Former President Joe Biden raised eyebrows this week when he claimed that multiple European leaders are privately urging him to “get engaged” in international affairs amid growing unease over President Donald Trump’s bold foreign policy moves.
Speaking at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference in San Diego, Biden focused much of his speech on NATO, international cooperation, and the unraveling of what he described as his administration’s “hard-won progress.”
“I’m getting calls — I’m not going to go into it, I can’t — from a number of European leaders asking me to get engaged,” Biden told the audience.
Though he avoided naming President Trump directly, Biden’s remarks were peppered with implied criticism—especially regarding Trump’s shake-up of NATO.
Earlier this month, Trump secured a landmark agreement at the NATO summit that raised the defense spending target to 5% of GDP. Calling it a “monumental win,” Trump said the $1 trillion pledge was long overdue.
Biden, meanwhile, lamented what he sees as a rapid reversal of his legacy:
“Many of the things I worked so damn hard [on] that I thought I changed… are changing so rapidly.”
He also noted that he’s not formally involved in policy, but continues to provide “advice” to global leaders and U.S. lawmakers alike.
“I’m also dealing with a lot of Democrats and Republican colleagues calling me… just to bounce things off [me],” he added.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
