Biden's PR stunt with Putin
Despite all the breathless speculation, not much of consequence appeared to happen at the much-anticipated Geneva summit between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The joint presidential statement released by the two countries after the fact claimed no major breakthroughs and merely restated uncontroversial arms control principles: "Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."
Meanwhile, the biggest news from Biden's own press conference was his losing his temper at a CNN White House reporter. The subsequent meditations on media negativity did not sound like the words of a man who had a great deal of diplomatic progress to boast about.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
For Biden, the summit was at least immediately intended for domestic political consumption. He spoke a great deal about his demands of the Russian leader: that interference in our elections stop, that cyberattacks end, that human rights be protected and dissidents allowed to live, or there would be unspecified "consequences."
While there were no corresponding claims that Putin had agreed to or even given meaningful concessions on any of this, the message was clear: Biden was saying that he, unlike former President Donald Trump, stood up to Putin. Americans of all political stripes generally like it when their president gets tough with foreign despots, provided a minimum of blood and treasure is expended in the process. Democrats in particular remain justifiably angry at Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Many of them think that interference was even worse than the evidence says and that Trump's role in it was greater than former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team was able to prove.
Thankfully, Moscow — while still illiberal, nuclear-armed, and extremely dangerous — is much weaker than it was during the Cold War. The threats post-Soviet Russia pose are real but do not require a new one.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
W. James Antle III is the politics editor of the Washington Examiner, the former editor of The American Conservative, and author of Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?.
-
5 ways to help the environment while on vacation
The Week Recommends An afternoon of planting trees could be the best part of your trip
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Doctors are taking on dental duties in low-income areas
Under the radar Physicians are biting into the dentistry industry
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Instagram hopes that blurring nudity in messages will make teens safer
The Explainer The option will be turned on by default for users under 18
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?
Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
It's not really about Biden's brain — unless it is
Talking Points Depending on who you ask, the renewed focus on the president's mental acuity is an election-year distraction, a legitimate point of concern, and sometimes both
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The politics of music: should political rallies use well-known songs?
Talking Point The Smiths star Johnny Marr is latest musician to object to use of his music at a Donald Trump rally
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published