In the world of governance, there is a fundamental truth that too many people ignore at their peril: personnel is policy. A president’s administration is not just a collection of names; it’s the reflection of their values, priorities, and approach to leadership. This distinction is no clearer than when comparing the bold and results-driven Trump administration to the confused, weak-kneed Biden team.

Let’s start with the Trump era, where every appointment was an extension of America First principles. Richard Grenell, Trump’s Ambassador to Germany and later Acting Director of National Intelligence, embodied that approach. Grenell stood up to Germany’s freeloading on NATO, fiercely defended American interests, and wasn’t afraid to challenge the European Union’s leftist orthodoxy. His brief tenure at the top of the intelligence community injected a needed jolt of accountability and national security focus that rattled the D.C. establishment.

Then, look at David Friedman, Trump’s Ambassador to Israel. Friedman helped orchestrate one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in modern history — the Abraham Accords — solidifying Israel’s security in the Middle East by brokering peace with several Arab nations. For years, politicians on both sides of the aisle had promised to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem but never delivered. Friedman and Trump did it swiftly, cutting through decades of timid diplomacy. These weren’t just symbolic victories — they reshaped the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.

On the home front, consider Tom Homan, who served as Trump’s acting director of ICE. Homan was a bulldog in the fight to secure America’s borders. His no-nonsense approach to immigration enforcement was in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s open-borders disaster. Homan believed that the rule of law should be upheld and that securing our borders was not just a matter of policy but of national security. Under his leadership, ICE saw record deportations of dangerous criminals, and his unapologetic defense of American sovereignty earned him the respect of law enforcement across the country.

Now compare that to the chaos we’ve seen since Biden took office — surging illegal immigration, overwhelmed border patrol agents, and a complete lack of leadership. Personnel matters, and Homan showed that strong leadership can actually protect Americans.

Now, look at Biden’s team. Antony Blinken, the current Secretary of State, is a quintessential establishment figure — more comfortable in diplomatic parlors than in negotiating from a position of strength. His tenure has been defined by weakness, indecision, and global instability. The botched withdrawal from Afghanistan is the clearest example of this. The hasty pullout, poorly managed under Blinken’s watch, not only embarrassed America on the world stage but also left behind U.S. citizens, billions in military equipment, and led to the deaths of 13 brave service members.

And then there’s Rob Malley, who Biden appointed as the Special Envoy for Iran and who, just like Blinken, served for many years in the Obama Administration. Malley has a long history of advocating for a soft approach towards Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. He was a key architect of the disastrous Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and seems determined to bring it back, no matter how much it empowers the mullahs. Under Malley’s guidance, the Biden administration is pushing for concessions to Iran, even as the regime continues to enrich uranium and destabilize the Middle East. Malley’s appeasement strategy sends the exact wrong message to our adversaries — that America is more interested in begging for a bad deal than standing firm against threats.

And finally, there is U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman. He has been a disaster for American diplomacy, disgracing the American people with his blatant political activism and reckless bridge-burning. Instead of fostering constructive relationships, Pressman has used his position to push divisive, far-left agendas that alienate Hungary’s conservative government and its people. 

His aggressive attacks on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s administration over issues like LGBTQ+ rights and media freedom have gone beyond diplomacy, crossing into political meddling. Pressman’s combative approach has undermined what should be a strong U.S.-Hungarian alliance, and his inability to respect Hungary’s sovereignty and values has damaged America’s standing in the region. Instead of being a unifying diplomat, Pressman has become a partisan activist, more focused on imposing American liberal values than on strengthening bilateral ties.

The contrast couldn’t be starker. Trump surrounded himself with strong, unapologetic America First warriors like Grenell, Friedman, and Homan, who took action and achieved results. Biden, on the other hand, has filled his administration with appeasers like Blinken, Malley, and Pressman who have emboldened our enemies and weakened our alliances.

I say again — personnel is policy, and the Biden administration’s personnel show why America’s standing in the world has been diminished under his leadership.

The stakes in 2024 couldn’t be higher. America needs leaders who will prioritize our national interest, defend our allies, and project strength on the global stage. Trump’s administration was full of players who understood that. Biden’s? Not so much. Let’s not make the same mistake again, America.

Bryan E. Leib is the CEO of Henry Public Relations, a Senior Fellow with the Center for Fundamental Rights, and a former CPAC-Endorsed 2024 Republican Congressional candidate.