Biden Promised to ‘Turn the Page’ on Trump. What Went Wrong?
About this episode
In his final weeks as national security adviser, Sullivan defends 'Bidenism' — the 'foreign policy for the middle class' born of 2016's lessons — as industrial investment, China guardrails, technology protection, and allied coordination. He stands by the Afghanistan withdrawal's substance while conceding its political damage, claims continuity with Trump on recognizing the China challenge but divergence on rallying allies, and describes managing Taiwan risk through deterrence plus intense diplomacy. On Ukraine, he argues Russia has strategically failed and the US should supply leverage without dictating Kyiv's terms; on Gaza, he defends continued arms support to an ally facing multiple enemies while insisting American pressure improved humanitarian aid flows. Asked why Trump returned anyway, Sullivan points to post-COVID prices and the mismatch between policies whose benefits accrue over decades and political cycles measured in years.