President Joe Biden’s image on the world stage took a hit well before his decision to end his 2024 reelection campaign. That decision, pushed by fellow Democrats after months of declining support, followed growing concerns about his leadership—especially when it came to foreign policy.
A recent discussion on CNN highlighted just how deep those concerns go. Political commentator Scott Jennings and former Biden campaign aide Ashley Allison appeared on a segment reacting to comments by Democratic Representative Seth Moulton. Moulton claimed former President Donald Trump had a “bromance” with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But the conversation quickly turned toward Biden’s relationship—or lack thereof—with China.
Jennings said Chinese officials told U.S. representatives that during Biden’s presidency, they felt they could ignore the United States. According to Jennings, the Chinese believed Biden was too weak to enforce agreements or push back. Jennings argued that China only returned to the negotiating table after Trump returned to the scene with a tougher stance.
He pointed to Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, who has been involved in recent trade talks with China. Jennings said Bessent was told directly by Chinese officials that they didn’t feel the need to honor trade agreements during Biden’s term. Now, under Trump, that attitude appears to be shifting. Talks are back on, and China has agreed to a 90-day pause on tariffs while both countries work toward a new long-term deal.
Bessent echoed these points in a recent interview on Bloomberg Surveillance. He said that under Trump, a strong trade deal had been created in 2020. But when Biden took office, that deal wasn’t enforced, and China didn’t feel pressured to comply. Bessent said that things are now improving because the new administration is taking a tougher approach.
Back on CNN, the conversation between Jennings and Allison grew tense. Allison pushed back, saying that constantly bringing up Biden was a distraction. She said it was a sign that Jennings’ arguments weren’t strong on their own. Jennings responded that the criticism of Biden wasn’t coming from him—it was coming from the Chinese themselves.
Trump recently announced the 90-day tariff pause as a step toward a bigger agreement. Supporters say this is a win for Trump and a sign that the U.S. is back to playing a stronger role in trade talks.
Meanwhile, the fallout from Biden’s time in office continues to be debated. His decision to step aside in the 2024 race has sparked even more discussion about how his leadership affected both domestic politics and international relations. As Vice President Kamala Harris takes over as the Democratic nominee, she faces the challenge of redefining the party’s position on key issues—including how to deal with China.
The ongoing trade talks and political reactions show how deeply foreign policy and leadership style are shaping the 2024 race. With Trump back in the spotlight, and Harris stepping up, the contrast between the two visions for America’s role in the world is becoming clearer.
