Biden's Global Stature Shines Amidst Growing Domestic Challenges

President Joe Biden is facing a multitude of economic, political, and personal obstacles on the domestic front as he heads to New York City with the aim of advocating for American leadership on the global stage. The White House is currently dealing with an autoworkers strike, despite Biden's previous prediction that it would not occur. Additionally, Biden's Republican detractors in the House have initiated an impeachment inquiry. As gas prices continue to rise, the administration is adopting a cautious approach. Furthermore, Biden's son has recently been indicted on federal charges, and there is a looming possibility of a government shutdown by the end of the month as Congress moves forward.

As the president attends meetings with world leaders in New York City, he is sending two high-ranking officials, Julie Su (acting Labor Secretary) and Gene Sperling (White House senior adviser), to Detroit. The visit is scheduled for early in the week, as confirmed by an administration official. Their purpose in Detroit is to have face-to-face discussions with the leaders of the United Auto Workers and the Big Three automakers (Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis). Up until now, Su, Sperling, and the president have communicated with the parties involved through phone interactions, including in the hours leading up to the strike. It is emphasized that the White House representatives will be in Detroit to offer support rather than to intervene.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan stated on CBS "Face the Nation" that she does not believe the president should interfere or be present in the negotiations. Dingell communicates with Gene Sperling frequently throughout the summer and does not believe the president has a role to play at the negotiating table. Dingell emphasizes that policymakers and other stakeholders need to fully comprehend the issues and contribute to the discussions in order to lend support.

This impasse poses both economic and political challenges for the president. Uncertainty lingers regarding the strike's potential impact on the economy, including how supply firms collaborating with auto companies may be affected. Meanwhile, President Biden continues to work on persuading Americans that the economy is stable, despite recent polls indicating that a majority of Americans believe his policies have exacerbated economic conditions.

The president's reputation as a supporter of unions is facing its toughest challenge yet. Despite Biden publicly backing the striking workers, the union has refrained from endorsing him, and its confrontational leader has criticized the White House, calling it "afraid." UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized that their endorsements must be earned, stressing the need for tangible actions rather than mere words.

A litany of challenges

The autoworkers strike is just one of the fresh challenges facing Biden as he enters a busy stretch of official and political events.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's announcement of an impeachment inquiry last week did not come as a surprise to the president, but it left him appearing "exasperated" according to a source close to him. Adding to his personal woes, just two days later, as he was getting ready for an important economic address, his son Hunter Biden was indicted on federal gun charges and could potentially face tax charges in the near future.

In the midst of these intense personal and political challenges, Biden is taking a focused approach, continuing with his plans despite the increasing difficulties he faces in his reelection campaign.

The president and his family have not been unaffected by the setbacks.

Biden's sons indictment, although anticipated, signifies the progression of a troubled chapter that the Bidens had hoped would come to a close. The scrutiny on Bidens family, which also encompasses the impeachment inquiry, has been a burden for the president. Despite maintaining his focus on domestic and foreign matters, there have been instances where Biden has exhibited emotional exhaustion in private, as he continues to worry about his sons' welfare. The unexpected demise of Hunters plea deal earlier this summer caught the president off guard, according to an individual familiar with the situation.

Biden keeps his head down

In the face of mounting doubts about the rationale behind Biden's pursuit of a second term, the president's team has fiercely defended his decision. Last week, when asked about calls for him to step aside, Biden chose to remain silent and focus on his meeting in the Cabinet Room, dedicated to finding solutions to combat cancer.

This incident mirrors Biden's established approach when navigating challenging times: Stick to the predetermined strategy and strive to ignore any diversions.

As he remains in New York, this will persist. His itinerary encompasses a speech delivery to the assembly on Tuesday, meetings with nine world leaders, hosting a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and attending four campaign fundraisers. Notably, one of the fundraisers will take place on Broadway, featuring renowned performers.

Later in the week, Biden will return to Washington for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky has come to town, partly with the aim of persuading Republican lawmakers to endorse more aid.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan assured on Friday that it is not necessary to solely rely on his statement. Instead, he emphasized that the American people directly heard from the president himself, expressing his unwavering commitment to addressing their needs. During the presidential daily briefing held on Friday morning, Sullivan conveyed that President Biden is fully engaged, devoting his attention to crucial matters, rather than being preoccupied with his son's legal concerns or the impending threats of impeachment from Republicans. Furthermore, Sullivan highlighted that Biden's focus remains steadfast as he confronts and navigates the challenges ahead in the upcoming week in New York.

"That's his main focus," he stated. "His mindset is entirely on that."

Biden has made extensive efforts to separate his family's personal difficulties from his presidential responsibilities, and his team at the White House refrains from publicly addressing them. Even in private, conversations about political tactics concerning Hunter Biden are mostly avoided, due to the president's sensitivity towards the issue.

Some Democrats find this situation to be frustrating. Several individuals expressed to CNN recently their desire for a more coherent plan to counter the GOP's accusations towards the president's son.

During a conversation on Wednesday evening, Biden informed Democratic contributors in Northern Virginia that his main priority was his work, rather than the Republican-led impeachment inquiry.

"So listen, listen, the task at hand is mine to fulfill. People frequently inquire about impeachment, but I want you to know that each morning, it's not a jest, my mind is fixed on matters other than impeachment. My responsibility lies in addressing the concerns that impact the citizens of America on a daily basis,"

White House tries to compartmentalize

All presidents face challenging periods, with some becoming fully engrossed in their efforts to change direction. Former President Donald Trump even admitted that his initial impeachment "likely" diverted his attention from early Covid-19 containment measures.

In response to McCarthy's impeachment inquiry, the Biden administration has taken a compartmentalized approach, isolating it from their ongoing governmental responsibilities. This strategy involves assembling a group of twenty-four lawyers, legislative staff, and communication advisors dedicated specifically to counter any potential impeachment proceedings while the rest of the staff concentrates on their usual daily tasks.

The White House launched a more purposeful campaign on Monday to highlight the contrasting approaches of Biden's governance with what they perceive as Republican tactics.

"Over the past week, we have witnessed a clear divergence in priorities. On one hand, we have President Biden, who is dedicated to delivering for the American people. On the other hand, we have extreme congressional Republicans whose agenda consists of a reckless and partisan checklist influenced by far-right ideologues within their ranks," stated a White House representative. The representative pointed out that one of these divergences is evident this week as the president gets ready to showcase America's global leadership on the international stage, while House Republicans are in disagreement regarding the way forward for the defense spending bill.

Biden is familiar with the fluctuations of the political pendulum. Despite initially being dismissed as a candidate in early 2020 and facing skepticism about the passing of his legislative objectives, the president and his team are at ease when it comes to overcoming short-term obstacles.

Similarly, Biden is no stranger to facing criticism targeting his family. He has shared with donors his contemplation of the potential impact on his family of running in 2020, but ultimately, he was convinced by one of his grandchildren.

"Being born into a family of influential political figures, such as senators, vice presidents, or presidents, is often regarded as a privilege. However, there are numerous drawbacks that come along with it," he mentioned during a fundraising event in June, shortly before his son's plea agreement for tax and gun offenses fell apart amidst a dramatic courtroom session.