With inflation soaring and Democrats still fuming over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Mr. Biden’s public schedule included no events or announcements on either issue. And in response to last week’s blockbuster testimony about the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, Mr. Biden said almost nothing, vowing to respect the congressional committee investigating the violent attack on American democracy. At a time of widespread political turmoil and economic distress, Mr. Biden appeared far less committed than many of his supporters had hoped. While many Democrats are begging for a fighter to voice their anger, Mr. Biden has chosen a more passive path — blaming Congress, urging people to vote and avoiding heated rhetorical battles. “The economy seems to be spiraling out of control. Fundamental rights are taken away. And the White House just isn’t coming up with anything,” said Bill Neidhardt, a former spokesman for Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. Inside the White House, administration officials say Mr. Biden has been quick to respond to the country’s crises, even if he is not getting the credit they believe he deserves. The president took office promising moderation and deliberative action after four years in which his predecessor ruled through angry tweets and frequent rants. Instead, Mr. Biden touted his sober experience as a lawmaker, saying it would help him bridge ideological divides. And he campaigned on knowing how to wield the power of the presidency after serving eight years as vice president. Early in his presidency, Mr. Biden aggressively campaigned for a trillion-dollar economic stimulus by promising $2,000 checks for every American, a powerful political effort that helped energize his supporters and helped Democratic victories in Georgia clinch the control of the Senate. Mr. Neidhardt said few Democrats see the same kind of energy or passion from the president now. “I’m not saying that you should, you know, always have a $2,000 check lying around,” he said. “But you have to do something. Some kind of action. I think that’s the essence of it.” On the big issues of the day, the president in recent months has often cited the limits of his power.
Understand inflation and how it affects you
He notes that the Federal Reserve has “primary responsibility” for fighting inflation. On guns, he insists Congress needs to do more. On college tuition, voting rights, borders, competition with China and more, Mr. Biden’s usual response is that it’s up to lawmakers. The Supreme Court’s action on abortion, he said, was a “tragic mistake” — but not one he can fix. “The only way we can ensure a woman’s right to choose and the balance that existed is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade as federal law,” Mr. Biden said. “No executive action by the president can do that.” Legal experts say Mr. Biden’s assessment of the restrictions is accurate. But critics say his measured approach simply doesn’t live up to the moment, leaving him struggling to inspire his supporters and allies into action. Activists, elected leaders and everyday Democratic voters say they want Mr. Biden to push the legal limits. Among the ideas: Establishing abortion clinics on federal lands. demand an expansion of the Supreme Court; call for the impeachment of former President Donald J. Trump. push harder for tougher climate change regulations and legislation. “I don’t want crazy-happy leaders all the time,” Amanda Littman, a progressive activist, said on Twitter on Wednesday. “But to remain calm and non-responsive when the crises before us are enormous — on abortion, guns, climate, democracy, etc. – makes us feel like we are the crazy ones for thinking things are bad!’ The president’s White House aides and closest allies dismiss the Democratic criticism as little more than misinformed or erroneous allegations. “It’s nice for Democratic leaders to have ideas,” said Cedric Richmond, a former top White House adviser who now works for Mr. Biden at the Democratic National Committee. “But if the ideas are illegal or if they don’t work or if they hurt people more, he’s not going to do it.” Mr. Richmond, a former congressman from Louisiana, criticized Democrats for engaging in what he called a “circular firing squad” and said they were responding to Republican claims that the president’s party was destined to lose the midterm elections. “To those Democrats who are nervous, worried, scared, whatever you want to call it,” he said, “go out, knock on some doors, win some elections.” In Europe last week, Mr. Biden pushed world leaders to accept a proposal to try to lower gas prices. After months of study, Mr. Biden proposed a federal gas tax holiday to lower prices at the pump — an idea popular with Democrats. When the court struck down Roe v. Wade, it issued a series of executive orders aimed at securing some access to health care. And last month, he helped push the first bipartisan gun safety legislation in decades. White House officials noted that Mr. Biden delivered a powerful speech hours after the court’s Roe decision, calling it a “terrible, extreme decision.” On guns, they said the president was blunt and passionate, saying after the Texas elementary school shooting: “I’m sick and tired of this. We must act. And don’t tell me we can’t have an impact on this carnage.” Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called for more urgent action from the White House, especially on economic issues. But he said on Wednesday that sniping at Mr. Biden by members of his own party is counterproductive and will help Republicans win congressional elections this fall and the 2024 presidential race. “The Democratic Party needs to rally around President Biden going into the midterms and re-electing the president,” he said. “If people have constructive ideas, they should share them. But they should do so in the spirit of strengthening this president’s hand.” Mr. Khanna said Democrats need to find constructive ways to channel their anger and frustration over abortion, gas prices and other issues into action. He said party leaders should not hesitate to take actions like enforcing more gun regulations, restoring a woman’s right to an abortion or making it easier for Americans to buy everyday goods. “I guess my view on this is that we’re going to have a lot more success if we do this by having a constructive dialogue with the White House than by bashing the president,” he said.
Frequently asked questions about inflation
Card 1 of 5 What is inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, meaning your dollar won’t go as far tomorrow as it does today. It is usually expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, clothing, transport and toys. What causes inflation? It may be a result of increasing consumer demand. However, inflation can also rise and fall based on developments that have little to do with economic conditions, such as tight oil production and supply chain problems. Is inflation bad? It depends on the circumstances. Rapidly rising prices cause problems, but modest price gains can lead to higher wages and increased employment. Can inflation affect the stock market? Rapid inflation usually spells trouble for stocks. Financial assets in general have historically performed poorly during bursts of inflation, while physical assets such as homes hold their value better. As Mr. Biden faces increased criticism, his approval ratings are taking a hit. A Monmouth University poll released Tuesday put Mr. Biden’s approval rating at 36 percent and found that a majority of Americans believe the federal government’s actions are hurting them. In a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll, 71 percent of respondents said they don’t think the president should run for re-election. Meanwhile, other Democratic politicians are jumping into what they see as a leadership vacuum. In the hours after the shooting in Highland Park on Monday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker caught the attention of many Democrats with a blunt proclamation: “Get angry,” he said, his words captured on television and later shared on social media. “I’m outraged. I am outraged that even more innocent lives have been taken by gun violence.” Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democratic candidate for re-election, ran a television ad in Florida on Monday that gave voice to the message many in Mr. Biden’s party want to hear from him. “Freedom is under attack in your state,” Mr. Newsom said. “Republican leaders are banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors,” he added, in a thinly veiled political attack on Ron DeSandis, the state’s Republican governor and potential nominee. president in 2024. The grumbling among Democrats has been going on for weeks, if not months, often focused on what they say is a failure to communicate effectively by Mr. Biden and his White House staff. On Wednesday, Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director and one of the president’s longtime advisers, announced that she will soon leave the administration. Senior White House officials praised her work and people close to her said she wanted to spend more time with her children after working for Mr. Biden for more than seven years. Interviews with Democrats across the country earlier this summer showed a deep reservoir of frustration with Mr. Biden. “The president needs to be more aggressive,” said David Walters, the former…
