Former U.S. President Joe Biden delivered his first major public address since leaving the White House, criticizing the Trump administration for its attacks on Social Security and warning of the program’s vulnerability amid proposed cuts.
Around 200 advocates, counselors, and representatives for the disabled gathered in Chicago’s River North neighborhood as Biden took the stage during a conference on Tuesday. Speaking at the event, Biden denounced the Trump administration’s efforts to slash Social Security spending, arguing that the cuts have endangered the benefits of 73 million seniors. He avoided directly naming Trump, instead focusing on the broader implications of the policy changes, calling them ‘a hatchet to the Social Security Administration’ and warning of the ‘needless pain and sleepless nights’ that the cuts could cause for retirees.
Biden’s speech was timed with ‘Social Security Day of Action,’ a nationwide campaign to protest what advocates describe as the Trump administration’s severe threats to the program. The former president’s remarks marked his gradual reemergence in public life, with Biden’s aides preparing for the release of several books detailing his physical and mental state during his 2024 presidential campaign. Some of his allies have already begun challenging reports about his decline, which may have contributed to Democrats’ losses in the 2024 election.
Biden’s speech was held just blocks from a high-profile campaign fundraiser for him that took place last year, prior to his withdrawal from the presidential race. The focus on Social Security, Biden’s core issue, was seen as a strategic move to maintain his influence without appearing too political. According to a former administration official, Biden is likely to continue engaging selectively on specific topics, such as Social Security, rather than launching a broader campaign.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Biden’s return to the public stage, calling the administration’s attacks on Social Security an ‘unprecedented assault’ that requires all Democrats to speak out. Former Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley, who introduced Biden at the event, noted that the former president waited the ‘appropriate’ time to make his first major speech, while former Senate Minority Leader Debbie Stabenow emphasized the importance of his involvement in the current political climate.
Other former world leaders, including President Barack Obama and Canada’s former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have also stepped back into the public eye in recent weeks. Obama criticized the Trump administration’s funding freeze for Harvard University, while Trudeau, who resigned last month, was scheduled to appear on a PBS station in Buffalo for an exit interview. However, Trudeau’s return to public life coincided with a snap election in Canada, where many voters have moved on from his leadership.
Biden’s speech, alongside the broader political landscape, signals a resurgence in his public influence, with Biden’s allies and supporters emphasizing the importance of his voice in the ongoing debates over Social Security.