President Biden boasted that the US is “coming back” and is in “a better position” to lead – despite his dismal approval rating and ongoing national economic woes.
Ahead of the midnight countdown to 2024, Biden, 81, and First Lady Jill Biden, 72, appeared via satellite from their beach getaway in St. Croix on ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show with Ryan Seacrest in Times Square.
“My hope is that everybody has a healthy, happy and safe new year but beyond that I hope they understand that we’re in a better position than any country in the world to lead the world. We’re coming back and it’s about time,” Biden beamed on the broadcast, according to the clip shared on X.
When asked about his highlights for 2023, Biden referred to an anecdote about his late father.
“One of the big highlights stands out for me… my dad used to have an expression. He’d say: Joey, a job’s about a lot more than a paycheck, it’s about your dignity, it’s about respect,” the president recalled.
“So many people through the midwest and in the center of the country, their jobs were shipped overseas the last couple times out, they were losing hope and faith,” he continued.
“We’ve brought a lot of jobs back to the United States, people are in position to be able to make a living now. They’ve created a lot of jobs, 14 million.
“I guess I just feel good that the American people got up. They’ve been through a rough time with [the] pandemic but they’re coming back. We’re back,” Biden concluded.
The commander-in-chief failed to mention how wages and income are still struggling to keep with price increases – an issue that put Biden at odds with the electorate as the embittered 2024 presidential election draws closer.
Even the president’s supporters are skeptical of the administration’s so-called “Bidenomics” on the campaign trail.
Dr. Jill Biden also referred to her career as an educator, telling Seacrest that her message was thinking positively in 2024.
“I think it’s what I would always tell my students: be positive, be optimistic, be kind to one another. Happy New Year,” she explained.
The couple also dished about their holiday feasts – which included a wink to Biden’s noted fondness for ice cream.
“I’ve been eating everything that’s put in front of me. Pasta, which I love. Eating a lot of chicken, chicken parmesan,” the octogenarian listed off.
Jill Biden reminded her husband that he had also been indulging in ice cream, which the president noted was “chocolate chip” flavored.
Biden’s optimistic message for the near comes as his approval rating hovers at a dismal 37.2 percent, while over half of Americans disapprove of his economic leadership.
The administration is currently staring down a seemingly endless string of crises – from the lingering effects of decades-high inflation to wars in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
One day before the New Year’s Eve chin wag with Seacrest, the president was also grilled on his 2024 resolutions by a reporter while leaving dinner with Jill and his granddaughter, Natalie.
“[My resolution is] to come back [to St. Croix] next year,” he said cheekily, before adding, “that’s the biggest one right now.”
Biden spent more than a third of 2023 away at a vacation spot or Camp David, data revealed.
His preferred hideaway was Delaware, where he spent about 90 days either at his residence in Greenville or his beach home in Rehoboth.
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