March 26, 2021 last updated 15:12 ET Then-Vice President Joe Biden at the U.S. Africa Summit in Washington, Aug. 4, 2014 (AP photo by Susan Walsh). The U.S. Can Still Promote Democracy in Africa America’s democracy, once seen as a shining light and inspiration to democrats across the world, was pushed to the brink by Donald Trump’s presidency. In the aftermath of last month’s storming of the Capitol by right-wing extremists, some commentators declared that the United States’ own troubles mean it must now back away from promoting liberal values in the rest of the world. But in fact, the opposite is true: Having repelled a major challenge to its own democracy, America is now better positioned to promote democratic norms and values abroad.