Disclaimer: As requested by those interviewed, names and personal identifiers will not be disclosed in this article.
Although the memory of the 2020 Presidential Inauguration seems fresh in the minds of Americans, it has already been over a month since President Joseph R. Biden took office. His one-hundredth day is steadily inching closer, set for April 30th.
During his campaign, Biden made a bevy of promises not limited to a quick vaccine rollout, better healthcare options, an overhaul of the immigration system, new policies to combat climate change, and official administrative projects to promote racial equity.
Is he successfully fulfilling his promises? And if not, what could he be doing better?
Skidmore students answered these questions and shared their thoughts on the matter; those from many parts of the political spectrum voiced their opinions. Beliefs varied between praise and disappointment in Biden’s job thus far.
“It’s really disheartening,” a freshman says, not fond of how Biden has been running the administration thus far. “We need to hold Biden responsible.” He argues that liberal voters were so relieved that Biden was elected that they forgot to hold him accountable past the inauguration. Accountability for officials in power is essential to a functioning democracy; it makes sure that the voice of the people is properly heard.
Some would argue that the word ‘relieved’ doesn’t do justice to the feeling supporters had when Biden was elected. Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, promised a breath of fresh air and a respite from Trumpian politics. Many have referred to them as a calming force amidst the turmoil of a pandemic and the resulting economic fallout.
“I’m honestly a fan,” a student comments. “I think he’s good at keeping people calm, especially with COVID-19 and all the panic.”
A calming nature is a boon for some and boring for others, however. “He’s honestly pretty uncontroversial,” a sophomore states. She feels that at some times, Biden presents a non-dynamic and slow nature. “I can’t imagine him doing much of anything interesting one way or another. His commitment to environmentalism is fantastic, but I don’t have many strong opinions on anything else except ‘thank god he isn’t Trump.’”
Among the other students who commented are the undecided; they are waiting to see how Biden’s administration affects the country and how history will unfold. “I honestly don’t know yet,” a student admits. She concludes that Biden’s demure and slow nature might not inspire faith in him as a leader. “I want to give him a chance before I jump to conclusions. He seems like a good man at heart, but I don’t know if he’s a leader at heart.”
Biden and Harris made history upon their nomination; Biden is the oldest President in United States history, and Harris is the first Black and Asian-American woman to be elected vice president.
Making history, however, did not seem to sway the opinions of all. “Most people voted for Biden because he had the best chance against Trump, not because they actually like him,” a junior offered. There is not much extensive evidence to support or deny this claim, but this sentiment is not aberrant; it has been echoed among outspoken students around the country.
Another student takes no issue in the way Biden was elected but rather with his current actions. “He’s passed too many executive orders,” states a sophomore. “The past couple of presidents have started a bad trend with that.”
Biden has indeed overachieved when it comes to executive orders. He signed seventeen executive orders in his first two days and has continued to sign since then. He has signed more executive orders in the last month than any previous U.S. President. These include rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization, rescinding the Trump administration’s Muslim immigration ban, and relief for social and health workers among the COVID-19 pandemic.
While these orders are commendable, not all of Biden’s actions have been peaches and roses. His relationship with the deportation of migrants has been mentioned on major news networks with concern. In his campaign, Biden promised zero deportations during his first one-hundred days. Despite this promise, I.C.E. has deported over 26,000 immigrants since he took office, according to news reports and federal data. This is, perhaps, an example where the previously mentioned accountability comes into play.
Public outrage is displayed through these statistics, but some students have a contradicting opinion. “The deportation stuff is pretty bad,” a student admits, “but every President has deported people. Biden’s really no different. Even Obama deported people.”
And then, there are the hotly contested recent airstrikes in Syria. On February 15, an Iranian-backed militia attacked an American airport in Iraq with rockets. The rockets were launched over the Syrian border into Iraq so that the militia could avoid implicating the Iraqi government. One Filipino contractor was killed, and six were wounded. In retaliation, the Biden administration ordered an airstrike against the militia’s base in Syria.
Some at the College support the airstrike while others believe it was not necessary. One Skidmore student supports the former. “I know that this is an unpopular opinion,” she started, “but I think Biden was right to call in the airstrikes. Terrorist militias can’t attack our servicemen and get away with it.” It is worth noting Biden initially planned to commence a second airstrike but stopped the plan when women and children were discovered in the vicinity.
Of most recent note, on March 10th, Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package passed through the House. He will sign the bill into effect later this week. Polls indicate that 76% of Americans support the bill, and 60% of Republicans support it as well. Despite this, almost no Republican representatives approved the bill.
We have yet to see what Biden makes of his Presidency in the future. He has inherited a pandemic, high unemployment rates, a shaky economy, and racial reckonings in American society. Hindsight is 20/20, and only the passage of time will determine how the American people and the world eventually view him.