Former President Joe Biden has sharply criticized his predecessor, Donald Trump, for suggesting that Ukraine may need to cede territory to Russia in exchange for peace. Biden called Trump’s remarks a form of “modern-day appeasement,” drawing a parallel to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s attempts to appease Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Biden expressed his confusion over the notion that allowing a dictator to annex land could somehow resolve the conflict.
“I just don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to decide he’s going to take significant portions of land that aren’t his, and that’s going to satisfy him,” Biden said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Biden also criticized Trump for undermining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a tense meeting earlier this year.
Additionally, Biden questioned Trump’s comments regarding the Gulf of America and his controversial ambitions involving Panama, Greenland, and Canada.
“What the hell’s going on here? What president ever talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden remarked. “We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity, not about confiscation.”
The former president went on to express concern about the state of democracy globally, particularly in Europe, where many leaders are questioning the reliability of the United States.
“Yes, I do [believe there’s a greater threat to democracy], because, look at the number of European leaders in European countries. They’re wondering, what do I do now? Can I rely on the United States? Are they going to be there?”
When asked about Trump’s behavior, Biden stated, “He’s not behaving like a
Republican president.”
He also noted that history will judge Trump’s time in office, adding that he hadn’t seen anything “triumphant” in Trump’s first 100 days.
While Biden is no longer directly involved in the political scene, he expressed less concern about democracy’s threat in the U.S. than before, noting that he believes the Republican Party is now more aware of Trump’s true intentions.
Regarding his own decision to run for re-election in 2024, Biden reflected on his campaign, explaining that it was difficult to step away when he had accomplished so much and had a strong candidate to take over.
“We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she’s fully funded,” Biden said, explaining that he had initially planned to transition to the next generation of leadership but was unable to walk away due to the urgency of the situation.
Biden’s comments come as he continues to reflect on his presidency, which was largely shaped by the war in Ukraine. During his time in office, he worked to build a coalition of European allies to support Ukraine and to impose sanctions on Russia. Under Biden’s administration, the U.S. provided more than $65 billion in aid to Ukraine, with significant military and humanitarian support.
This interview marks Biden’s first major public engagement since leaving office and coincides with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, commemorating the end of World War II in Europe. He is also scheduled to appear on ABC’s The View on Thursday.
While he has largely remained out of the spotlight since leaving the White House, Biden recently spoke out about the Trump administration’s cuts to the Social Security Administration, criticizing the damage caused in the first 100 days of the new administration.
“Fewer than 100 days, and this new administration has done so much damage and destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking,” Biden said at a disabilities conference.
