Biden Criticizes Trump as Naive on Russia, Downplays First 100 Days as No Major Victory
Trump has repeatedly criticized Biden for his administration's mistakes in his first 100 days as president
In his first broadcast interview since leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden sharply criticized both his predecessor and successor, calling President Donald Trump's first 100 days "hardly a triumph."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Biden defended his own record on NATO and condemned Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in early 2022 during Biden's administration. Trump has said he wants the conflict to end swiftly.
Biden dismissed that stance as “modern-day appeasement,” adding, “Anybody who thinks [Putin] is going to stop is foolish.”
The Trump administration has indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may need to accept Russia’s control over Crimea and potentially cede other territory occupied since Russia’s 2022 invasion as part of a peace deal.
“I just don’t understand how people believe a dictator or thug can be satisfied by taking land that doesn’t belong to him,” former President Joe Biden said in response. “That’s not how this works—I just don’t get it.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if he had been in office. Since returning to the White House, he has consistently blamed Biden for the war and its consequences.
Tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine escalated in February when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized Zelenskyy during a meeting in the Oval Office, suggesting the Ukrainian leader was obstructing peace.
“I found the whole scene beneath America,” Biden said, referring to the encounter. He also expressed disbelief at Trump’s past rhetoric, including proposals to buy Greenland or turn Canada into the 51st state. “What the hell is going on here? What president talks like that? That’s not who we are. We stand for freedom, democracy, and opportunity—not confiscation.”
When asked if Trump was acting like an autocrat, Biden stopped short of saying so outright but remarked that Trump didn’t resemble a “Republican president.” The interviewer noted Biden was being "diplomatic."
Pressed on his own record amid Trump’s ongoing criticism, Biden defended his administration’s accomplishments. “When I left office, we had created more jobs than any president in U.S. history in one term,” he said. “The economy was booming, the stock market was climbing, we were expanding global influence, increasing trade, and reclaiming leadership in advanced tech like semiconductor manufacturing.”
Trump, for his part, has blamed Biden for recent economic troubles, claiming in April that he “inherited a sinking economy.” Responding to questions about tariffs, Trump said, “You could even say the next quarter is sort of Biden’s—it doesn’t all happen overnight.”
