NATO and U.S. flags are seen before a news conference at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium April 14, 2021. Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Joe Biden’s uncertain performance in the recent U.S. presidential debate elicited strong global reactions on Friday, leading to public calls for him to step aside and possibly causing some of America’s closest allies to brace for Donald Trump’s potential return.
Supporters of Biden had hoped that Thursday’s debate would allay concerns about his age and capability, but footage of the president appearing hoarse and stumbling over his words gave a boost to Trump, according to politicians, analysts, and investors. Global newspapers were also critical, with France’s Le Monde likening Biden to a shipwreck, Britain’s left-leaning Daily Mirror calling his performance a “gaffe-strewn nightmare,” Germany’s Bild publishing “Good night, Joe!” and the Sydney Morning Herald stating “Trump monstered Biden. The Democrats can’t win with Joe.”
“Joe Biden can’t do it,” remarked Matteo Renzi, a centrist and former Italian prime minister, on X (formerly Twitter). Renzi added that Biden had served the United States with honor but did not deserve an inglorious end to his career. “Changing horses is a duty for everyone,” he stated.
In Asia, key U.S. allies Japan and South Korea had previously experienced strained relations with the Trump administration due to demands for increased payments for military assistance and trade tensions. Some countries, including Japan and Germany, have begun preparing for a possible Trump return as his campaign gains momentum. “Mr. Trump didn’t win, but Mr. Biden might have imploded,” said Kunihiko Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat and now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies.
Peter Lee, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, expects Trump to be “very tough” on allies regarding defense spending in a potential second term. During his presidency, Trump initiated a tariff war with China and suggested tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods if he wins the November 5 election. Lee Jae-il, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, noted that overseas firms dependent on U.S. markets would be wary of Trump’s potential return due to the “myriad” tariff-related policies he implemented during his previous term. Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul, suggested that Trump might impose tariffs on other countries as well under the concept of American exceptionalism.
In Europe, Trump’s previous criticisms of NATO and demands for higher contributions from member states remain a concern, especially as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. “American democracy killed before our eyes by gerontocracy!” exclaimed Guy Verhofstadt, a European parliament member and former Belgian prime minister, who shared images of Biden and Trump on X.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously supported Biden’s re-election prospects, but a senior defense figure in his ruling coalition criticized Biden’s performance and urged Democrats to select a different candidate. “The fact that a man like Trump could become president again because the Democrats are unable to put up a strong candidate against him would be a historic tragedy that the whole world would feel,” stated Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of the liberal FDP party in an interview with the Rheinische Post.
A spokesperson for Scholz did not comment on the debate but affirmed that the chancellor valued Biden highly and had never spoken to Trump due to the non-overlapping terms. During the debate, Trump accused Biden of not standing up to China on trade and claimed that China’s Xi Jinping, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin “don’t respect” Biden, suggesting he was leading the country “into World War Three.” Biden countered that Trump’s tariff proposals would increase costs for American consumers and accused Trump of being overly friendly with leaders like Kim and Putin.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the debate, calling it an internal U.S. matter. Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labour Party, which is leading in polls ahead of a July 4 election, said that Britain’s relationship with the U.S. is strong and “above the individuals.”
In Sydney, Australian officials and experts attending a workshop titled “Trump 2.0” expressed concern following the debate. “The overwhelming feeling from today is that it was a disaster for Biden,” stated Peter Dean, a professor at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney. “The mood has changed considerably after the debate, and the general view is that if you weren’t preparing for a Trump 2.0, then that is the smart play and the smart move now.”
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