The paradox of the Biden presidency is that while Biden defeated Trump soundly in the election, political life in the US is still heavily influenced by the man Biden has described as “the former guy.” Biden has been reasonably successful at a conventional presidency-passing important legislation, delivering services, building coalitions with allies to support Ukraine, and appointing highly qualified federal judges. However, because of how Trump traumatized and changed American politics, the American people are no longer focusing on those measures of a president’s success.