Blaming Joe Biden weakens Trump’s presidency, undermines his achievements | Opinion

Donald Trump’s presidency is in full swing, and it’s time to leave Joe Biden’s term where it belongs, in the past. When a president leaves office, the country shifts focus to the new administration. The previous president should become a chapter of our history, not a scapegoat.

Yet here we are. Trump is back behind the Resolute Desk, and somehow Biden is being blamed for the current administration’s problems. It’s become a reflex. Immigration problems? Biden. Egg prices up? Biden. Stocks down? Biden. Trump is governing, but acting like he’s still campaigning against Biden, who has already packed up and gone home. And as of this past weekend, we learned he has prostate cancer.

Biden’s presidency wasn’t without missteps. I’m thinking of the chaotic withdrawal in Afghanistan, for example, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which didn’t actually curb inflation. The results of those decisions are still being felt today. But every president inherits problems, and it’s their job to fix them.

The economic challenges now facing Americans didn’t happen overnight. Affordability continues to be a daily challenge for families everywhere, and Trump campaigned on fixing that.

Instead, he imposed aggressive tariffs — in the name of liberating America, through from what I’m not sure — targeting America’s trading partners. These tariffs have resulted in higher prices prompting American retailers such as Walmart to say they will pass the cost onto American consumers.

This isn’t liberation; it’s inflation.

If the administration is committed to short-term pain for long-term gains, it should refrain from invoking Biden’s name like a boogeyman and make the case, instead of deflecting responsibility. Leadership requires taking responsibility.

If border security issues persist, it’s Trump’s border. If inflation continues to grow, it’s Trump’s economy. Should World War III break out, it’s Trump’s war to end. That’s both the burden and honor of being president.

The bigger issue here: The president’s blame game undermines his credibility. Who is governing today, if Trump is campaigning against last year’s candidate?

History offers many examples of presidents inheriting their predecessor’s problems. When Ronald Reagan came into office, he inherited the Iranian hostage crisis. Instead of blaming Jimmy Carter, he got to work negotiating the hostages’ release. When Franklin Roosevelt inherited the Great Depression from Herbert Hoover, he didn’t point fingers, he delivered New Deal policies to help repair America’s economy.

Trump has the same opportunity, but it requires turning the page.

At the same time, Biden isn’t helping himself or his legacy by continuing to hold press conferences, joining The View or doing interviews. His interviews have been unusual for a recent ex-president — especially as he’s used these interviews as a platform to criticize his successor and defend his legacy.

The media isn’t helping either. Publishing tell-alls such as Jake Tapper’s recent book “Original Sin” that details Biden’s cognitive decline does little to inform the public and mostly fuels a political culture obsessed with gossip.

It’s distracting. America doesn’t need mea culpas from the press or more Biden blaming. The Biden presidency is over.

The responsibility of where the country stands and is headed now falls squarely on Trump’s shoulders. And if he wants to be remembered for more than being the only other president besides Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms, Trump will need to stop playing the Biden blame game and focus on delivering results.

He campaigned on making America great again, and he has the chance to do that. That’s what 77 million Americans voted for.

Heading into the second half of 2025, the administration must be judged on its own merits. Anything less is beneath the dignity of the office and the expectations of the electorate.

Trump wields the power of the presidency. It’s time for him to take the responsibility that comes with it. The buck stops with Trump.

Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@miamiherald.com

This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM.