Joe Biden is responsible for the strong economy under Donald Trump
For much of his Presidency, Donald Trump has put emphasis on the booming economy under his rule. However, the groundwork for a strong economy was laid during Barack Obama's leadership - in which Joe Biden served as Deputy.
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The Argument
Whilst the Trump administration has resided over a strong economy, the groundwork for this was laid during Obama’s presidency, where Joe Biden served as vice president. In the years after the 2008 financial crash, Obama and Biden oversaw rising growth rates that have continued under Trump.[1] Trump also boasts historically low levels of unemployment, however unemployment was already low when he came to office at 4.7%.[2] Similarly, the rise in median household income can also be traced back to the Obama era, where median household income rose sharply between 2014 and 2016.
More recently, Trump has failed to manage the coronavirus pandemic and has overseen a major recession. Biden played a significant role in Obama’s post-2008 recovery and laid the foundation for the longer term economic stability and growth that continued under Trump up until the pandemic. Biden has shown his ability to navigate an economic crisis and restore prosperity.
Counter arguments
Whilst it is true that the post-2008 economic recovery under Obama and Biden delivered a robust economy, it is a stretch to deny Trump credit for the continued growth and prosperity during the first three years of his presidency. Trump deserves praise for building on the economic success of Obama’s presidency.
This argument also goes too far in praising Biden for ultimately Obama’s work. Whilst Biden was certainly an important figure in Obama’s administration, this is not sufficient to hold him responsible for the strong economic performance during and after his vice presidency. Obama was ultimately responsible for the economic recovery from 2008 to 2016.
Premises
[P1] The US economy has performed well under Trump
[P2] The economy was performing well under Obama, Trump's predecessor
[P3] Obama's management of the economy is responsible for the continued strong economic performance under Trump
[P4] Biden served as vice president to Obama and is responsible for Obama's achievements
[P5] Biden is responsible for the strong performance of the economy under Trump
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P3] Trump is responsible for the continued strength of the economy under his presidency
[Rejecting P4] Biden is not responsible for the achievements of Obama's presidency, Obama is