Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski sparked controversy with a cryptic social media post seemingly linking U.S. President Joe Biden’s debate performance to the decline of the Roman empire. Sikorski’s remarks came shortly after Biden’s widely criticized debate appearance against former President Donald Trump, which led to calls for Biden to reconsider his candidacy for a second term.
On Friday morning, Sikorski took to social media platform X to comment, “It’s important to manage one’s ride into the sunset,” a statement interpreted as a veiled critique of Biden’s political trajectory following the debate. Drawing a historical parallel, Sikorski referenced Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, praising him as “a great emperor” while lamenting that his decision to pass power to his son Commodus ultimately led to “disastrous rule” and the decline of Rome.
The comparison invoked the ancient historian Cassius Dio, who famously characterized the transition from Marcus Aurelius to Commodus as marking the shift “from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust,” symbolizing the end of Rome’s peak.
Biden’s debate performance, marked by a raspy voice, wandering eyes, pallid complexion, and hesitant delivery, garnered significant criticism from Democratic circles and European media alike. The scrutiny intensified amid concerns about Biden’s ability to effectively lead and compete in the upcoming presidential race.
This is not the first time Sikorski has stirred controversy with his social media commentary. In September 2022, he posted a photo of a damaged Nord Stream pipeline with the caption “Thank You, USA,” suggesting U.S. involvement in the pipeline’s sabotage—a statement that drew rebuke even from within his own political party. Despite the backlash, Sikorski chose not to delete his Marcus Aurelius tweet, leaving it accessible on his social media profile.
The foreign minister’s remarks reflect broader international interest and concern over U.S. leadership dynamics as the 2024 presidential election approaches. The fallout from Biden’s debate performance and the subsequent reactions underscore the global impact and scrutiny faced by U.S. presidential candidates in the contemporary political landscape.
