Biden on Trump: ‘What President Ever Talks Like that? Not Who We Are’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In his first interview since leaving office, Joe Biden denounced President Trump’s Ukraine stance as “modern-day appeasement,” warning against giving territory to Russia. Biden also criticized Trump’s Oval Office treatment of Ukraine’s president and questioned his erratic global ambitions. The remarks come amid rising concerns about U.S. leadership and global democracy.
Biden’s Ukraine Critique Quick Looks
- Biden calls Trump’s Ukraine stance “modern-day appeasement,” likening it to pre-WWII Europe.
- Slams Trump for reportedly berating Zelensky and musing about acquiring Panama, Greenland, and Canada.
- Suggests global allies are unsure if they can rely on the U.S.
- Warns that democracy faces its greatest threat since WWII.
- Says Republican Party is “waking up” to Trump’s real agenda.
- Defends timing of his 2024 campaign exit, citing generational transition.
- First interview since leaving office, aligned with Victory in Europe Day.
- Under Biden, U.S. gave over $65 billion in aid to Ukraine.
- Biden to appear on The View following BBC interview.
Deep Look: Biden Warns of Rising Global Instability, Calls Trump’s Ukraine Policy Appeasement
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has sharply rebuked President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, characterizing it as a dangerous form of “modern-day appeasement” that echoes the failed diplomacy of pre-World War II Europe. Speaking with BBC Radio 4 in his first interview since leaving the White House, Biden warned that Trump’s suggestion Ukraine might cede territory to Russia would only embolden authoritarian aggression.
“I just don’t understand how people think that if we allow a dictator, a thug, to take land that isn’t his, that it will satisfy him,” Biden said, directly referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin. He compared the position to Neville Chamberlain’s 1930s appeasement of Adolf Hitler, warning that history shows how such concessions often fail to prevent greater conflict.
Condemnation of Trump’s Oval Office Behavior
Biden further criticized Trump’s February 2025 Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Trump’s tone and treatment of Zelensky were “beneath America.” He also took issue with Trump’s “bizarre” geopolitical ambitions, including offhand comments about acquiring Panama, Greenland, and Canada.
“What president talks like that? That’s not who we are,” Biden said. “We’re about freedom, democracy, opportunity—not about confiscation.”
Democracy at a Crossroads
When asked whether he believes democracy is more at risk today than at any time since World War II, Biden replied unequivocally, “Yes, I do.” He noted that many European leaders are beginning to question the reliability of U.S. support in light of Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy.
He accused Trump of acting more like a monarch than a president. “He’s not behaving like a Republican president,” Biden said, suggesting history would judge Trump’s early 2025 tenure harshly.
Still, Biden expressed some optimism, stating that he believes the Republican Party is beginning to “wake up” to what Trump truly represents.
Reflecting on 2024 and the Transition
Biden also addressed his own decision to step back from the 2024 presidential race, saying that leaving when he did allowed a new generation of leadership to emerge.
“I meant what I said when I started,” Biden explained. “I think I’m preparing to hand this to the next generation. But things moved so quickly, it made it difficult to walk away. It was a hard decision.”
He added that the timing of his departure was strategic and intentional. “We left at a time when we had a good candidate, she’s fully funded,” Biden said. “No one thought we could do what we did. It was hard to say, ‘Now I stop.’”
A Legacy Shaped by Ukraine
Much of Biden’s presidency was defined by the war in Ukraine. He played a central role in rallying NATO and European support for Kyiv and oversaw more than $65 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine from 2022 to 2025. His administration also approved the use of long-range American missiles and led sanction campaigns aimed at isolating Russia.
His warnings in the interview align with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, drawing historical parallels between today’s geopolitical instability and the rise of fascism in the 1930s and ’40s.
Next Media Appearance
Biden is expected to continue his reentry into the public dialogue with a scheduled appearance on ABC’s The View later this week, where he is likely to expand on his views about democracy, global leadership, and Trump’s early record in his second presidency.
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