STORY
In his first major interview since leaving office, former U.S. President Joe Biden launched a pointed critique of his successor, Donald Trump, accusing him of undermining Western unity and emboldening Russia through what Biden termed “modern-day appeasement” toward Vladimir Putin. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Biden condemned Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to concede territory to Russia as part of a peace deal, likening it to the failed appeasement policies of the 1930s. He expressed concern that Trump’s stance could erode transatlantic alliances and diminish Europe’s confidence in the United States.
Biden also criticised Trump’s confrontational meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February, during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly berated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. The meeting ended abruptly without a clear resolution, drawing international criticism. Reflecting on his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, Biden stated that stepping down earlier likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome, and he defended his administration’s support for Ukraine and commitment to NATO.