Biden says “we won’t go on like this as a divided nation” in first public remarks since leaving workplace
Washington — Former President Joe Biden on Tuesday delivered his first public remarks since leaving workplace, specializing in preserving Social Safety however he additionally urged that “we won’t go on like this as a divided nation.”
Throughout his speech on the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled convention in Chicago, Biden assailed President Trump’s administration however didn’t identify Mr. Trump instantly. He additionally did not handle his departure from final yr’s presidential race.
The previous president referred to as Social Safety a “sacred promise.” He touted his administration’s efforts to chop Social Safety fraud, and mocked claims by the Trump administration — together with Mr. Trump’s cost-cutting czar Elon Musk — that scores of implausibly previous persons are amassing funds.
“By the best way, these 300-year-old folks getting that Social Safety, I need to meet them,” Biden stated. “Hell of a factor, man. I am searching for longevity.”
Biden criticized Mr. Trump’s tax cuts in his first time period by referring to “the final time this man had the job,” and stated “this new administration” has “performed a lot injury” to the Social Safety Administration by reducing employees. He additionally assailed Musk for calling Social Safety a “Ponzi scheme” and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for suggesting his mother-in-law would not complain if she missed a cost — however did not identify both of them.
He blasted “some Republican members of Congress” for, in his view, looking for to “lower and intestine” Social Safety: “Who the hell do they assume they’re?”
Nam Y. Huh / AP
The 82-year-old former president, who left workplace on Jan. 20, has till now largely remained out of the highlight. And Biden’s look comes as Democrats have sought to reorganize themselves after the occasion endured bruising losses within the 2024 elections, whereas Mr. Trump has continued to hurl criticism at his predecessor within the three months since he returned to workplace.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who served as Commissioner of the Social Safety Administration beneath Biden, launched Biden, and former Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan are set to make addresses later within the week.
“We’re honored President Biden has chosen the 2025 ACRD Convention to handle the nation,” O’Malley, an adviser to the group, stated in a press release, whereas citing “widespread concern the progress just lately made for Social Safety shall be tragically reversed.”
The previous president’s look comes as Democratic leaders have warned of threats to Social Safety amid the Trump administration’s slashing of presidency packages and companies beneath the Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE. Considerations in regards to the well being of this system amid latest makes an attempt to considerably shrink the company have abounded.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries is main his members on plenty of days of motion targeted on opposing the Trump administration as Congress is in recess, with a “Save Social Safety Day of Motion” Tuesday. The minority chief held a information convention Tuesday morning, the place he pressured that Social Safety “faces an unprecedented assault.”
“Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Home Republicans assume that Social Safety is a ponzi scheme,” Jeffries stated, including that “it’s unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Home Republicans are dismantling and shutting Social Safety places of work, jacking up wait occasions and stopping hard-working Individuals from securing their advantages.”
