Four controversies swirling around Joe Biden as 2024 comes into focus
Rachel Schilke
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President Joe Biden‘s road to reelection in 2024 is shaping up to be an uphill battle as the president works to overcome several obstacles in his personal and political life.
Biden announced his reelection campaign on April 25, becoming the Democrats‘ top candidate against several Republican challengers lining up to take back the White House. However, multiple controversies that have emerged since Biden took office could hurt his chances of securing another four years in office.
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Here are four controversies encumbering the president as he prepares for reelection.
Hunter Biden’s business dealings
Since taking the majority in 2022, House Republicans have vowed to investigate any evidence of wrongdoing or mishaps conducted by the Biden administration and the president’s family, notably Hunter Biden.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has delved deep into Hunter Biden’s finances and foreign connections. So far, the committee has claimed it has evidence that Hunter Biden’s business dealings and board position on Burisma, a foreign company, may have affected national security and influenced America’s foreign relations.
Comer also said the committee would hold the Biden family accountable for an alleged “Biden family influence peddling scheme.” The chairman claimed that at least nine Biden family members had accepted payments from a Chinese-affiliated company and possibly the Chinese Community Party, as well.
Democrats have blasted Republicans for going after the president and his family, placing House GOP members under a microscope. However, Comer has insisted that these investigations will be successful. If they are, it could seriously affect Biden’s chances at reelection.
Classified documents
Several classified documents were found in Biden’s possession last year, transforming what started as an isolated occurrence with Trump into a reoccurring nightmare for politicians in Washington.
Documents were discovered in Biden’s office at the Penn Biden Center and the president’s Delaware residence in November and December, respectively. Republicans zeroed in on the location of the documents, including Biden’s home garage, claiming that it was a national security risk with the number of visitors entering and exiting the building.
The documents opened Biden up to GOP attacks that a sitting president had classified documents in his possession, compared to a former president like Trump, who claims that he transported belongings to his home after he left the White House and that the documents were either mistakenly taken or declassified. However, a poll taken shortly after classified documents were discovered in both men’s possession showed that Trump’s handling of classified documents was seen as “more serious” than Biden’s.
Special counsels Robert Kur and Jack Smith are investigating the classified documents scandal for Biden and Trump, respectively.
Student loan forgiveness plan on shifting sands
One of Biden’s major promises heading into 2020, and for his 2024 reelection, is to forgive student loans for college students. He unveiled his plan last year to wipe out up to $10,000 in federal student loans for those with an annual income of up to $125,000 and up to $20,000 erased for those who received Pell Grants during their schooling.
However, six GOP-led states filed challenges in court, forcing the Supreme Court to halt the program ahead of two cases. The high court is expected to make a ruling on the executive action’s constitutionality by the end of June.
If Biden’s plan is scrapped, it could turn into a major Republican target to show that the president could not keep the promises he made on the campaign trail.
Age in 2024
Age will likely become a factor in the 2024 election, as Biden would be 86 when his second term ends if he wins reelection.
Republicans have zeroed in on his age and mental competency as reasons for Biden not to hold the presidency. Recently, over 60 House Republicans sent Biden a letter demanding that he either take a mental competency test or rescind his candidacy for 2024.
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Biden had a physical examination in February, with White House physician Kevin O’Connor determining that Biden was a “healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male” fit for the presidency. However, Republicans believe a mental test is necessary, citing instances of the president stumbling, forgetting names, or slurring his words.
Age has been a talking point for both sides of the aisle, as Trump is 76 and would be 82 at the end of 2024 if he takes the White House again. Both Republicans and Democrats have shared concerns over the top candidates’ ages, and voters could see the age of their prospective candidate as a reason to vote for emerging stars within the parties.