After hearing the emotional accounts from Gold Star families at a Congressional session recently, Fox News analyst Marc Thiessen commented on the repercussions of the mishandled Afghanistan exit for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid on “America Reports.”
Listening to these families is heartrending. But this is where the real political consequences might emerge. The situation in Afghanistan might be the determining factor in Biden’s bid for a second term. Here’s the reasoning: While the 2024 election might not be directly about Afghanistan, it’s more about the public’s confidence in Biden’s leadership. Polls showed he had an approval rating above 50% prior to the Afghanistan situation. Following the exit, that number dropped below 50% across various sectors, not just foreign policy and counter-terrorism.
Why the steep decline? Many Americans perceive two key issues: a perceived lack of honesty and a potential lack of competency. These perceptions can leave lasting impressions on a presidency. The polling trends in the past two years seem to highlight this sentiment, tracing its origins back to the Afghanistan events.
The significant drop in his approval ratings can be pinpointed to the events in Kabul. Since then, they’ve never surpassed the 50% mark, suggesting a widespread belief among Americans that his leadership might be both untruthful and ineffective. This could be the key reason he might not secure a second term in the White House.
