PoliticsPath to the White House

Actions

Which foreign leaders do Biden and Trump get along with?

Scripps News is going in-depth on issues for 10 weeks leading up to the conventions.
President Joe Biden speaks as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Posted

Our "Path to the White House" series continues this week by looking at foreign policy.

From now until the Democratic and Republican national conventions, Scripps News is going in-depth on the issues that will impact your vote.

We have already dived into issues like education, gun violence and health care.

So how do former President Trump and President Biden's worldviews differ and how does it impact foreign policy?

European focus

President Joe Biden has spent much of his presidency forging alliances in Europe.

He has met with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine on multiple occasions, promising and delivering new aid to the country.

President Biden has also welcomed Finland and Sweden to NATO, the European military alliance.

Former President Trump has forged relationships with leaders in Europe, too, over the years.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has even met with Trump in recent months. Orban is considered closer than most European leaders to Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Trump has criticized NATO in the past, arguing that other countries should be paying more and that it's too reliant on funding from the United States.

Former President Trump has also criticized some of the aid given to Ukraine.

First lady Jill Biden greets Kenya's President William Ruto and first lady Rachel Ruto as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base.

Politics

Biden seeks to bolster relationship with Kenya during president's state visit

Haley Bull, Serena Marshall, Jacob Gardenswartz

Asia focus

Both leaders put a particular focus on Asia during their time in office, while differing on strategies when it comes to combating the rise of China.

Those differences however mainly center around rhetoric.

Former President Trump forged a very close friendship with the late prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe while in office.

President Biden, meanwhile, held a state dinner for Japan's prime minister earlier this year.

President Biden has taken steps to make the "Quad," the alliance of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S., stronger.

Reestablishing the "Quad" is considered one of Trump's top foreign policy achievements.

Summit controversies

Without a doubt, Trump had a desire in office to hold more controversial summits. He met with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un multiple times while in office.

President Biden has rejected such meetings and hasn't even met with President Putin since the war in Ukraine began.

Israel and Gaza

Whoever wins in November will also have to confront the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was very close to Trump during Trump's four years in the White House, but Trump has more openly criticized Netanyahu in recent months.

President Biden has criticized Israel, too, but both leaders remain committed to a strong alliance between the U.S. and Israel.