U.S. President Joe Biden will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France this week, aiming to underscore unwavering support for European security amidst concerns that Donald Trump could disrupt American commitments if he returns to the White House.
This visit coincides with the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, ongoing in Ukraine, where allied nations are striving to counter Russia's recent battlefield gains. Additionally, tensions between the U.S. and several European allies are intensifying over the management of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Biden arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, he will visit Normandy's revered sites, where rows of white headstones honor U.S. soldiers who perished to end World War II. On Friday, he will speak at Pointe du Hoc, where Army Rangers scaled cliffs to defeat Nazi defenses.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking on Air Force One en route to France, stated that Biden will highlight the sacrifices made on those cliffs, emphasizing the perils of isolationism and the necessity of standing up to dictators to avoid greater global consequences.
"Eighty years later, we see dictators again attempting to challenge the order in Europe," Sullivan said, urging freedom-loving nations to unite against such threats. Biden will also meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in France to discuss enhancing support for Ukraine.
On Saturday, Biden and his wife, Jill, will be honored by French President Emmanuel Macron with a state visit, including a military parade in Paris and a banquet at the Élysée Palace. The leaders will discuss strengthening their alliance, trade, and security cooperation for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Biden and Macron are also expected to address Middle Eastern issues. Biden has worked to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that includes hostage releases, while maintaining strong support for Israel and resisting European pressures to recognize a Palestinian state or investigate Israel's war conduct.
Biden, a Democrat, is set to return to the U.S. on Sunday. Before departing France, he will visit a cemetery where American soldiers from World War I are buried, a site Trump, a Republican, skipped during a 2018 trip to France due to weather, though reports later suggested he dismissed the soldiers as “suckers” and “losers.” Biden referenced these comments at a recent fundraiser, asserting that Trump does not deserve to be president.
Although foreign trips are generally nonpartisan, Biden drew a connection between the D-Day anniversary and the election, emphasizing that democracy is "literally on the ballot this year."
Following his trip to France, Biden will visit Italy for the annual Group of Seven summit, another significant international diplomatic event during the presidential election season. Biden will forgo a subsequent meeting in Switzerland focused on the Ukraine war to attend a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the U.S. instead.
Biden's travels, along with the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, aim to demonstrate a vision of global American leadership central to his political identity, which faces challenges from Trump. Despite both presidents being from the same generation, they have developed vastly different views on Europe and American alliances.
For Biden, U.S.-Europe ties are a foundation of stability and strength. For Trump, they are seen as a resource drain, and he has shown preference for autocratic leaders like Russia's Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine has destabilized the continent.
Even with a staunch Atlanticist like Biden in office, securing additional military aid for Ukraine took months due to GOP resistance, leading to depleted ammunition reserves and Russian battlefield advances. This has caused European allies to question the reliability of the U.S.
Charles Kupchan, a Georgetown University professor and former Europe director on Obama's National Security Council, noted the collapse of the bipartisan support for robust American internationalism. He cautioned that Biden should be careful about drawing historical parallels between D-Day and Ukraine, especially since he has ruled out sending American troops to fight Russia.
Biden’s international engagements are overshadowed by Trump's potential return to the White House, which concerns European officials. Some hope that a second Trump term would be no more damaging than the first, though they doubt he will be restrained without moderate advisors.
Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, highlighted the enduring popularity of populist movements in both the U.S. and Europe, reflecting deep-seated grievances among citizens.
Adding to Biden’s challenges, his trip coincides with his son Hunter’s trial in Delaware on charges of lying about being a drug addict while purchasing a gun. Hunter has pleaded not guilty.
Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist, advised Biden to focus on demonstrating strength during his trip, despite the political and personal complications he faces.
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