
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I give President Biden’s press conference at the close of the NATO summit a C+ for several reasons – and that I on the generous side. ; That grade does not reflect his D- overall grade</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What drove up his grade average a smidgen were a number of facts. First and foremost, he did not have any significant gaffes. Oh … he mixed up a few words saying NATO when he meant Russia. He produced real news in announcing another $800 billion for Ukraine&#8217;s defense – including offensive weapons.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He expressed rage at the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade – and announced that he would support a one-time abandonment of the filibuster rule for an abortion bill. ; He used the abortion issue to slip in a not-so-veiled partisan campaign pitch – telling people that the best way to respond to the Court decision is to vote. ; It is obvious that he was talking about voting for Democrats. (That bit of partisanship on the world stage brought his grade down a bit.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">His report on the current status and activities of NATO was strong and impressive – including the addition of Finland and Sweden, plus the increase in payments from hitherto reluctant member nations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden would have gotten a higher grade had the press conference been a real press conference, but this was a VERY limited exposure to the press – carefully crafted by those behind the curtain. There were hundreds of reporters from around the world in attendance, but Biden only took questions from five pre-selected reporters – who could not be accused of asking tough questions. ; It may have been one of the shortest presidential press conferences on record.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden repeated his claim that the entire inflation is Putin’s fault – although he did not call it “Putin’s inflation” as he has so frequently in the past. ; He said the world economic problems were caused by “Russia, Russia, Russia.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden lost points in not explaining what the commitment of the United States to Ukraine specifically means. ; In a grand platitude, Biden pledged to do for Ukraine “whatever it takes.” ; It was his answer to three questions. ; But “whatever it takes” does not tell us whatever it takes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He made it sound that a ceasefire may be an acceptable outcome when a Russian defeat means that Putin would have to withdraw his troops from all Ukraine territory – including the Donbas Regions, the Crimea and all gains he made in the war. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With a specific explanation as to the American goal, all those general statements of support mean very little.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I previously wrote a commentary that Putin was primarily responsible for uniting NATO – rather than Biden, as he claims. ; In a backhanded way, Biden seemed to agree with my assessment. ; He said that he told Putin that if he invaded Ukraine, HE (Putin) would unite NATO.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To the extent Biden got a passing grade on his remarks at NATO it was more on style than substance. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Biden’s NATO press conference was a C+
