The US as defender of democracy won’t win votes. Donald Trump gets it, Joe Biden doesn’t | Simon Tisdall

Despite concerns about the state of the world, Americans have soured on their global policing role

If Joe Biden believes his record as a world leader will help him get re-elected in November, he may have another think coming. His term began with catastrophe in Afghanistan, was thrown into turmoil by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is ending on a desperately sour note in Gaza. Add in US-China standoffs and a proxy war with Iran, and the old foreign policy hand begins to look decidedly cack-handed.

That was partly the message from Michigan last week, where younger voters used the Democratic presidential primary to signal dismay over Biden's unstinting backing for Israel's war with Hamas. For sure, he has gradually become more critical of Benjamin Netanyahu's criminal clique - and is finally pushing a ceasefire. But his lethal, almost callous misjudgments following 7October will not be forgotten.