Joe Biden’s Decline: A Tragic Tale of Power and Loss

The final chapters of Joe Biden's career reveal a deeply poignant decline.

Once known as the loquacious Irishman who could spend nearly an hour elaborating on a single question, Biden’s verbal fluency has diminished. The father who endured the loss of two children and witnessed two others struggle with addiction has been worn down by ongoing personal hardships, especially amid legal troubles surrounding his son Hunter—whom he often referred to as “my only living son.”

The sociable politician, who once enjoyed lively conversations with lawmakers across party lines, found himself isolated in his home in Rehoboth, Delaware during his battle with Covid-19. Frustration consumed him, leading to distrust of longtime friends he regarded as disloyal skeptics. His fury was largely reserved for everyone except his wife Jill, Hunter, and a close circle of aides who nurtured his belief that he could secure re-election despite signs of cognitive decline at age 81.

Perhaps most tragic is how a leader celebrated for his decency, empathy, humility, and patriotism became blinded by the lure of power. In clinging to the presidency, he has inadvertently damaged both his party and the nation he served for over fifty years, while undermining his own legacy—destined to be marked by significant setbacks.

At the heart of this narrative lies a timeless theme of tragedy: hubris.

If one were to distill Joe Biden’s essence, it would be defined by a persistent chip on his shoulder.

He resisted advice from former leaders urging him to make way for a younger generation. Efforts to encourage a transition were made indirectly, but Biden perceived these as attempts to sideline him—especially recalling how he felt overshadowed in 2015 by the former president’s apparent preference for Hillary Clinton, a fellow Ivy League insider, from a world Biden always sensed looked down upon him.

In 2017, Biden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a gesture that fell short of his expectations—he had hoped for a more symbolic honor. This perceived slight only intensified his sense of grievance.