President Joe Biden comes out swinging
President Joe Biden isn’t just the leader of a democracy—he’s one of its biggest promoters. Unlike Donald Trump, who is now the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Biden doesn’t pour his energies into ranting about despotic fantasies while threatening to destroy our shining democratic example. On the contrary, Biden uses his position as President of the United States to support and strengthen democracy around the world.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken just led a delegation to Seoul for the third annual Summit for Democracy. First held online due to the pandemic in 2021, Biden launched this initiative to fulfill a campaign promise. Over 100 nations participated, making over 750 commitments in a range of areas including respecting the rule of law, championing freedom of the press, combatting the misuse of technology, and more. Now held fully in person, the Summit also includes diverse voices from the public and private sector.
At the third Summit, the United States’ leadership in this field was on full display. Blinken’s delegation showcased the meaningful and substantial steps the United States has taken toward increasing democratic resilience, respect for human rights, and good government on a global scale.
For example, the State Department launched two programs to protect journalists against violence and strengthen accountability. Also, just this month, the Treasury Department levied “unprecedented” financial sanctions against five commercial spyware entities, marking the first time the U.S. government sanctioned entities involved in the misuse of this technology.
A new White House Fact Sheet released on Wednesday details the full extent of the Biden administration’s commitment to democratic renewal as presented at the third Summit. It also highlights the fact that the Biden administration secured nearly $6 billion in Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) foreign assistance for 2022 and 2023 and plans to offer another $6 billion over the next two years.
A second Trump presidency would no doubt halt the flow of these funds, impede the progress being made to strengthen global democracy, and turn the United States into a mockery of the very ideals behind the Summit. A win for Biden this November is not just about elevating a person, a party, or even a set of policies. If we want democracy at home and wish to see it grow stronger abroad, keeping Trump out of the White House is critical.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month