G7 Wrap-Up: Biden Says America is Back, Nations Address China, Russia

With Biden “in the club” with international leaders, American mainstream media heaped laudatory praise on Biden. The right found every opportunity to criticize him, though some made it personal and unprofessional.


Summary

The G-7 summit wrapped up this weekend with few bombshells and little drama, but President Joe Biden closed the meeting by calling it “extraordinarily collaborative” and declaring “America’s back in the business of leading the world.”

 

reporting from the left side of the aisle

 

  • CNN’s analysis of the G-7 summit heaped praise on Biden for “return[ing] the United States to the type of consensus-based diplomacy” and gushing over the international camaraderie Biden enjoyed over ice cream sundaes. 
  • The New York Times’ coverage gave generally positive reporting though noted while the G-7 nations showed a united front on Russia and China, some disagreements on timelines for climate change initiatives and limiting China’s expansionism were evident. 
  • CBS News headlined their coverage with President Biden’s declaration that “America is back at the table” and will “do our part”, while detailing the topics in the summit’s “communique”, a 25-page document on broader goals of cooperation among the seven nations.

 

 

Author’s Take

The “results” of G-7 and G-20 summits rarely produce anything concrete or actionable. It’s mostly a time for elites to pal around and make vague platitudes about cooperation and respect for each other. Don’t expect any of this to make a larger difference.

The notion that “America is back” is problematic. American media coverage of it is purely partisan and a clear dig at President Trump, who, it should be pointed out, secured multiple lasting peace and cooperation agreements between Israel and former enemies.

That being said, some of the coverage of the summit from the right was unbecoming and unprofessional. Making fun of President Biden’s goofs as a sign of cognitive decline is over the line.


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© Dallas Gerber, 2021