Foreign policy dominates Biden’s agenda before the first debate: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill.

In today’s edition, chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander recaps President Joe Biden's big foreign policy push before the first debate. Plus, politics managing editor Amanda Terkel dives into the often emotional fundraising appeals from Donald Trump's campaign.

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Foreign policy dominates Biden’s agenda before the first debate

By Peter Alexander

We’re now two weeks away from the first general election presidential debate, and we’re also just days removed from the guilty verdicts against Donald Trump and Hunter Biden.

But if there’s been a set of issues that have dominated President Joe Biden’s time and schedule during this crucial stretch, it’s been foreign affairs and international relations.

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Last week, Biden traveled to France for a state visit and the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

And while part of that trip had a fixed eye on America’s domestic audience — especially Biden’s speech on democracy and freedom — so much else was focused on foreign affairs.

Covering that trip for NBC News, what struck me most — of course, after what may be the last formal gathering of D-Day veterans — were the public discussions about who will be guiding the U.S. less than a year from now. Even along the hallowed ground at Normandy American Cemetery, some of those in attendance for Biden’s speech — in which he denounced isolationism — were donning red MAGA hats.

Behind all the powerful imagery of that