Despite stepping down amid mounting criticism and questions over his leadership, former President Joe Biden claims he’s still being sought out by global and political figures, including European heads of state, for his counsel.
“Biden Says He’s Still Offering Quiet Counsel”
Speaking at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) convention in San Diego last week, President Joe Biden surprised many by revealing that he still plays an informal advisory role behind the scenes.
“I’m getting calls I won’t say from whom but several European leaders are asking me to get involved,” Biden said during a conversation with SHRM President Johnny Taylor, according to The Western Journal. “I’m not getting involved, but I am giving advice. Because things are different now.”
A clip of the exchange, shared on X by Democratic strategist Chris Jackson, shows Biden speaking in a quiet, sometimes halting tone shifting from soft-spoken to suddenly impassioned mid-sentence.
“Biden Reflects on Leadership and Shifts Gears”
During his remarks, Biden raised a familiar question with rhetorical weight:
“You know, I often ask if America doesn’t lead the world, who will?” he said, his voice rising. “No, seriously not because of our power, but because who else can bring everyone together?”
He went on to claim that lawmakers from both parties continue to seek his perspective.
“I’m talking to a lot of Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “Not because they think I have all the answers just to bounce things off me.”
But the conversation took an unexpected turn when Biden abruptly added:
“I’m also laying rubber with my ’67 Corvette on my driveway.”
The offbeat remark sparked swift criticism online, with detractors calling it out-of-touch emblematic, they argued, of broader concerns during his presidency.
Throughout Biden’s term, the U.S. grappled with rising inflation, high gas prices, and persistent challenges at the southern border. Facing mounting pressure from within his own party, Biden ultimately chose not to seek re-election.
“Controversies Undermine Biden’s Post-Presidency Influence”
The Biden administration was no stranger to controversy in its final years. Among the most notable were the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Hunter Biden. The issuance of preemptive pardons including those for Dr. Anthony Fauci and Hunter drew widespread criticism, especially amid questions over the use of autopen signatures.
Adding to the turmoil, a recent ICE report revealed serious lapses in the vetting process for sponsors of unaccompanied migrant children with some minors reportedly suffering harm after placement with unqualified guardians.
Taken together, critics argue, these controversies have cast doubt on Biden’s continued influence.
“Given the chaos, confusion, and credibility issues that defined the closing chapter of his presidency,” one political analyst remarked, “the notion that world leaders still turn to him for advice is… ambitious.”
