The testament of a president, the epitaph of an era, the end of American illusions. Each of these expressions is apt to describe Joe Biden's speech at the State Department on Monday, January 13, taking stock of his actions around the world. With a week to go before he leaves the White House, the Democratic president showered himself with congratulations. He said he was leaving the Trump administration "very strong cards to play," pretending to be unaware of the extent to which the country's image has been damaged and the tycoon's return a personal failure for him. Biden managed never to mention the word "Gaza" in his long speech, even though this tragedy symbolizes, in the eyes of a large part of public opinion, his administration's contradictions and a form of hypocrisy. They will be replaced by the transactional brutality embraced by his successor.

"Thanks to our administration, the United States is winning the worldwide competition compared to four years ago. America is stronger, our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker. We have not gone to war to make these things happen," asserted Biden. The American leader noted that "major authoritarian states" – Iran, Russia, China and North Korea – are now collaborating. But he called this "more a sign of weakness than strength."

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