In a candid interview on Thursday, President Joe Biden shared his thoughts on the handling of the economy by Republican-led states and admitted that Democrats, himself included, could have done a better job of getting the message across to voters.
“Red states really messed up the way they managed their economies, manufacturing, and even supply chains,” Biden told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell. He was explaining why his administration had actually invested more in red states than blue states, especially when it came to measures addressing the economic fallout of Covid-19.
Biden didn’t shy away from talking about his own role in shaping the economy during his presidency, recognizing that one of the top issues in the last election was economic recovery. He admitted that Democrats, including him, missed a few key chances to communicate to voters how involved they were in some of the popular programs and projects.
Reflecting on these missed moments, Biden said, “I made a mistake in not getting our allies to acknowledge the things the Democrats were doing.” He used the example of new bridges being built through Democratic legislation, stressing that the party should’ve taken credit for these accomplishments. “We should have made it clear that this was something Democrats did,” he said. “Ironically, I spent so much time focusing on the policy and not enough on the politics.”
One key point of the interview was Biden’s acknowledgment of a misstep with the Covid-19 stimulus checks. He noted that it “crossed his mind” to have his name printed on the checks, similar to how President-elect Donald Trump had his name featured on the relief payments in 2020. While Biden wasn’t critical of Trump’s decision, he admitted it worked in his favor, and in turn, hurt the Democrats’ ability to take credit for the relief efforts.
When Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in March 2021, it was a lifeline to the struggling economy. The bill, which passed along party lines, aimed to inject money into the economy and provided direct payments of $1,400 to individuals in need. The White House proudly touted the plan as a “historic recovery,” but the impact of these efforts got lost in the messaging.
In his farewell address earlier this week, Biden warned about the future of the country, including concerns about the rise of an “oligarchy” and a “tech-industrial complex.” The interview was one of his rare public moments as he winds down his presidency. The White House has yet to announce if Biden will hold a final news conference with reporters, a typical tradition for outgoing presidents.
Biden’s reflections show how complex leadership is, and the balance between policy and communication can sometimes be tricky to strike. While he has plenty to be proud of, it’s clear that clear, consistent messaging could have made a world of difference.
