Biden visits France for a speech on democracy and the anniversary of D-Day

President Joe Biden arrived in France on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The purpose of his trip was to highlight his dedication to American allies in Europe and to set his democratic platform apart from that of Donald Trump, his opponent in the 2024 presidential election.

During his five days in France, Biden will give a high-profile speech, have a formal state visit with President Emmanuel Macron, and participate in D-Day ceremonies in Normandy, where American and allied forces stormed French beaches in an attack that helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Vice President Joe Biden will discuss the war effort to stave off Russian invaders while in Normandy, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said reporters on board the president’s trip to Paris.

According to Sullivan, Biden’s speeches in Normandy on Friday near the renowned Pointe du Hoc cliffs and on Thursday at the official 80th anniversary event would focus on the perils of isolationism and the necessity of opposing dictators.

Using the Cold War and the formation of NATO as a bridge, Biden will relate the events of World War II to the current situation in Europe, “where we face once again war, where NATO has rallied to defend freedom and sovereignty.”

Biden will meet the elderly veterans of the D-Day invasion in what looks to be an emotional occasion.

Biden and Macron would talk about possible ways to help Ukraine with the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, according to White House national security spokeswoman John Kirby.

In light of Trump’s turbulent four years in power, Democratic candidate Joe Biden is challenging Republican nominee Donald Trump for reelection in November. A major focus of Biden’s campaign has been safeguarding and bolstering American democracy.

Trump’s refusal to recognize the results of the 2020 election led to his followers’ deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. If elected to a second term, Trump has vowed to pursue political opponents, deport immigrants, and punish whistleblowers.

Some believe that if Trump were to win the presidency again, he would completely remove the United States from NATO. He has threatened to leave NATO partners if they do not increase defense expenditures.

Due to his unwavering support of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel’s battle with Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths when Hamas attacked Israel in October of last year, killing over a thousand people, Biden’s message on democracy may be complex.

Netanyahu is facing war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court, and some foreign allies as well as left-leaning American voters want Biden to halt U.S. military aid to Israel. Biden may suffer from the problem in important areas like Michigan come election season.

The commemorations of D-Day take place against the backdrop of Russia’s almost two-year war with Ukraine, one of the contemporary conflicts in Europe.

Prior to his trip, Biden spoke at a political fundraiser, referring to the D-Day invasion as “one of the most important moments in the history of defense of freedom and democracy in the world” and emphasizing the importance of not forgetting the sacrifices made on that day.

This year, democracy is genuinely up for election. Freedom and democracy may not survive this. On Monday, he told donors in Connecticut, “We have courageous troops who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy and who did their part.