I am returning home after two months in Europe where I spoke with different people in four countries.  They all wanted to know what was going on in America. In particular, they wondered how we let the choice for President come down to Trump or Biden. They kept asking, “who else could there be?” And, they had suggestions ranging from Michelle Obama to Nikki Haley. It was my sad duty to inform them that, absent a health incident, the field was set.

“How could Trump be a candidate after his indictments and January 6th?” they wondered aloud. I explained that viewing Trump as a politician was a mistake. Rather, I encouraged them to see him as the leader of a movement; as we know, followers of such movements have always allowed their leaders more leeway than politicians.

“But,” they asked, “isn’t Biden too old? Surely there are younger Democrats who could run and serve.” I patiently explained that our system gives great deference and control to incumbent Presidents and Biden believes that he can defeat Trump again.

They went on, “What has become of the America [we] knew where exciting fresh faces and ideas are a part of your political heritage?” 

Whether John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan (not young, but vibrant), Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, or Barack Obama, they all thought we could provide inspired leadership as the one indispensable nation to preserve western democracy. They told me they were afraid if America withdrew and rejected the values that they had brought to the rest of the world, things would revert to a time they remembered all too well.

I told them there was hope but couldn’t disagree with their fears.

It is always sobering to understand how important we are as a beacon of light to the world. Hopefully, we won’t let it get snuffed out.