Biden Enlists Veteran Strategist to Reclaim Legacy Amid Trump Attacks and Party Tensions

Former President Joe Biden is stepping back into the spotlight, hiring seasoned Democratic strategist Chris Meagher to polish his legacy amid criticism from both Donald Trump and his own party. With Trump’s second term past its first 100 days, Biden is breaking the tradition of former presidents staying silent, scheduling a live appearance on The View and granting a rare BBC interview.

Meagher, a veteran of the Biden administration and campaigns for Pete Buttigieg and John Tester, is tasked with navigating Biden through a storm of Democratic discontent. Many in the party credit Biden’s policy wins but blame his prolonged 2024 candidacy for electoral losses, urging new leadership to steer Democrats forward.

Biden’s re-emergence coincides with Trump’s ongoing attacks, including efforts to release audio from a 2024 special counsel probe into Biden’s handling of classified documents, which questioned his mental sharpness. The former president, who made history in 2020 as the oldest elected U.S. president, faced further scrutiny after a faltering debate performance against Trump, leading to his withdrawal from the 2024 race in favor of Kamala Harris.

In his BBC interview, Biden defended his decision to step aside, calling it 'the right decision' while slamming Trump’s provocative rhetoric—like renaming the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' or eyeing control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. 'What president talks like that?' Biden asked, emphasizing values of 'freedom and democracy' over 'confiscation.' He also criticized Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war as 'modern-day appeasement.'

As Biden seeks to redefine his narrative, his moves signal a fight to cement his legacy against a backdrop of political turbulence and party reinvention.