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Biden's first day in office: What surprising changes has he made?
On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was officially sworn in. The birth of the 46th President of the United States symbolizes a new beginning. Against the background of the raging epidemic, economic crisis and increasing political polarization, Biden's taking office has made many people look forward to change. His first-day actions not only quickly restored the United States' commitment to the Paris Agreement, but also included revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and halting funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. These moves demonstrate his stance on environmental and immigration policies.
"We need to re-establish the image of the United States. This will be the cornerstone of our future challenges."
Another important move by Biden on his first day in office is the specific plan to combat the new crown epidemic. The next day, he issued a series of executive orders aimed at reducing the impact of the virus. He activated the Defense Production Act of 1950 and set an initial goal of vaccinating American citizens with 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine within his first 100 days in office.
His determination for economic recovery can be seen from Biden's first major bill, the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. The centerpiece of the bill is a $1.9 trillion stimulus package that provides expanded unemployment insurance and sends $1,400 stimulus checks to most Americans, aiming to ease the economic pressure caused by the epidemic.
"Our economy must rebound equitably to benefit every American."
With the passage of the infrastructure construction bill, Biden worked with both parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to promote a 10-year investment plan to invest in U.S. roads, bridges, public transportation, ports, broadband networks and other fields. It's all about rebuilding America's infrastructure.
The "Build Back Better Act", an expansion plan for the social safety net, showed his ambition, but ultimately failed to gain support in Congress. Even so, some elements of the Inflation Reduction Act signed by Biden in 2022 still combine federal investments in climate and clean energy to push the United States toward sustainable development.
In terms of foreign policy, Biden's goal is to make the United States once again a "reliable leader" of democracies around the world. He signed the AUKUS security agreement and supported the expansion of NATO to include Finland and Sweden. In addition, Biden has shown a firm stance in the face of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, imposing sanctions on Russia and providing more than $100 billion in comprehensive assistance to Ukraine.
"Behind every decision is the important task of reviving democracy."
However, Biden's term has not been smooth sailing. The collapse of the government during the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan caused him to suffer criticism from both parties, affecting his public support. Troubled by high inflation and rising oil prices, these problems have indeed reduced his support in the polls.
Despite the challenges faced, Biden's economic recovery ranked first among G7 countries and created the most 16 million new jobs in U.S. history, demonstrating his strong leadership in turbulent times. Ultimately, whether Biden's political legacy can withstand Trump's rise again in 2024 has become a question in the minds of many voters.
Can the United States regain political and social balance in the future after this change?
