Trump vs. Biden: How Two Presidents Took Different Paths on Houthi Threat
White House highlights Trump’s decisive actions against Houthi militants while criticizing Biden’s approach for emboldening attacks on U.S. and global shipping.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – As the United States continues its military response to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea, a stark contrast emerges between how former President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump have handled the Iran-backed rebel threat. The White House has emphasized Trump’s decisive action against the Houthis, while highlighting the previous administration’s missteps that emboldened the militants.
Under Biden, the Houthis were removed from the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization list, a move critics argue signaled weakness and encouraged more attacks. Since 2023, Houthi militants have launched 174 attacks on U.S. Navy warships and 145 strikes on commercial vessels, forcing 75% of U.S.-flagged shipping to avoid the Suez Canal and reroute around Africa—a costly and disruptive consequence.
Trump’s approach, by contrast, was decisive and clear: He reinstated the Houthis as a terrorist organization and ordered large-scale military strikes targeting senior Houthi leaders. His administration’s swift and forceful actions deterred attacks and put America’s adversaries on notice.
As tensions in the Red Sea escalate, the current administration has reasserted Trump’s tough stance, ensuring that U.S. military power is once again leveraged to neutralize threats and protect American and allied interests. The question remains: Would the crisis have reached this level had a stronger stance been maintained all along?