Joe Biden Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Presidency (2021–present) == {{Main|Presidency of Joe Biden}} {{For timeline|Timeline of the Joe Biden presidency}} [[File:President Biden taking oath of office (cropped).png|thumb|222px|Biden takes [[Oath of office of the President of the United States|the oath of office]] administered by [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts|John G. Roberts Jr.]] at [[United States Capitol|the Capitol]], January 20, 2021.|alt=Photo of Biden raising his right hand, with his left hand placed on a thick Bible]] === Inauguration === {{Main|Inauguration of Joe Biden}} Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.<ref name="hunnicutt">{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-inauguration/assuming-u-s-presidency-biden-tells-divided-nation-democracy-has-prevailed-idUSKBN29P0HG|title=Taking helm of divided nation, U.S. President Biden calls for end to 'uncivil war'|date=January 20, 2021|last1=Hunnicutt|first1=Trevor|last2=Zengerle|first2=Patricia|last3=Renshaw|first3=Jarrett|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=January 20, 2021|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120171341/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-inauguration/assuming-u-s-presidency-biden-tells-divided-nation-democracy-has-prevailed-idUSKBN29P0HG|url-status=live}}</ref> At 78, he is the oldest person to have assumed the office.<ref name="hunnicutt" /> He is the second [[Catholic]] president (after [[John F. Kennedy]])<ref>{{cite web|date=January 19, 2021|title=Biden to become the second Catholic president in U.S. history, after JFK|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/biden-to-become-the-second-catholic-president-in-u-s-history-after-jfk-99673157918|access-date=January 20, 2021|publisher=[[NBC News]]|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119212606/https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/biden-to-become-the-second-catholic-president-in-u-s-history-after-jfk-99673157918|url-status=live}}</ref> and the first president whose home state is [[Delaware]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cormier|first1=Ryan|last2=Talorico|first2=Patricia|date=November 7, 2020|title=Delaware history is made: The First State gets its first president in Joe Biden|url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/07/one-us-delaware-pride-soars-biden-makes-history/6121243002/|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=[[The News Journal]]|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108021346/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/07/one-us-delaware-pride-soars-biden-makes-history/6121243002/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is also the first man since [[George H. W. Bush]] to have been both vice president and president, and the second non-incumbent vice president (after [[Richard Nixon]] in [[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]) to be elected president.<ref name="Azari">{{#invoke:cite news||last=Azari|first=Julia|date=August 20, 2020|title=Biden Had To Fight For The Presidential Nomination. But Most VPs Have To.|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-had-to-fight-for-the-presidential-nomination-but-most-vps-have-to/|url-status=live|access-date=August 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190453/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-had-to-fight-for-the-presidential-nomination-but-most-vps-have-to/|archive-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> He is also the first president from the [[Silent Generation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b66a24e4-5eea-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=August 26, 2021|title=At long last, the silent generation's hour has come|website=[[Financial Times]]|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126034429/https://www.ft.com/content/b66a24e4-5eea-11ea-b0ab-339c2307bcd4|url-status=live}}</ref> Biden's inauguration was "a muted affair unlike any previous inauguration" due to COVID-19 precautions as well as massively increased security measures because of the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]]. Trump did not attend, becoming the first outgoing president since [[First inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant|1869]] to not attend his successor's inauguration.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/why-joe-biden-swearing-in-will-be-muted-affair-unlike-previous-inaugurations-2353966|title=Masked Crowd, No Trump: Why Biden Inauguration Will Be Like No Other|date=January 18, 2021|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|publisher=[[NDTV]]|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref> === First 100 days === {{See also|First 100 days of Joe Biden's presidency}} In his first two days as president, Biden signed 17 executive orders. By his third day, orders had included rejoining the [[Paris Climate Agreement]], ending the state of national emergency at the [[Mexico–United States border|border with Mexico]], directing the government to rejoin the [[World Health Organization]], [[100 Days Masking Challenge|face mask requirements]] on [[Federal lands|federal property]], measures to combat [[hunger in the United States]],<ref>{{cite web |first1=Ricardo |last1=Alonso-Zaldivar |first2=Ellen |last2=Knickmeyer |first3=Ben |last3=Fox |first4=Elliot |last4=Spagat |first5=Matt |last5=Lee |first6=Josh |last6=Boak |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Biden's first act: Orders on pandemic, climate, immigration |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executive-orders-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120230130/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executive-orders-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=January 21, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Erikson |first=Bo |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Biden signs executive actions on COVID, climate change, immigration and more |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120233631/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=January 21, 2021 |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Joe Biden is taking executive action at a record pace |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/01/22/joe-biden-is-taking-executive-action-at-a-record-pace |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124002448/https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/01/22/joe-biden-is-taking-executive-action-at-a-record-pace |archive-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cassella |first=Megan |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Biden signs executive orders aimed at combating hunger, protecting workers |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/biden-executive-orders-hunger-workers-461270 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122112210/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/biden-executive-orders-hunger-workers-461270 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref> and revoking permits for the construction of the [[Keystone XL pipeline]].<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Allassan|first1=Fadel|first2=Ursula|last2=Perano|date=January 20, 2021|title=Biden will issue executive order to rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit|url=https://www.axios.com/biden-keystone-pipeline-9ffcedfb-42c1-4778-8183-27d858f0c966.html|work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last=Massie|first=Graeme|date=January 23, 2021|title=Canada's Trudeau 'disappointed' with Biden order to cancel Keystone pipeline|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trudeau-biden-keystone-xl-pipeline-b1791756.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trudeau-biden-keystone-xl-pipeline-b1791756.html|archive-date=June 9, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Nickel|first1=Rod|last2=Volcovici|first2=Valerie|date=January 21, 2021|title=TC Energy cuts jobs as Keystone pipeline nixed, but markets start to move on|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-keystone-idUSKBN29Q1T8|access-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref> [[File:P20210720AS-3425-2 (51417135942).jpg|thumb|Biden with his [[Cabinet of Joe Biden|Cabinet]], July 2021|alt=Group photo of Biden, Harris and cabinet members standing outdoors]] On March 11, the first anniversary of COVID-19 having been declared a global pandemic by the [[World Health Organization]], Biden signed into law the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]], a $1.9 trillion [[Stimulus (economics)|economic stimulus]] and relief package that he had proposed to support the United States' recovery from the [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|economic]] and health effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 11, 2021 |title=H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313014919/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref> The package included direct payments to most Americans, an extension of increased unemployment benefits, funds for vaccine distribution and school reopenings, and expansions of health insurance subsidies and the [[Child tax credit (United States)|child tax credit]]. Biden's initial proposal included an increase of the [[Minimum wage in the United States|federal minimum wage]] to $15 per hour, but after the [[Parliamentarian of the United States Senate|Senate parliamentarian]] determined that including the increase in a [[budget reconciliation]] bill would violate Senate rules, Democrats declined to pursue overruling her and removed the increase from the package.<ref name="cnn.com">{{cite news |last1=Luhby |first1=Tami |last2=Lobosco |first2=Katie |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here's what's in Biden's $1.9 trillion economic rescue package |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218023132/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |archive-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news |last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |last2=Crowley |first2=Michael |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here are the highlights of Biden's $1.9 trillion 'American Rescue Plan.' |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |url-access=limited |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Thomas |date=March 7, 2021 |title=What's in the Stimulus Bill? A Guide to Where the $1.9 Trillion Is Going |website=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Also in March, amid [[Mexico–United States border crisis|a rise in migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico]], Biden told migrants, "Don't come over." In the meantime, migrant adults "are being sent back", Biden said, in reference to the continuation of the Trump administration's Title 42 policy for quick deportations.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Biden administration faces pressure on immigration amid influx |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/17/biden-administration-faces-pressure-on-immigration-amid-surge |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319221757/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/17/biden-administration-faces-pressure-on-immigration-amid-surge |archive-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref> Biden earlier announced that his administration would not deport unaccompanied migrant children; the rise in arrivals of such children exceeded the capacity of facilities meant to shelter them (before they were sent to sponsors), leading the Biden administration in March to direct the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] to help.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Miroff |first1=Nick |date=March 13, 2021|title=Biden will deploy FEMA to care for teenagers and children crossing border in record numbers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fema-border-unaccompanied-minors/2021/03/13/738366a4-8455-11eb-bb5a-ad9a91faa4ef_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref> On April 14, Biden announced that the United States [[2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan|would delay the withdrawal of all troops]] from the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]] until September 11, signaling an end to the country's direct military involvement in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Biden, Setting Afghanistan Withdrawal, Says 'It Is Time to End the Forever War' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html|archive-date=December 28, 2021|url-access=limited |work=[[The New York Times]]|issn=0362-4331|access-date=April 23, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In February 2020, the Trump administration had [[Doha Agreement (2020)|made a deal]] with the Taliban to completely withdraw U.S. forces by May 1, 2021.<ref name="images">{{cite news |last1=E. Sanger |first1=David |date=August 15, 2021 |title=For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816031133/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |archive-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Biden's decision met with a wide range of reactions, from support and relief to trepidation at the possible collapse of the Afghan government without American support.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wadington |first=Katie |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Afghanistan withdrawal draws strong Capitol Hill reactions, making some strange alliances |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422144959/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> On April 22–23, Biden held an [[2021 Leaders' Climate Summit|international climate summit]] at which he announced that the U.S. would cut its [[greenhouse gas emissions]] by 50%–52% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Other countries also increased their pledges.<ref>{{cite press release |title=New momentum reduces emissions gap, but huge gap remains – analysis |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/press/new-momentum-reduces-emissions-gap-but-huge-gap-remains-analysis/ |work=Carbon Action Tracker |publisher=climateactiontracker.org |date=April 23, 2021 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426182048/https://climateactiontracker.org/press/new-momentum-reduces-emissions-gap-but-huge-gap-remains-analysis/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Here's what countries pledged on climate change at Biden's global summit |publisher=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429043848/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |archive-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> On April 28, the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden delivered his [[2021 Joe Biden speech to a joint session of Congress|first address to a joint session of Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |last2=Boak |first2=Josh |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Biden to the nation and world: 'America is rising anew' |url=https://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429023533/http://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2021 |website=[[Star Tribune]]}}</ref> === Domestic policy === On June 17, Biden signed the [[Juneteenth National Independence Day Act]], which officially declared [[Juneteenth]] a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2021 |title=Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday Off for Juneteenth |url=https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2021/06/most-federal-employees-will-receive-friday-juneteenth/174796/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618055747/https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2021/06/most-federal-employees-will-receive-friday-juneteenth/174796/ |archive-date=June 18, 2021 |access-date=June 17, 2021 |website=[[Government Executive]]}}</ref> Juneteenth is the first new federal holiday since 1986.<ref>{{#invoke:cite news||url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-juneteenth-holiday-bill-sign/ |title=Biden signs bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |last2=Quinn |first2=Melissa |date=June 18, 2021 |work=[[CBS News]] |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref> In July 2021, amid a slowing of [[COVID-19 vaccination in the United States|the COVID-19 vaccination rate in the country]] and the spread of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant]], Biden said that the country has "a pandemic for those who haven't gotten the vaccination" and that it was therefore "gigantically important" for Americans to be vaccinated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaffe |first1=Alexandra |last2=Madhani |first2=Aamer |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Biden says getting COVID-19 vaccine 'gigantically important' |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-07-22/biden-says-getting-vaccinated-gigantically-important |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826071814/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-07-22/biden-says-getting-vaccinated-gigantically-important |archive-date=August 26, 2021}}</ref> ==== Economy ==== [[File:Inflation rate, United States and eurozone, January 2018 through June 2023.png|thumb|330px|Inflation rate, United States and eurozone, January 2018 through June 2023]] {{Main|Economic policy of the Joe Biden administration}} Biden entered office nine months into a recovery from the [[COVID-19 recession]] and his first year in office was characterized by robust growth in real GDP, employment, wages and stock market returns, amid [[2021–2022 inflation surge|significantly elevated inflation]]. Real GDP grew 5.9%, the fastest rate in 37 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mutikani |first1=Lucia |date=September 29, 2022 |title=U.S. economic growth revised up; gap between GDP and GDI narrows sharply |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-economic-growth-revised-up-gap-between-gdp-gdi-narrows-sharply-2022-09-29/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tappe |first1=Anneken |date=January 27, 2022 |title=The US economy grew at the fastest rate in 2021 since the Reagan administration |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/economy/us-fourth-quarter-2021-gdp/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127201057/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/economy/us-fourth-quarter-2021-gdp/index.html |archive-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> Amid record job creation, the unemployment rate fell at the fastest pace on record during the year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mutikani |first1=Lucia |date=January 7, 2022 |title=U.S. labor market eyes maximum employment despite underwhelming December payrolls |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-employment-growth-misses-expectations-unemployment-rate-falls-39-2022-01-07/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121221243/http://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-employment-growth-misses-expectations-unemployment-rate-falls-39-2022-01-07/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pickert |first1=Reade |date=January 7, 2022 |title=U.S. Sees Record Job Growth in 2021 After Millions Lost in 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-07/u-s-sees-record-job-growth-in-2021-after-millions-lost-in-2020 |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129065310/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-07/u-s-sees-record-job-growth-in-2021-after-millions-lost-in-2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PAYEMS|title=All Employees, Total Nonfarm|publisher=fred.stlouisfed.org|access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref> By the end of 2021, inflation reached a nearly 40-year high of 7.1%, which was partially offset by the highest nominal wage and salary growth in at least 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rubin |first1=Gabriel T. |date=January 28, 2022 |title=U.S. Wages, Benefits Rose at Two-Decade High as Inflation Picked Up |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-employers-labor-costs-inflation-11643331612 |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130032502/https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-employers-labor-costs-inflation-11643331612 |archive-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smialek |first1=Jeanna |last2=Casselman |first2=Ben |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Inflation Continued to Run Hot and Consumer Spending Fell in December |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/business/pce-inflation-federal-reserve.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128134006/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/business/pce-inflation-federal-reserve.html |archive-date=January 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Iacurci |first1=Greg |date=January 31, 2022 |title=Wage growth may be slowing from 'breakneck' pace |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/wage-growth-may-be-slowing-from-breakneck-pace.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203205842/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/wage-growth-may-be-slowing-from-breakneck-pace.html |archive-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Graffeo |first1=Emily |last2=Wang |first2=Lu |date=November 3, 2021 |title=S&P 500 Is Up 37% Since Biden's Election One Year Ago, Setting Presidential Record |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-03/s-p-500-notches-best-one-year-run-after-a-presidential-election |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106213451/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-03/s-p-500-notches-best-one-year-run-after-a-presidential-election |archive-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> In his third month in office, Biden signed an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour, an increase of nearly 37%. The order went into effect for 390,000 workers in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden raising minimum wage for federal contractors to $15/hr |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-raises-minimum-wage-federal-contractors-15hr-2021-04-27/ |work=[[Reuters]] |date=April 27, 2021|author1=Nandita Bose|author2=Jarrett Renshaw}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Juliana |last=Kaplan |access-date=August 14, 2023 |title=Nearly 400,000 federal contractors will get paid $15 an hour starting this weekend. Biden's labor secretary says there's 'no question' it'll cut down on labor shortages. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-contractors-15-hour-minimum-wage-could-end-labor-shortges-2022-1 |work=Business Insider |date=January 28, 2022}}</ref> Amid a surge in [[2021–2023 inflation surge|inflation]] and [[2021–present global energy crisis|high gas prices]], Biden's approval ratings declined, reaching net negative in early 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Mattingly |first2=Phil |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Biden is aiming to hit the road to reset his presidency. He starts with yet another stop in Pennsylvania. |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/politics/joe-biden-pittsburgh-trip/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204225558/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/politics/joe-biden-pittsburgh-trip/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=President Biden Job Approval |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president-biden-job-approval-7320.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124133936/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president-biden-job-approval-7320.html |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=[[RealClearPolitics]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Daniel |first=Will |date=July 18, 2022 |title=Inflation drives President Biden's economic approval rating to a record low |url=https://fortune.com/2022/07/18/inflation-president-biden-approval-rating-lower-donald-trump/ |access-date=September 13, 2022 |magazine=Fortune}}</ref> After 5.9% growth in 2021, real GDP growth cooled in 2022 to 2.1%, after slightly negative growth in the first half spurred recession concerns. Job creation and consumer spending remained strong through the year, as the unemployment rate fell to match a 53-year low of 3.5% in December. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June before easing to 3.2% by October 2023. Stocks had had their worst year since 2008<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhattarai |first1=Abha |date=January 26, 2023 |title=U.S. economy grew 2.1 percent in 2022, but recession fears linger |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/01/26/gdp-2022-q4-economy/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Jesse Pound |author2=Samantha Subin |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Stocks fall to end Wall Street's worst year since 2008, S&P 500 finishes 2022 down nearly 20% |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/29/stock-market-futures-open-to-close-news.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Iacurci |first1=Greg |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Here's the inflation breakdown for December 2022 — in one chart |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/12/heres-the-inflation-breakdown-for-december-2022-in-one-chart.html}}</ref> before recovering. Widespread predictions of an imminent recession did not materialize in 2022 or 2023, and by late 2023 indicators showed sharply lower inflation with economic acceleration. GDP growth hit 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023 and the year ended with stocks near record highs, with robust holiday spending.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=David |date=October 23, 2023 |title=The Economy Was Supposed to Slow by Now. Instead It's Revving Up. |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-economy-was-supposed-to-slow-by-now-instead-its-revving-up-3c0f7a2e |url-access=subscription |quote=Recent economic data suggest the economy is accelerating despite higher borrowing costs, the resumption of student-loan payments, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East ... Analysts, many of whom had expected a recession this year, are pushing up their forecasts ... After predicting a recession for the past year, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal this month said they now believe that the economy will avoid a downturn in the next 12 months. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122184856/https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-economy-was-supposed-to-slow-by-now-instead-its-revving-up-3c0f7a2e |archive-date=November 22, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 26, 2023 |title=GDP surged 4.9% in the third quarter, defying the Fed's rate hikes |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gdp-third-quarter-4-9-economic-growth/ |access-date=November 21, 2023 |agency=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Robust holiday shopping sends economy soaring into 2024 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/12/26/holiday-sales-retail-mastercard/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 26, 2023|first1=Rachel |last1=Siegel |first2=Aaron |last2=Gregg}}</ref> Biden signed numerous major pieces of economic legislation in the [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]], including the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021|American Rescue Plan]], [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act]], [[CHIPS and Science Act]], the [[Inflation Reduction Act]], and the [[Honoring our PACT Act of 2022|Honoring our PACT Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Dustin |title=Despite infighting, it's been a surprisingly productive 2 years for Democrats |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143149435/despite-infighting-its-been-a-surprisingly-productive-2-years-for-democrats}}</ref> Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law on August 9, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Biden signs bill to boost U.S. chips, compete with China |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/biden-sign-bill-boost-us-chips-compete-with-china-2022-08-09/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The act provides billions of dollars in new funding to boost domestic research on and manufacture of [[semiconductors]], to [[China–United States relations#Economic relations|compete economically with China]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Johnson |first=Lamar |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Biden ends slog on semiconductor bill with signature |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/09/biden-ends-slog-on-semiconductor-bill-with-signature-00050530 |access-date=August 9, 2022 |magazine=[[Politico]]}}</ref> Over the course of five days in March 2023, [[2023 banking crisis|three small- to mid-size U.S. banks failed]], triggering a sharp decline in global bank stock prices and swift response by regulators to prevent potential global [[Financial contagion|contagion]]. After [[Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank|Silicon Valley Bank collapsed]], the first to do so, Biden expressed opposition to a bailout by taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cathey |first=Libby |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Amid crisis, Biden tells Americans 'banking system is safe' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-speaks-banking-crisis/story?id=97820883 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |agency=[[ABC News]]}}</ref> He claimed that the [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act|partial rollback]] of [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act|Dodd-Frank regulations]] contributed to the bank's failure.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunnicutt |first=Trevor |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Biden vows new bank rules after SVB collapse, cites Trump rollback |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/biden-defend-us-banking-system-after-svb-signature-collapse-2023-03-13/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> At the beginning of the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]], Biden and congressional Republicans engaged in a standoff after the United States hit its [[United States debt ceiling|debt limit]], which [[2023 United States debt-ceiling crisis|raised the risk that the U.S. would default on its debt]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Diamond |first1=Jeremy |last2=Fox |first2=Lauren |last3=Zanona |first3=Melanie |last4=Mattingly |first4=Phil |last5=Saenz |first5=Arlette |last6=Liptak |first6=Kevin |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Inside a debt ceiling standoff 'far more dangerous than people will recognize' |agency=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/31/politics/biden-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-behind-the-scenes/index.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> Biden and House speaker [[Kevin McCarthy]] struck a deal to raise the debt limit, the [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]], which suspended the debt limit until January 2025. Biden signed it on June 3, averting a default.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Megerian |first1=Chris |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Biden signs debt ceiling bill that pulls US back from brink of unprecedented default |work=Associated Press News |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053 |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> The deal was generally seen as favorable to Biden.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |date=June 1, 2023 |title=The Calm Man in the Capital: Biden Lets Others Spike the Ball but Notches a Win |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/us/politics/biden-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-deal-who-won.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Biden's Debt Deal Strategy: Win in the Fine Print |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/03/us/politics/biden-debt-ceiling-deal.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> ==== Judiciary ==== {{Further|List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden}} [[File:P20220407AS-0337 (52068715434).jpg|thumb|Biden and [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]] watching the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] vote on her confirmation, April 2022|alt=Photo of Biden and Jackson looking at an off-camera television screen]] By the end of 2021, 40 of [[List of federal judges appointed by Joe Biden|Biden's appointees]] to the federal judiciary had been confirmed, more than any president in his first year in office since [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raymond |first1=Nate |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Biden finishes 2021 with most confirmed judicial picks since Reagan |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-finishes-2021-with-most-confirmed-judicial-picks-since-reagan-2021-12-28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201053907/https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-finishes-2021-with-most-confirmed-judicial-picks-since-reagan-2021-12-28/ |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Biden has prioritized diversity in his judicial appointments more than any president in U.S. history, with most of his appointees being women and people of color.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Carrie |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Biden had a productive year picking federal judges. The job could get tougher in 2022 |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204171925/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Most of his appointments have been in [[blue states]], making a limited impact since the courts in these states already generally lean liberal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mejía |first1=Elena |date=December 7, 2021 |title=How Biden Is Reshaping The Courts |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-biden-is-reshaping-the-courts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204070719/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-biden-is-reshaping-the-courts/ |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref> In January 2022, Supreme Court justice [[Stephen Breyer]], a moderate liberal nominated by [[Bill Clinton]], announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court. During his 2020 campaign, Biden vowed to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurred,<ref>{{cite web |last=Totenberg |first=Nina |date=January 26, 2022 |title=Justice Stephen Breyer, an influential liberal on the Supreme Court, to retire |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204091216/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> a promise he reiterated after Breyer announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Andrew |last2=Hurley |first2=Lawrence |last3=Holland |first3=Steve |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Biden vows to nominate Black woman to U.S. Supreme Court by end of February |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/retiring-us-justice-breyer-appear-with-biden-white-house-2022-01-27/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202194132/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/retiring-us-justice-breyer-appear-with-biden-white-house-2022-01-27/ |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |work=Reuters}}</ref> On February 25, [[Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court nomination|Biden nominated]] federal judge [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]] to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite press release |date=February 25, 2022 |title=President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/25/president-biden-nominates-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-serve-as-associate-justice-of-the-u-s-supreme-court/ |publisher=[[White House Office]] |access-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228102827/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/25/president-biden-nominates-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-serve-as-associate-justice-of-the-u-s-supreme-court/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She was confirmed by the [[U.S. Senate]] on April 7<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Sam |last2=Gonzalez |first2=Oriana |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as first Black female Supreme Court justice |url=https://www.axios.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-biden-5aaba226-c0e0-43f6-8952-a803c9c0e29c.html |access-date=April 8, 2022 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]}}</ref> and sworn in on June 30.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bustillo |first1=Ximena |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as first Black woman on the Supreme Court |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1108714345/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-oath-swearing-in |access-date=July 5, 2022 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> By November 2023, Biden had confirmed 150 federal judges, including 100 women.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Senate confirms Biden's 150th judge |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/senate-confirms-bidens-150th-judge-rcna123849 |access-date=November 21, 2023 |agency=NBC News}}</ref> ==== Infrastructure and climate ==== {{Further|Build Back Better Plan|Environmental policy of the Joe Biden administration}} [[File:P20211101AS-0357 (51846489866).jpg|thumb|Biden, UK prime minister [[Boris Johnson]] and UN secretary-general [[António Guterres]] at the opening ceremony of the [[United Nations Climate Change conference|COP26 climate summit]] in Glasgow on November 1, 2021|alt=Phot of Biden, Johnson and Guterres standing onstage]] As part of Biden's Build Back Better agenda, in late March 2021, he proposed the [[American Jobs Plan]], a $2 trillion package addressing issues including transport infrastructure, utilities infrastructure, broadband infrastructure, housing, schools, manufacturing, research and workforce development.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Renshaw |first2=Jarrett |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Biden says $2 trillion jobs plan rivals the space race in its ambition |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-infrastructure-idUSKBN2BN13C |url-status=live |access-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413130443/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-infrastructure-idUSKBN2BN13C |archive-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Siegel |first1=Rachel |date=March 31, 2021 |title=What's in Biden's $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan? |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401015541/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/ |archive-date=April 1, 2021}}</ref> After months of negotiations among Biden and lawmakers, in August 2021 the Senate passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill called the [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Romm |first1=Tony |date=August 10, 2021 |title=Senate approves bipartisan, $1 trillion infrastructure bill, bringing major Biden goal one step closer |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-vote-biden/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929154828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-vote-biden/ |archive-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |date=August 10, 2021 |title=Senate passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending key part of Biden's economic agenda to the House |publisher=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/senate-to-pass-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108112959/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/senate-to-pass-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html |archive-date=November 8, 2021}}</ref> while the House, also in a bipartisan manner, approved that bill in early November 2021, covering infrastructure related to transport, utilities, and broadband.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jalonick |first1=Mary Clare |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Roads, transit, internet: What's in the infrastructure bill |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107214148/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d |archive-date=November 7, 2021}}</ref> Biden signed the bill into law in mid-November 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boak |first1=Josh |last2=Long |first2=Colleen |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Biden signs $1T infrastructure deal with bipartisan crowd |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144 |url-status=live |access-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116045821/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144 |archive-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref> The other core part of the Build Back Better agenda was the [[Build Back Better Act]], a $3.5 trillion social spending bill that expands the [[social safety net]] and includes major provisions on climate change.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |date=August 11, 2021 |title=Senate approves framework of $3.5 trillion budget plan that would expand Medicare, tax credits and climate initiatives |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/senate-passes-3point5-trillion-budget-resolution-after-infrastructure-bill.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411025307/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/senate-passes-3point5-trillion-budget-resolution-after-infrastructure-bill.html |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |work=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Frazin |first=Rachel |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Democratic senator: Reconciliation package to include clean electricity standard |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/562983-senator-expects-clean-electricity-standard-to-be-part-of/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026222513/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/562983-senator-expects-clean-electricity-standard-to-be-part-of |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |accessdate=April 13, 2022}}</ref> The bill did not have Republican support, so Democrats attempted to pass it on a [[party-line vote]] through [[Reconciliation (United States Congress)|budget reconciliation]], but struggled to win the support of Senator [[Joe Manchin]], even as the price was lowered to $2.2 trillion.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Nancy |last1=Cordes |first2=Ellis |last2=Kim |first3=Ed |last3=O'Keefe |first4=Weijia |last4=Jiang |first5=Jordan |last5=Freiman |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Biden sets $1.9 – $2.2 trillion price range for social safety net bill in call with House progressives |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-reconciliation-bill-house-democrats-progressives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023023747/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-reconciliation-bill-house-democrats-progressives/ |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |work=[[CBS News]] }}</ref> After Manchin rejected the bill,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seipel |first1=Arnie |last2=Hernandez |first2=Joe |date=December 19, 2021 |title=Joe Manchin says he won't support President Biden's Build Back Better plan |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065636709/joe-manchin-says-he-cannot-support-bidens-build-back-better-plan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411025452/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065636709/joe-manchin-says-he-cannot-support-bidens-build-back-better-plan |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |work=[[NPR]] }}</ref> the Build Back Better Act's size was reduced. It was comprehensively reworked into the [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022]], covering deficit reduction, climate change, healthcare, and tax reform.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dennis |first=Brady |date=August 14, 2022 |title=As Congress funds high-tech climate solutions, it also bets on a low-tech one: Nature |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/08/14/nature-climate-solutions-inflation-reduction-act/ |access-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref> The [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022]] was introduced by senators [[Chuck Schumer]] and [[Joe Manchin]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bose |first1=Nandita |last2=Holland |first2=Steve |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Biden signs inflation act, hands pen to Manchin |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-signs-430-billion-climate-healthcare-tax-bill-2022-08-16/ |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Joanna |last2=Helmore |first2=Edward |date=July 31, 2022 |title=Joe Manchin hails expansive bill he finally agrees to as 'great for America' |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/31/joe-manchin-hails-deal-inflation-reduction-act |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref> The package aimed to raise $739 billion and authorize $370 billion in spending on energy and [[climate change]], $300 billion in deficit reduction, three years of [[Affordable Care Act]] subsidies, prescription drug reform to lower prices, and [[tax reform]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Greve |first=Joan E. |date=August 7, 2022 |title=Senate passes $739bn healthcare and climate bill after months of wrangling |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/07/inflation-reduction-act-senate-democrats-pass |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref> According to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, the bill will lower [[Climate change in the United States|US greenhouse gas emissions]] between 31 percent and 44 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.<ref name="Joan">{{cite news |last1=E Greve |first1=Joan |date=August 12, 2022 |title=US House passes Democrats' landmark healthcare and climate bill |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/12/us-house-passes-climate-bill-inflation-reduction-act |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> On August 7, 2022, the Senate passed the bill (as amended) on a 51–50 vote, with all Democrats voting in favor, all Republicans opposed, and Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by the vice president of the United States|breaking the tie]]. The bill was passed by the House on August 12<ref name="Joan" /> and was signed by Biden on August 16.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pitas |first=Costas |date=August 13, 2022 |title=Biden to sign $430 billion climate and tax bill into law next week |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-sign-430-bln-climate-tax-bill-into-law-next-week-2022-08-12/ |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Shabad |first1=Rebecca |last2=Egan |first2=Lauren |date=August 16, 2022 |title=Biden signs major climate, health care and tax bill into law |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-sign-major-climate-health-care-spending-bill-rcna43269 |access-date=August 16, 2022 |agency=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> Before and during the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] (COP26), Biden promoted an agreement that the U.S. and the [[European Union]] cut methane emissions by a third by 2030 and tried to add dozens of other countries to the effort.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Natter |first1=Ari |last2=A Dlouhy |first2=Jennifer |last3=Krukowska |first3=Ewa |title=U.S. and EU Vow Steep Methane Cuts Ahead of Climate Summit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-14/u-s-and-eu-to-pledge-steep-methane-cuts-ahead-of-climate-summit |access-date=September 17, 2021 |agency=Bloomberg |date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917193105/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-14/u-s-and-eu-to-pledge-steep-methane-cuts-ahead-of-climate-summit |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden pledged to double climate funding to developing countries by 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden pledges to double U.S. climate change aid; some activists unimpressed |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-seeks-double-climate-change-aid-developing-nations-biden-2021-09-21/ |first= Valerie |last=Volcovici |access-date=September 29, 2021 |work=Reuters |date=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925130818/https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-seeks-double-climate-change-aid-developing-nations-biden-2021-09-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also at COP26, the U.S. and China reached a deal on greenhouse gas emission reduction. The two countries are responsible for 40 percent of global emissions.<ref>{{cite news |title=COP26: Cautious welcome for unexpected US-China climate agreement |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59243434 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |agency=Reuters |date=November 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114161429/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59243434 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2023, when the [[2023 heat waves]] [[2023 Western North America heat wave|hit the U.S.]], Biden announced several measures to protect the population and said the heat waves were linked to climate change.<ref>{{cite web |title=FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/27/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-new-actions-to-protect-workers-and-communities-from-extreme-heat/ |website=The White House |date=July 27, 2023 |access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sprunt |first1=Barbara |title=Biden rolled out some new measures to respond to extreme heat as temperatures soar |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1190435892/biden-extreme-heat-climate |access-date=August 15, 2023 |agency=NPR |date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> ==== COVID-19 diagnosis ==== On July 21, 2022, Biden tested positive for [[COVID-19]] with reportedly mild symptoms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wingrove |first1=Josh |last2=Sink |first2=Justin |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Biden Tests Positive for Covid, Has Mild Symptoms, White House Says |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/biden-is-positive-for-covid-has-mild-symptoms-white-house-says |access-date=July 21, 2022 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> According to the White House, he was treated with [[Paxlovid]].<ref name="NYTimesPositive">{{Cite web |last=Shear |first=Michael |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Biden, 79, is experiencing fatigue, a runny nose and a dry cough after testing positive. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/us/politics/biden-covid-positive.html |access-date=July 21, 2022 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> He worked in isolation in the White House for five days<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Klein |first2=Betsy |last3=Sullivan |first3=Kate |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Biden 'feeling great' and back to work in person after testing negative for Covid-19 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/politics/joe-biden-negative-covid-test/index.html |access-date=July 30, 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref> and returned to isolation when he tested positive again on July 30.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Kevin |last=Liptak |date=July 30, 2022 |title=President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 again |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/30/politics/joe-biden-covid-19-positive/index.html |access-date=July 30, 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref> ==== Other domestic policy issues ==== In 2022, Biden endorsed a change to the [[Filibuster in the United States Senate|Senate filibuster]] to allow for the passing of the [[Freedom to Vote Act]] and [[John Lewis Voting Rights Act]], on both of which the Senate had failed to invoke [[cloture]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Subramanian |first=Courtney |date=January 11, 2022 |title='Let the majority prevail': Biden backs filibuster change to pass voting rights in Atlanta speech |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/11/biden-endorses-filibuster-change-voting-rights/9165060002/ |url-status=live |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062405/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/11/biden-endorses-filibuster-change-voting-rights/9165060002/ |archive-date=January 14, 2022}}</ref> The rules change failed when two Democratic senators, [[Joe Manchin]] and [[Kyrsten Sinema]], joined Senate Republicans in opposing it.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Clare |last2=Zaslav |first2=Ali |last3=Barrett |first3=Ted |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Senate Democrats suffer defeat on voting rights after vote to change rules fails |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409161903/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, Biden signed into law the bipartisan [[Postal Service Reform Act of 2022]] to revamp the finances and operations of the [[United States Postal Service]] agency.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fossum |first1=Sam |last2=Vasquez |first2=Maegan |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Biden signs US Postal Service reform bill into law |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/06/politics/biden-postal-service-reform-law-signing/index.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> On July 28, 2022, the Biden administration announced it would fill four wide gaps on the [[Mexico–United States border]] in [[Arizona]] near [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]], an area with some of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. During his presidential campaign, Biden had pledged to cease all future [[Trump wall|border wall construction]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Snow |first=Anita |date=July 28, 2022 |title=US to fill border wall gaps at open area near Yuma, Arizona |url=https://apnews.com/article/mexico-arizona-colorado-river-dams-yuma-705ac42dca8af0288514e9dd723d392c |access-date=August 4, 2022 |work=Associated Press News}}</ref> This occurred after both allies and critics of Biden criticized his administration's management of the southern border.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Alvarez |first1=Priscilla |last2=Sullivan |first2=Kate |date=July 29, 2022 |title=Biden administration to close border wall gaps in Arizona |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/politics/biden-border-wall-gaps-arizona/index.html |access-date=August 20, 2022 |agency=CNN}}</ref> [[File:P20220727AS-0409-1 (52386660528).jpg|thumb|left|Biden and senior advisers watch the Senate pass the [[CHIPS and Science Act]] on July 27, 2022.|alt=Photo of Biden and staffers, seated, looking at a television]] In the summer of 2022, several other pieces of legislation Biden supported passed Congress. The [[Bipartisan Safer Communities Act]] aimed to address gun reform issues following the [[Robb Elementary School shooting]] in [[Uvalde, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 23, 2022 |title=Statement of Administration Policy |agency=White House |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Bipartisan-Safer-Communities-Act-SAP-1.pdf |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> The act's gun control provisions include extended [[background check]]s for gun purchasers under 21, clarification of [[Federal Firearms License]] requirements, funding for state [[red flag law]]s and other [[crisis intervention]] programs, further criminalization of [[arms trafficking]] and [[straw purchase]]s, and partial closure of the [[boyfriend loophole]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Section-By-Section |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/https:/static.politico.com/5a/aa/dd11b34e4b9fa05d8abdb2b6246d/bipartisan-safer-communities-act-section-by-section.pdf |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=DeBonis |first1=Mike |last2=Caldwell |first2=Leigh Ann |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Senate votes to advance bipartisan gun deal, breaking 30-year logjam |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/21/senate-gun-deal/ |access-date=June 22, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Clare |last2=Wilson |first2=Kristin |last3=Grayer |first3=Annie |date=June 25, 2022 |title=Biden will sign first major federal gun safety legislation in decades on Saturday, White House says |agency=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/24/politics/house-vote-bipartisan-safer-communities-act/index.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> Biden signed the bill on June 25, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weissert |first=Will |date=June 25, 2022 |title=Biden signs landmark gun measure, says 'lives will be saved' |work=[[Associated Press News]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> The [[Honoring our PACT Act of 2022]] was introduced in 2021 and signed into law by Biden on August 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shabad |first1=Rebecca |last2=Egan |first2=Lauren |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Biden signs bill to expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/10/biden-signs-bill-to-expand-benefits-for-veterans-exposed-to-toxic-burn-pits.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> The act intends to significantly improve healthcare access and funding for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, including [[burn pits]], during military service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dean |first1=Jessica |last2=Zaslav |first2=Ali |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Senate passes long-sought bill to help veterans affected by burn pits |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/senate-vote-burn-pits/index.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> On October 6, 2022, Biden pardoned all Americans convicted of "small" amounts of [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] possession under federal law.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Daniels |first1=Eugene |last2=Fertig |first2=Natalie |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Biden pardons marijuana offenses, calls for review of federal law |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/06/biden-to-pardon-marijuana-offenses-call-for-review-of-federal-law-00060796 |access-date=October 8, 2022 |magazine=[[Politico]]}}</ref> On December 22, 2023, he pardoned Americans of cannabis use or possession on federal lands regardless of whether they had been charged or prosecuted.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shivaram |first=Deepa | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/22/1221230390/biden-pardons-clemency-marijuana-drug-offenses | title=Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11 | website=[[NPR]] | date=December 22, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Zeke | url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-pardons-clemency-02abde991a05ff7dfa29bfc3c74e9d64 | title=Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands and in Washington | website=[[Associated Press]] | date=December 22, 2023 }}</ref> Two months after his first round of pardons, he signed the [[Respect for Marriage Act]], which repealed the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] and requires the federal government to recognize the validity of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex]] and [[Interracial marriage in the United States|interracial]] marriages.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Biden Signs Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Rights |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/us/politics/biden-same-sex-marriage-bill.html |access-date=December 14, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ====2022 elections==== {{Main|2022 United States elections}} [[File:Biden rally at Bowie State University (52485660899).jpg|thumb|Biden holding a rally at [[Bowie State University]] in [[Maryland]] for gubernatorial candidate [[Wes Moore]], November 7, 2022|alt=Photo of Biden holding a microphone at a campaign rally, with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up]] On September 2, 2022, in a nationally broadcast [[Battle for the Soul of the Nation speech|Philadelphia speech]], Biden called for a "battle for the soul of the nation". Off camera, he called Trump supporters "semi-fascists", which Republican commentators denounced.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Cook |first2=Sara |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Biden delivers prime-time speech on the "battle for the soul of the nation" in Philadelphia |agency=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/biden-speech-philadelphia-democracy-watch-live-stream-today-2022-09-01/ |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Jonathan |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Four takeaways from President Biden's speech in Philadelphia |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-nyt-biden-philadelphia-speech-20220902-zsfckr7n7jf4rbowcu6e2pre2i-story.html |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Naughtie |first=Andrew |date=September 5, 2022 |title=Jan 6 committee members back Biden remarks on Trump 'fascism' after rally guest defends neo-Nazi rioter: Joe Biden's warnings of creeping fascism on the pro-Trump right have fired up ex-president's followers and dissenters alike |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jan-6-trump-fascism-rally-lofgren-raskin-b2159938.html |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> A predicted Republican [[Wave elections in the United States|wave election]] did not materialize and the race for [[U.S. Congress]] control was much closer than expected, with Republicans securing a slim majority of [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections|222 seats in the House of Representatives]],<ref name="Hounshell 2022">{{cite news |last=Hounshell |first=Blake |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Five Takeaways From a Red Wave That Didn't Reach the Shore |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/midterm-elections-takeaways.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Knowles & Scherer 2022">{{cite news |last1=Knowles |first1=Hannah |last2=Scherer |first2=Michael |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Democrats show strength, leaving fight for control of Congress unresolved |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2022/11/08/house-senate-race/ |access-date=November 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="McGraw 2022">{{cite magazine |last=McGraw |first=Meridith |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Trump's biggest midterm bets don't pay out |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/09/trump-endorsed-candidates-2022-election-results |access-date=November 9, 2022 |magazine=[[Politico]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Republicans take control of the House, NBC News projects |agency=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/16/midterm-house-elections-2022-republicans-take-control-of-the-house.html |access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> and the Democratic caucus keeping control of the [[2022 United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate]], with 51 seats, a gain of one seat from the last Congress.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 8, 2022 |title=2022 Election: Live Analysis and Results |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/2022-midterm-election/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref>{{efn|[[Kyrsten Sinema]], whose seat was not up for election in 2022, left the Democratic Party and became an [[independent politician]] in December 2022, after the election but before the swearing in of the next Congress. As a result, 48 Democrats (rather than 49), plus [[Angus King]] and [[Bernie Sanders]], independents who caucus with Democrats, were in the Senate upon commencement of the [[118th United States Congress]], on January 3, 2023. Sinema has opted to caucus with neither party but to continue to align with the Democrats, bringing the Democratic Senate majority to 51 seats.<ref>{{USCongRec|2023|S22|January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Skelley |first=Geoffrey |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Why Kyrsten Sinema Left The Democratic Party |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-kyrsten-sinema-left-the-democratic-party/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |website=FiveThirtyEight|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606220147/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-kyrsten-sinema-left-the-democratic-party/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>}} It was the first midterm election since [[1986 United States gubernatorial elections|1986]] in which the party of the incumbent president achieved a net gain in governorships, and the first since [[1934 United States elections|1934]] in which the president's party lost no state legislative chambers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Enten |first=Harry |date=November 13, 2022 |title=How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house/index.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |agency=CNN}}</ref> Democrats credited Biden for their unexpectedly favorable performance,<ref>{{Cite web |first=Lauren |last=Gambino |date=November 20, 2022 |title='You did it!': Biden basks in midterms afterglow after beating expectations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/20/joe-biden-midterms-democrats-presidency |access-date=November 28, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> and he celebrated the results as a strong day for democracy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Biden Celebrates Beating the Odds, but He Faces a New Challenge |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/biden-midterms-republicans.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> === Foreign policy === {{Main|Foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration}} [[File:P20210607AS-0995 (51268398621).jpg|thumb|right|Biden meeting with [[Secretary General of NATO]] [[Jens Stoltenberg]] in the [[Oval Office]], June 7, 2021|alt=Photo of Biden, Stoltenberg, and staffers sitting in the Oval Office]] In June 2021, Biden took his first trip abroad as president. In eight days he visited Belgium, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. He attended [[47th G7 summit|a G7 summit]], [[2021 Brussels summit|a NATO summit]], and an EU summit, and held [[2021 Russia–United States summit|one-on-one talks]] with Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bidens-first-trip-abroad-whirlwind-of-meetings-with-allies-rivals-2021-6 |title=Biden's first trip abroad will be a whirlwind of major meetings with key allies and top rivals |last=Haltiwanger |first=John |date=June 3, 2021 |work=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref> In September 2021, Biden announced [[AUKUS]], a [[Defense pact|security pact]] between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, to ensure "peace and stability in the [[Indo-Pacific]] over the long term"; the deal included nuclear-powered submarines built for Australia's use.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Lemire |first2=Jonathan |title=Biden announces Indo-Pacific alliance with UK, Australia |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-china-australia-united-states-1b2e597918bc1c8dd1aab26ab32c9621 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009141945/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-china-australia-united-states-1b2e597918bc1c8dd1aab26ab32c9621 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== Withdrawal from Afghanistan ==== {{Main|2020–2021 US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan}} [[File:President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with their national security team and senior officials.jpg|thumb|left|Biden in a video conference with Vice President [[Kamala Harris|Harris]] and the [[United States National Security Council|U.S. National Security team]], discussing the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Fall of Kabul]] on August 15, 2021|alt=Photo of Biden seated alone at a table, looking at a videoconference screen]] American forces began withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2020, under the provisions of a [[Doha Agreement (2020)|February 2020 US-Taliban agreement]] that set a May 1, 2021, deadline.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kiely |first1=Eugene |last2=Farley |first2=Robert |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ |title=Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan |work=[[FactCheck.org]] |date=August 17, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817224525/https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Taliban began [[2021 Taliban offensive|an offensive]] on May 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/politics/biden-afghanistan-speech/index.html|title=Biden admits Afghanistan's collapse 'did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated'|first1=Kevin|last1=Liptak|first2=Jeff|last2=Zeleny|first3=Kaitlan|last3=Collins|first4=Jennifer|last4=Hansler|first5=Maegan|last5=Vazquez|date=August 16, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830160957/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/politics/biden-afghanistan-speech/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Nomaan|last1=Merchant|first2=Zeke|last2=Miller|url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-evacuations-32bb6a22846f649b626a3130f8c5dffb|title=Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|work=[[Associated Press]]|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829230019/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-evacuations-32bb6a22846f649b626a3130f8c5dffb|url-status=live}}</ref> By early July, most American troops in Afghanistan had withdrawn.<ref name="images" /> Biden addressed the withdrawal in July, saying, "The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely."<ref name=images /> On August 15, [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|the Afghan government collapsed]] under the Taliban offensive, and Afghan President [[Ashraf Ghani]] fled the country.<ref name=images /><ref name="messy">{{cite news |title=Biden defends 'messy' US pullout from Afghanistan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58238497 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023163517/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58238497 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden reacted by ordering 6,000 American troops to assist in the evacuation of American personnel and Afghan allies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Nidhi |title=Joe Biden Blamed Afghan Leaders For Giving Up As The Taliban Took Control |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/biden-afghanistan-speech-taliban-take-over |access-date=August 17, 2021 |work=[[Buzzfeed News]] |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008133113/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/biden-afghanistan-speech-taliban-take-over |url-status=live }}</ref> He faced bipartisan criticism for the manner of the withdrawal,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edmondson |first1=Catie |title=Lawmakers Unite in Bipartisan Fury Over Afghanistan Withdrawal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/us/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-congress.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2022 |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816201146/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/us/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-congress.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with the evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies described as chaotic and botched.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Seligman |first1=Lara |title=Top generals contradict Biden, say they urged him not to withdraw from Afghanistan |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/28/top-generals-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-hearing-514491 |magazine=[[Politico]] |date=September 28, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929165155/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/28/top-generals-afghanistan-withdrawal-congress-hearing-514491 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Melanie |last1=Zanona |first2=Lauren |last2=Fox |title=House Republicans vow to probe Biden's Afghanistan exit if they win in 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/20/politics/house-republicans-afghanistan-biden-benghazi/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822125620/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/20/politics/house-republicans-afghanistan-biden-benghazi/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Christopher |last1=Cadelago |first2=Natasha |last2=Korecki |first3=Laura |last3=Barrón-López |title=Biden scrambles to tamp down panic over Afghanistan |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/18/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-506065 |magazine=[[Politico]] |date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126220827/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/18/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-506065 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 16, Biden addressed the "messy" situation, taking responsibility for it, and admitting that the situation "unfolded more quickly than we had anticipated".<ref name="messy" /><ref name="buck1">{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |title=Biden says "buck stops with me" and defends Afghanistan withdrawal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-afghanistan-taliban-watch-live-stream-today-2021-08-16/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817054019/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-afghanistan-taliban-watch-live-stream-today-2021-08-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He defended his decision to withdraw, saying that Americans should not be "dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves."<ref name="buck1" /><ref name="buck2">{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=Biden says the 'buck stops with me' — while pinning blame on Trump and many Afghans |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/16/biden-says-buck-stops-with-me-while-pinning-blame-trump-lots-afghans/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817153113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/16/biden-says-buck-stops-with-me-while-pinning-blame-trump-lots-afghans/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 26, a [[2021 Kabul airport attack|suicide bombing at the Kabul airport]] killed 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghans. On August 27, an American drone strike killed two ISIS-K targets, who were "planners and facilitators", according to a U.S. Army general.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Michael|last1=Collins|first2=Tom Vanden|last2=Brook|first3=Deirdre|last3=Shesgreen|title=Biden said US would 'hunt' down Kabul airport attackers. A day later, a drone strike killed two ISIS-K targets|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/28/kabul-bombing-u-s-issues-drone-strike-against-isis-k-planner/5628326001/|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=August 28, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2021|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830163452/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/28/kabul-bombing-u-s-issues-drone-strike-against-isis-k-planner/5628326001/|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 29, another American drone strike killed ten civilians, including seven children. The Defense Department initially claimed the strike was conducted on an Islamic State suicide bomber threatening Kabul Airport, but admitted the suspect was harmless on September 17, calling its killing of civilians "a tragic mistake".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Phil |last2=Ali |first2=Idrees |title=U.S. says Kabul drone strike killed 10 civilians, including children, in 'tragic mistake' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-military-says-10-civilians-killed-kabul-drone-strike-last-month-2021-09-17/ |access-date=September 19, 2021 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921115447/http://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-military-says-10-civilians-killed-kabul-drone-strike-last-month-2021-09-17/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The U.S. military completed withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30. Biden called the extraction of over 120,000 Americans, Afghans and other allies "an extraordinary success".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Freking |first2=Kevin |title=Biden defends departure from 'forever war,' praises airlift |url=https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-dd43bcc58bd17668b1cf4ae79997142b |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908160545/https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-dd43bcc58bd17668b1cf4ae79997142b |url-status=live }}</ref> He acknowledged that up to 200 Americans who wanted to leave did not, despite his August 18 pledge to keep troops in Afghanistan until all Americans who wanted to leave had left.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gore |first1=D'Angelo |last2=Farley |first2=Robert |last3=Robertson |first3=Lori |title=How Many Americans and Allies Are Left in Afghanistan? |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2021/09/how-many-americans-and-allies-are-left-in-afghanistan/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=[[Factcheck.org]] |date=September 2, 2021 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908104952/https://www.factcheck.org/2021/09/how-many-americans-and-allies-are-left-in-afghanistan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ====Aid to Ukraine==== [[File:President Biden met with refugees from Ukraine in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Biden with [[2022 Ukrainian refugee crisis|refugees from Ukraine]] in [[Warsaw]], Poland, March 2022|alt=Photo of a smiling Biden holding a child, with a mask lowered onto his chin]] In late February 2022, after warning for several weeks that an attack was imminent, Biden led the U.S. response to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], imposing severe [[International sanctions during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions on Russia]] and authorizing over $8 billion in [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|weapons shipments to Ukraine]].<ref name=nytshear>{{Cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Kanno-Youngs |first2=Zolan |last3=Rogers |first3=Katie |date=February 28, 2022 |title=10 Consequential Days: How Biden Navigated War, Covid and the Supreme Court |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/us/politics/biden-ukraine-covid-supreme-court.html |access-date=March 17, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321104514/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/us/politics/biden-ukraine-covid-supreme-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=wapoparker>{{Cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ashley |last2=Harris |first2=Shane |last3=Birnbaum |first3=Michael |last4=Hudson |first4=John |date=February 25, 2022 |title=13 days: Inside Biden's last-ditch attempts to stop Putin in Ukraine |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/inside-biden-putin-ukraine/ |access-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226045105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/inside-biden-putin-ukraine/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Jeff |last2=Bose |first2=Nandita |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Biden calls Putin a 'war criminal,' sending more weapons to Ukraine |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-new-security-assistance-ukraine-after-signing-massive-spending-2022-03-16/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080135/https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-new-security-assistance-ukraine-after-signing-massive-spending-2022-03-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 29, Biden asked Congress for $33 billion for Ukraine,<ref name=mondewar>{{cite news |title=War in Ukraine: U.S. dramatically upgrades its aid package to Kyiv |first=Piotr |last=Smolar |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/29/war-in-ukraine-u-s-dramatically-upgrades-its-aid-package-to-kyiv_5981990_4.html |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510001810/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/29/war-in-ukraine-u-s-dramatically-upgrades-its-aid-package-to-kyiv_5981990_4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but lawmakers later increased it to about $40 billion.<ref name=bn40>{{cite news |title=House approves $40B in Ukraine aid, beefing up Biden request |first=Alan |last=Fram |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2 |work=[[Associated Press News]] |date=May 11, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511000720/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden blamed [[Vladimir Putin]] for the emerging [[2021–present global energy crisis|energy]] and [[2022 food crises|food crises]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden blames 'Putin's invasion of Ukraine' for rising gas, food prices globally |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/biden-blames-putin-s-invasion-of-ukraine-for-rising-gas-food-prices-globally-101648873914167.html |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=April 2, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516164119/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/biden-blames-putin-s-invasion-of-ukraine-for-rising-gas-food-prices-globally-101648873914167.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine war: Hungry Africans are victims of the conflict, Macky Sall tells Vladimir Putin |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61685383 |agency=BBC News |date=June 3, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611165237/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61685383 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 20, 2023, four days before the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, [[2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine|Biden visited Kyiv]] and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 20, 2023 |first=Luke |last=Harding |title='This is a part of history': Kyiv citizens delighted by Joe Biden's surprise visit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/20/this-is-a-part-of-history-kyiv-citizens-delighted-by-joe-biden-surprise-visit |access-date=February 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> While there, he promised more military aid to Ukraine and denounced the war.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Child |first=David |title=Putin's war plans 'plain wrong', Biden says in Ukraine |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/2/20/russia-ukraine-live-russia-suffering-extraordinary-losses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220123823/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/2/20/russia-ukraine-live-russia-suffering-extraordinary-losses |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |agency=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> In 2022, Congress approved about $113 billion in aid to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=$113 billion: Where the US investment in Ukraine aid has gone |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/21/politics/war-funding-ukraine-what-matters/index.html |work=CNN |date=September 21, 2023}}</ref> In October 2023, the Biden administration requested an additional $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine for the year ahead.<ref>{{cite news |title=The White House is asking for almost $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the border |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1206301577/biden-ukraine-israel-congress-funding-request |work=NPR |date=October 26, 2023}}</ref> ==== China relations ==== {{Further information|China–United States relations}} [[File:President Biden met with Xi Jinping before the 2022 G20 Bali Summit.jpg|thumb|left|Biden with Chinese leader [[Xi Jinping]] during the [[2022 G20 Bali summit|G20 summit in Bali]], November 14, 2022]] China's assertiveness, particularly in the Pacific, remains a challenge for Biden. The [[China–Solomon Islands relations|Solomon Islands-China security pact]] caused alarm, as China could build military bases across the South Pacific. Biden sought to strengthen ties with Australia and New Zealand in the wake of the deal, as [[Anthony Albanese]] [[2022 Australian federal election|succeeded]] to the premiership of Australia and [[Jacinda Ardern]]'s government took a firmer line on Chinese influence.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ralph |last=Jennings |title=US Beefs Up South Pacific Aid, Diplomacy as China Spreads Its Influence |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-beefs-up-south-pacific-aid-diplomacy-as-china-spreads-its-influence-/6658148.html |date=July 13, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |agency=[[Voice of America]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 2022 |title=In meeting with Biden, Australia's Albanese recalls colourful first trip to U.S. |work=[[Reuters]] |first=Kirsty |last=Needham |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/meeting-with-biden-australias-albanese-recalls-colourful-first-trip-us-2022-05-24/ |access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What the China-Solomon Islands Pact Means for the U.S. and South Pacific |url=https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/china-solomon-islands-security-pact-us-south-pacific |date=May 4, 2022 |first=Zongyuan Zoe |last=Liu |access-date=July 18, 2022 |publisher=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]}}</ref> In a September 2022 interview with ''[[60 Minutes]]'', Biden said that U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of "an unprecedented attack" by the Chinese,<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Ruwitch |title=Biden, again, says U.S. would help Taiwan if China attacks |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1123759127/biden-again-says-u-s-would-help-taiwan-if-china-attacks |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> which is in contrast to the long-standing U.S. policy of "[[strategic ambiguity]]" toward China and Taiwan.<ref name="Kine">{{cite magazine |last1=Kine |first1=Phelim |title=Biden leaves no doubt: 'Strategic ambiguity' toward Taiwan is dead |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/19/biden-leaves-no-doubt-strategic-ambiguity-toward-taiwan-is-dead-00057658 |magazine=[[Politico]] |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A bristling China says Biden remarks on Taiwan "severely violate" U.S. policy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-biden-taiwan-remarks-angry-reaction/ |website=CBS News |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} Biden's most hawkish comments on Taiwan yet |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/19/biden-taiwan-china-defense/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> In late 2022, Biden issued several executive orders and federal rules designed to slow Chinese technological growth, and maintain U.S. leadership over computing, biotech, and clean energy.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bade |first=Gavin |title='A sea change': Biden reverses decades of Chinese trade policy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/26/china-trade-tech-00072232 |access-date=December 30, 2022 |magazine=[[Politico]] |date=December 26, 2022}}</ref> On February 4, 2023, Biden ordered the United States Air Force to shoot down a [[2023 Chinese balloon incident|suspected Chinese surveillance balloon]] off the coast of [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baldor |first1=Lolita C. |last2=Copp |first2=Tara |title=China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209010911/https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3288543/f-22-safely-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-off-south-carolina-coast/ |title=F-22 Safely Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon Off South Carolina Coast |last=Garamone |first=Jim |date=February 4, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |access-date=February 12, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211012305/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3288543/f-22-safely-shoots-down-chinese-spy-balloon-off-south-carolina-coast/ |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |quote=A U.S. Air Force fighter safely shot down a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a written statement.}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State|State Department]] said the balloon carried antennas and other equipment capable of geolocating communications signals, and similar balloons from China have flown over more than 40 nations.<ref name="washingtonpost/2023/02/09/chinese-balloon-program2">{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=John |last2=Nakashima |first2=Ellen |last3=Lamothe |first3=Dan |date=February 9, 2023 |title=U.S. declassifies balloon intelligence, calls out China for spying |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/09/chinese-balloon-surveillance-program/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210005507/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/09/chinese-balloon-surveillance-program/ |archive-date=February 10, 2023}}</ref> The [[Chinese government]] denied that the balloon was a surveillance device, instead claiming it was a civilian (mainly meteorological) [[airship]] that had blown off course.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Matthew |date=February 4, 2023 |title=Chinese balloon soars across US; Blinken scraps Beijing trip |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205001417/https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6 |archive-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref> The incident was seen as damaging to U.S. and China relations.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pamuk |first1=Humeyra |last2=Ali |first2=Idrees |last3=Martina |first3=Michael |last4=Ali |first4=Idrees |date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |title=Blinken postpones China trip over 'unacceptable' Chinese spy balloon |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-expresses-regret-that-civilian-airship-strays-over-us-2023-02-03/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cadell |first1=Cate |last2=Hudson |first2=John |last3=Abutaleb |first3=Yasmeen |title=Blinken postpones China trip as suspected spy balloon detected over U.S. |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/03/blinken-postpones-china-trip-suspected-spy-balloon-detected-over-us |url-access=limited |access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |last2=Liptak |first2=Kevin |last3=Herb |first3=Jeremy |last4=Atwood |first4=Kylie |last5=Sciutto |first5=Kylie |last6=Liebermann |first6=Oren |date=February 3, 2023 |title=Blinken postpones trip to Beijing after Chinese spy balloon spotted over US, officials say |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/politics/china-us-balloon-intl/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204022758/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/politics/china-us-balloon-intl/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2023}}</ref> ====Israel==== [[File:Isaac Herzog at Ben Gurion Airport, October 2023 (ABG 4491).jpg|thumb|Biden with Israeli president [[Isaac Herzog]] and prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023]] In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|devolved into a war]], jeopardizing the administration's push to normalize relations [[Israel–Saudi Arabia relations|between Israel and Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Mazzetti |first2=Mark |last3=Nereim |first3=Vivian |date=October 9, 2023 |title=U.S. Continues Push for Saudi-Israel Ties Even as War With Hamas Begins |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/us/politics/saudi-arabia-israel-palestinians-hamas.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Biden stated [[United States support for Israel in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war|his unequivocal support for Israel]], deployed aircraft carriers in the region to deter others from joining the war,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=October 18, 2023 |title=What Biden did and didn't achieve during his trip to Israel |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/politics/middle-east-conflict-biden-israel/index.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |agency=CNN}}</ref> and called for an additional $14 billion in military aid to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Details of Biden's $105 Billion Funding Request for Israel and Ukraine |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/bidens-funds-israel-ukraine.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He later began pressuring Israel to address the growing [[2023 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip|humanitarian crisis in Gaza]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Sanger |first2=David E. |last3=Wong |first3=Edward |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Biden's Support for Israel Now Comes With Words of Caution |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/us/politics/biden-israel.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Biden rejected calls for a ceasefire but said he supported "humanitarian pauses" to deliver aid to the people of the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bendery |first1=Jennifer |title=Joe Biden On The Chances Of A Gaza Cease-Fire: 'None. No Possibility.' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-gaza-cease-fire-no-possibility_n_654d0b36e4b088d9a74da287 |work=HuffPost |date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> He asked Israel to pause [[2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip|its invasion of Gaza]] for at least three days to allow for hostage negotiations; Israel agreed to daily four-hour pauses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 2023 |title=Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee, White House says |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-humanitarian-pauses-b8fc613ffd8b9351c0dc37b90b6e10dd |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=Associated Press News}}</ref> Biden has said he is a [[Zionist]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Spetalnick |first1=Matt |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff |last3=Holland |first3=Steve |last4=Zengerle |first4=Patricia |date=October 23, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |title='I am a Zionist': How Joe Biden's lifelong bond with Israel shapes war policy |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/i-am-zionist-how-joe-bidens-lifelong-bond-with-israel-shapes-war-policy-2023-10-21/ |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 12, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |title='I am a Zionist,' says Biden at Hanukkah event, promises continued military assistance to Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/biden-were-there-no-israel-there-wouldnt-be-a-jew-in-the-world-who-is-safe/ |newspaper=The Times of Israel}}</ref> ==== Other foreign issues ==== On February 4, 2021, the Biden administration announced that the United States was ending its [[U.S. support for Saudi-led operations in Yemen|support for the Saudi-led bombing campaign]] in Yemen.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knickmeyer |first1=Ellen |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Biden ending US support for Saudi-led offensive in Yemen |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-end-support-saudi-offenseive-yemen-b68f58493dbfc530b9fcfdb80a13098f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023211712/https://apnews.com/article/biden-end-support-saudi-offenseive-yemen-b68f58493dbfc530b9fcfdb80a13098f |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |access-date=February 5, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In early February 2022, Biden ordered the counterterrorism raid in northern Syria that resulted in the [[Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi#Death|death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi]], the second leader of the [[Islamic State]].<ref name=":11">{{Cite press release |date=February 3, 2022|title=Statement by President Joe Biden|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/03/statement-by-president-joe-biden-3/|access-date=February 3, 2022|publisher=The White House|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203132343/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/03/statement-by-president-joe-biden-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> In late July, Biden approved the [[drone strike]] that [[Killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri|killed Ayman al-Zawahiri]], the second leader of [[Al-Qaeda]], and an integral member in the planning of the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/al-qaeda-strike-afghanistan.html |title=U.S. Drone Strike Kills Ayman al-Zawahri, Top Qaeda Leader |date=August 1, 2022 |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |last3=Barnes |first3=Julian |last4=Schmitt |first4=Eric |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 1, 2022 |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801215209/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/al-qaeda-strike-afghanistan.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[OPEC#2022 oil production cut|2022 OPEC+ oil production cut]] caused a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia, widening the rift between the two countries, and threatening a longstanding [[Saudi Arabia–United States relations|alliance]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/us/politics/biden-saudi-arabia-oil-production-cut.html | title=Biden Vows 'Consequences' for Saudi Arabia After Oil Production Cut | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 11, 2022 | last1=Baker | first1=Peter }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.ft.com/content/1a5cfd12-a202-4242-b0ad-bed56f377142 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/1a5cfd12-a202-4242-b0ad-bed56f377142 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Joe Biden warns of 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after oil production cuts | newspaper=Financial Times | date=October 12, 2022 }}</ref> === Investigations === ====Retaining of classified documents==== {{Main|Joe Biden classified documents incident}} On November 2, 2022, while packing files at the [[Penn Biden Center]], Biden's attorneys found classified documents dating from his vice presidency in a "locked closet".<ref>{{cite news |last5=Collins |first1=Phil |last1=Mattingly |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Maegan |last3=Vazquez |first4=Kevin |last4=Liptak |first5=Kaitlan |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Biden's legal team found another batch of classified documents in search of second location |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/politics/biden-classified-documents/index.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |agency=CNN}}</ref><ref name="nytbatch1">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Savage |first2=Charlie |last3=Thrush |first3=Glenn |last4=Goldman |first4=Adam |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Biden Lawyers Found Classified Material at His Former Office |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/us/politics/biden-classified-documents.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> According to the White House, the documents were reported that day to the [[U.S. National Archives]], which recovered them the next day.<ref name="nytbatch1" /> On November 14, Attorney General [[Merrick Garland]] appointed U.S. attorney [[John R. Lausch Jr.]] to conduct an investigation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents-timeline.html|title=Timeline of the Biden Documents Case: What We Know So Far|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=January 12, 2023|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 14, 2023|archive-date=January 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114124700/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents-timeline.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN timeline">{{cite news |last1=Chowdhury |first1=Maureen |last2=Hammond |first2=Elise |last3=Meyer |first3=Matt |last4=Sangal |first4=Aditi |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Garland lays out timeline of investigation into Biden classified documents so far |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/garland-attorney-general-statement-01-12-23/h_d0728a48029a6407e468b05806963497 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113030157/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/garland-attorney-general-statement-01-12-23/h_d0728a48029a6407e468b05806963497 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |agency=CNN}}</ref> On December 20, a second batch of classified documents was discovered in the garage of Biden's [[Wilmington, Delaware]] residence.<ref name="nytbatch2">{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Second Set of Classified Documents Were Found at Biden's Wilmington Home, White House Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> The findings broke news on January 9, 2023, after [[CBS News]] published an article on the Lausch investigation.<ref name="nytbatch1"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Diaz |first1=Adriana |last2=Triay |first2=Andres |last3=Farhi |first3=Arden |date=January 9, 2023 |title=U.S. attorney reviewing documents marked classified from Joe Biden's vice presidency found at Biden think tank |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-center-classified-documents/ |access-date=March 12, 2024 |work=[[CBS News]] }}</ref><ref>Farley, Robert (January 19, 2023). [https://www.factcheck.org/2023/01/timeline-of-bidens-classified-documents/ Timeline of Biden’s Classified Documents]. ''FactCheck.org''.</ref> On January 12, Garland appointed [[Robert K. Hur]] as special counsel to investigate "possible unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or other records".<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Carrie |date=January 12, 2023 |title=A special counsel will probe government documents at Biden's home and private office |agency=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148425062/special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-robert-hur |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> On January 20, after a 13-hour [[consent search|consensual search]] by FBI investigators, six more items with classified markings were recovered from Biden's Wilmington residence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Rogers |first2=Katie |date=January 22, 2023 |title=Investigators Seize More Classified Documents From Biden's Home |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/us/politics/biden-documents.html |access-date=January 22, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> FBI agents searched Biden's home in [[Rehoboth Beach, Delaware|Rehoboth Beach]] on February 1 and collected papers and notes from his time as vice president, but did not find any classified information.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/01/fbi-searching-biden-home-in-rehoboth-delaware.html|title=FBI found no classified documents in search of Biden home in Rehoboth, lawyer says|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=February 1, 2023|agency=CNBC|access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> On February 8, 2024, Hur concluded the special counsel investigation and announced that no charges would be brought against Biden.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Rebecca |last1=Beitsch |first2=Brett |last2=Samuels |date=February 8, 2024 |title=Special counsel finds Biden 'willfully' retained classified documents, no charges filed |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4456524-special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-probe-no-charges/ |website=The Hill |language=en |access-date=February 9, 2024 |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208201505/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4456524-special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-probe-no-charges/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== Business activities ==== {{main|United States House Oversight Committee investigation into the Biden family}} {{further|Impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden}} On January 11, 2023, the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] launched [[United States House Oversight Committee investigation into the Biden family|an investigative committee]] into the foreign business activities of Biden's son, [[Hunter Biden|Hunter]], and brother, [[James Biden|James]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sforza |first1=Lauren |title=New GOP Oversight chair launches probes into Biden finances, Hunter Biden laptop story |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3808729-new-gop-oversight-chair-asks-treasury-for-biden-family-financial-information/ |work=The Hill |date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112174111/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3808729-new-gop-oversight-chair-asks-treasury-for-biden-family-financial-information/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The committee's chair, Representative [[James Comer (politician)|James Comer]], simultaneously investigated alleged corruption related to the [[Hunter Biden laptop controversy]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Zachary B. |title=Here's what to know about GOP claims of a Biden scandal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/09/politics/hunter-biden-republicans-what-matters/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=June 9, 2023}}</ref> On September 12, House speaker [[Kevin McCarthy]] initiated a formal impeachment inquiry against Biden, saying that the recent House investigations "paint a picture of corruption" by Biden and his family.<ref name="AP1">{{cite web |last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |last2=Farnoush |first2=Amiri |title=Speaker McCarthy directs the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden |url=https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4 |work=Associated Press News |access-date=September 12, 2023 |date=September 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="CNN0912a">{{cite web |last1=Zanona |first1=Melania |last2=Tablot |first2=Haley |last3=Fox |first3=Lauren |last4=Grayer |first4=Annie |title=McCarthy calls for formal impeachment inquiry into Biden amid pressure from conservatives |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/politics/biden-impeachment-house-gop/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=September 12, 2023 |date=September 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cortellessa |first1=Eric |title=McCarthy Lacks the Votes For an Impeachment Inquiry. Trump's Allies Have a Plan to Get Them. |url=https://time.com/6311911/impeachment-biden-marjorie-greene-hunter/#:~:text=Republicans%20have%20only%20a%20slim,after%20a%20full%20House%20vote. |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffing |first1=Alex |title='He Doesn't Have Enough Votes': CNN's Manu Raju Explains Why McCarthy Backtracked on Impeachment Vote |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/he-doesnt-have-enough-votes-cnns-manu-raju-says-mccarthy-backtracked-on-impeachment-vote/ |publisher=[[Mediaite]] |date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> Congressional investigations, most notably [[United States House Oversight Committee investigation into the Biden family|by the House Oversight committee]], have discovered no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden as of December 2023.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |title=House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/hunter-biden-house-republicans-report.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Demirjian |first1=Karoun |title=Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/04/us/republicans-biden-inquiry.html |work=The New York Times |date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How a fight over immunity unraveled Hunter Biden's plea deal |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/hunter-biden-plea-deal/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 17, 2023|first1=Perry |last1=Stein |first2=Devlin |last2=Barrett |first3=Matt |last3=Viser}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Otten |first1=Tori |title=McCarthy Plans Biden Impeachment Inquiry—With No Evidence and Not Enough Votes |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/175504/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-inquiry-no-evidence-not-enough-votes |magazine=The New Republic |date=September 12, 2023}}</ref>}} On December 13, 2023, the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] voted 221–212 to formalize an [[impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden|impeachment inquiry into Biden]].<ref name="Hill 12.17.23">{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Emily |title=Biden impeachment inquiry risks backfiring on House GOP |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4362989-biden-impeachment-inquiry-backfiring-on-house-gop/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=December 17, 2023 |access-date=December 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last1=Diver |first1=Tony |last2=Staff |first2=Our Foreign |date=December 13, 2023 |title=US House votes to open Biden impeachment inquiry |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/13/hunter-biden-us-capitol-statement/ |access-date=December 15, 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rebecca Beitsch |first=Emily Brooks |date=December 13, 2023 |title=House formally approves Biden impeachment inquiry |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4358911-biden-impeachment-inquiry-house-gop/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Hill}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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