A celebration of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, was held at the White House on Monday. Joe Biden took the opportunity of the occasion to finally acknowledge Iranian women who are organizing and leading anti-regime protests in Iran.

Biden has been silent on the protests in Iran that have occurred regularly since last year. He broke his silence and paid tribute to the women and girls who risk their lives to protest against the brutal actions of the Iranian regime against its people. The morality police, for example, who beat and arrest women and girls who are in public without a headscarf, is responsible for setting off the current anti-regime protests. A 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, was beaten and arrested last year for not wearing a headscarf in public. She died in jail from her injuries. Since then women and girls, along with men, have organized and taken to the streets in Tehran and other cities in Iran in protest. It is a definitive time for women in Iran, as they do not normally lead mass protests or opposition to the regime.

Joe Biden likes to herald himself as a champion of women yet he’s silent when the voice of the leader of the free world might make a difference. The problem is that world leaders don’t respect Joe Biden. They see him as we do – he’s frequently dazed and confused. Ever since Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in the early months of his term in office, world leaders have received Biden less than enthusiastically. Biden talks a big game but there is little else to back his words up. He leads from behind, the same as Obama did. That approach makes the United States weaker on the world stage.

Credit where credit is due. Biden finally got around to vocally supporting Iranian women who are fighting for freedom in their country. This is the Biden White House so the evening had to include a brag about the White House shindig. It’s a new national tradition! Joey said so, y’all, so it is.

Jill and I – along with Kamala and Doug – are honored to host a new national tradition: the first Nowruz reception of this scale ever to be held at the White House. pic.twitter.com/mGExc9qFuW

— President Biden (@POTUS) March 21, 2023

Nothing like a re-election year to bring focus on important matters across the globe, right? Next, he’ll be trying to secure the southern border. Just kidding. We all know that isn’t happening as long as he’s living in the White House.

Happening Now: President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden deliver remarks in celebration of Nowruz at the White House. https://t.co/SgpKjFVRd8

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 20, 2023

Unfortunately for the guests, both Joe and Jill addressed the crowd. Jill butchered up the Iranian protest motto, “Jin, jiyan, azadi!” which is translated to “Woman, life, freedom!” And Joe, well, who knows what Joe said?

Biden said he wished the Nowruz holiday, a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition known as the Festival of Fire that’s linked to the Zoroastrian religion, would be a moment of “hope for the women of Iran fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

“The United States stands with those brave women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction,” Biden said, describing the reception as the biggest White House Nowruz celebration to date. “We’re going to continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.”

By holding Iranian officials accountable, Biden means issuing sanctions that don’t seem to have any effect on the Iranian regime at all. They continue to go about their merry way and life continues as it did last year and the year before that and the year before that… Sorry, those who are fighting for freedom. Don’t expect much in the way of support from Team Biden.

The White House issued a formal statement.

Today, Jill and I send our best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz across the United States and around the world—from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, to the Caucasus, to Europe.

The Nowruz holiday brings loved ones together around the Haft-Sin table to reflect on the year that has passed and renew hope for the year ahead. This year, Nowruz comes at a difficult time for many families, when hope is needed more than ever—including for the women of Iran who are fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them, and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction and courage. And together with our partners, we will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.

As we welcome the season of spring—and the new growth and possibility it brings—we have decorated our Haft-Sin table at the White House to reflect our hopes for the new year. And, we join Americans everywhere in celebrating the diverse diaspora communities who continue to strengthen the fabric of our nation, generation after generation. To everyone celebrating, Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak—we wish you a peaceful and prosperous new year.

It’s a shame that Team Biden isn’t more nimble or creative. The protests are one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s theocracy since the 1979 revolution. They continue to gain support from Iranians and their supporters around the world. God bless the brave women and girls and the men who support them willing to risk their lives for freedom.