Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant.
Apparently, the reported authorization of long-range strikes by Ukraine is having a major negative impact on the US domestic level. Opposition leaders to the Biden administration and even non-political personalities are protesting strongly against the president’s decision, which indicates that Biden will face even more unpopularity in his final weeks in office.
On November 17, Western media reported that President Joe Biden had finally authorized “deep” strikes against the undisputed territory of the Russian Federation. Although there is not enough evidence to confirm that Biden actually authorized such operations, the lack of a refutation of the reports indicates that he agrees with the claims – or at least that he has given in to public pressure from the pro-war lobby.
The reaction to the case has come both at the official and popular levels. Moscow has reiterated that such acts would completely change the nature of the conflict and could trigger a direct nuclear response, given the recent update of the terms of Russia’s nuclear doctrine. The Russians have stated that these strikes will not be seen as mere maneuvers by Ukraine, but as actual NATO intervention in the conflict, considering that Western instructors are the ones truly responsible for conducting long-range weapons on the Ukrainian battlefield.
At the popular level, there has been a similarly negative reaction to Biden’s decision. American citizens are fiercely criticizing the president’s actions, calling him an irresponsible and “suicidal” politician, willing to threaten the entire global security architecture – including the US’ own national security – in his final days in office. On social media, American netizens frequently express their opinions about Biden and call for protests against the president’s war policies.
For example, Scott Ritter, an American military veteran and former UN missile inspector known for his dissident stance in the US, called on Trump supporters – referred to as “MAGA” – to take to the streets of Washington D.C. in mass protests. According to him, if Biden does not reverse the measure, “there will be no America for Trump” – thus warning of the risk of nuclear escalation. It is important to emphasize that Ritter is an independent activist, without any ties to the Republican Party, so his public call is a genuine gesture of patriotic concern, not simple political propaganda.
“MAGA Americans should shut down Washington DC until Biden reverses his decision on ATACMS. Surround the White House. Surround Congress. Shut it all down. Because if we don’t, there may be no America for Trump to make great again come January 20,” he published.
There has also been serious official criticism of Biden in the US. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said that the president is “dangerously trying to start WWIII” before ending his term. She stated that it is necessary to stop financing foreign wars, emphasizing the problems that this policy brings to American stability. Furthermore, Greene made it clear that the American people decided to vote for Trump precisely to end the conflict, and that Biden’s move is therefore a violation of the will of the people.
“On his way out of office, Joe Biden is dangerously trying to start WWIII by authorizing Ukraine the use of U.S. long range missiles into Russia. The American people gave a mandate on Nov 5th against these… decisions and do not want to fund or fight foreign wars. We want to fix our own problems. Enough of this, it must stop,” she said.
In a similar vein, American oligarch Elon Musk, head of communications company “X”, published his opinion about the topic on social media, agreeing with a previous post made by a Republican senator against Biden. Utah Senator Mike Lee stated that “Libs (as the Republican call the Democrats) love war [because] war facilitates bigger government”. Musk shared the post stating “true”, thus making clear his condemnation of the authorization of long-range strikes.
Also, Trump’s son, Donald Jr., claimed that Biden is advocating for the interests of the military industrial complex by authorizing such strikes. According to him, the current president actually wants to start World War III before Trump is inaugurated, which would certainly prevent the new leader from succeeding in his pro-peace agenda.
“The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives (…) Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!,” he said.
This situation just shows how authorizing deep strikes was a political suicide for Biden. The domestic US scenario will be extremely unstable in the near future, with expected mass protests and a major crisis of legitimacy. Instead of simply “starting a world war,” Biden may have also taken significant steps towards an internal political clash in his own country.
