In his first public speech since stepping down, former President Joe Biden delivered a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s welfare policies, warning that efforts to gut the U.S. Social Security system could have devastating consequences for millions of Americans.
Speaking at a disability rights event in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden stopped short of naming his successor directly, but his message was unmistakably clear. “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breath-taking,” he said. Biden called Social Security a “sacred promise,” underscoring its importance for the elderly and disabled.
The Social Security Agency (SSA), which provides benefits to about 67 million Americans, is now facing deep staffing cuts under the direction of Elon Musk, head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The Trump administration has set a goal of eliminating 7,000 jobs—roughly 10% of the SSA workforce—in an effort to curb what it describes as widespread fraud and inefficiency.
Musk has called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” a characterization that has drawn outrage from Democratic leaders and social safety net advocates alike. Trump, for his part, insists the cuts are aimed at rooting out fraud and eliminating benefits for illegal immigrants, not reducing overall coverage for eligible Americans.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order barring illegal immigrants and other “ineligible” individuals from receiving Social Security payments. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the administration’s position, stating that Trump was “absolutely certain” about protecting benefits for “law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens and seniors.”
In response to Biden’s remarks, the SSA—which is now led by a Trump-appointed official—accused the former president of “lying” in his speech.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, former President Barack Obama also weighed in on Tuesday. On social media, Obama condemned the Trump administration’s freeze on over $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University. The freeze came after Harvard refused to amend its hiring and admissions policies in response to Trump’s demands to combat what he claims is antisemitism on campus. Obama labeled the move “unlawful and ham-handed.”
Since leaving the White House, Biden has kept a relatively low profile. In February, he signed with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the same talent agency that represented him between 2017 and 2020.
As both Biden and Obama speak out, it signals a shift in tone from the Democratic leadership, potentially foreshadowing deeper involvement in national politics ahead of the 2024 election—even as Biden chose not to address his political future during the Chicago event.
Credits: BBC
