservatives who feel that the President has lost sight of what it means to put America first. People across the country are grappling with issues like unemployment, food prices rising faster than a balloon at a birthday party, and communities still trying to recover from disasters. Yet, here he is, alighting in Africa to unveil a monetary gift that many feel should be better spent at home. After all, when the cold weather bites, it’s clear that Americans would much rather see their tax dollars allocated to struggling communities rather than foreign nations.
Critics are pointing to the president’s track record as further evidence that it’s not just about foreign humanitarian initiatives. Underneath the dust of political rhetoric lies the reality of how the Biden family handles their own affairs. Just days before jetting off on his charitable mission, Biden had pardoned his son Hunter, who faced scrutiny for a litany of personal issues including drug and gun offenses that would certainly have led a common citizen down a very different road—one paved with hefty legal consequences. This seems to illuminate a stark double standard where being a Biden grants you a VIP pass out of accountability—a sentiment many Americans are not pleased about.
Enthusiasts of good governance (and fair play) are venting their frustrations about this preferential treatment. When Biden declared that laws he had a hand in crafting are not applicable to the family members who have fallen afoul of them, the message is loud and clear: rules are only for the average American. The irony isn’t lost on folks that the very same man who once lectured Americans about accountability and consequences for drug offenses is now engaging in a family favor that some see as hypocritical. If anything, it comes across as the old boys’ club operating unchecked inside the White House.
While Biden and the Democratic Party might fancy themselves champions of moral superiority, they have certainly become experts at sidestepping accountability. The idea of “Biden First” has taken root deeply in the hearts of many, leading them to wonder if the administration has actually forgotten the fundamental principle of serving the American people. If the president’s excursion to Africa is any indication of his priorities, it leaves much to be desired. The hope among the frustrated citizens is that soon they will see a return of focus on the issues that face them directly, reaffirming the promise of America first.
With growing unrest among constituents and deepening concerns about how taxpayer dollars are utilized, voters are making it clear: they want leaders who prioritize American lives above all else. It is time for an administration that directs its attention inward to heal, rebuild, and nurture the communities that need it most. After all, a country that takes care of its own is one that can extend goodwill elsewhere, and it is high time the Biden administration reflects on that while crafting their next set of policies.
