United States President Joe Biden took to his X handle on Monday to reaffirm his economic vision for the country, amid growing criticism from Republicans and challenges from inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the pandemic.
“I don’t look at the economy through the eyes of Wall Street and Park Avenue. I look at it through the eyes of the people I grew up with in Scranton, Pennsylvania or Claymont, Delaware,” Biden wrote.
The president’s statement echoed his remarks from last week, when he delivered a speech on the state of the economy at the White House. He touted his administration’s achievements, such as creating more than 5 million jobs, passing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, and advancing his $3.5 trillion Build Back Better agenda.
Biden also acknowledged the difficulties that many Americans are facing, such as rising prices, labor shortages, and uncertainty about the future. He said he was working to address these issues by increasing vaccine rates, boosting domestic production, and investing in infrastructure, education, health care, and clean energy.
Biden’s economic message, however, has not resonated with many voters, according to recent polls. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed that only 38% of Americans approved of Biden’s handling of the economy, while 55% disapproved. A Gallup poll from earlier this month found that only 43% of Americans rated the economy as excellent or good, while 57% rated it as only fair or poor.
Some analysts have argued that Biden’s focus on the economy is not working, because he is not addressing the immediate concerns of the public, such as inflation and supply chain bottlenecks. They have also suggested that Biden’s ambitious spending plans could worsen the fiscal situation and add to inflationary pressures.
Others have defended Biden’s economic vision, saying that he is taking a long-term view of the economy and pursuing policies that would benefit the middle class and the environment. They have also pointed out that the US economy has outperformed other major economies in terms of growth and recovery from the pandemic.
As Biden prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, the economic agenda will likely be a key topic of discussion. The US and China have been locked in a trade war and a strategic rivalry, which have affected the global economy and security. Biden has said he wants to cooperate with China on areas of mutual interest, such as climate change and pandemic response, but also compete with China on trade, technology, and human rights.
