Joe Biden Takes Aim at Trump’s Policy Changes in First Major Post-Presidency Address
In his first major speech since stepping down, former U.S. President Joe Biden sharply criticized Donald Trump’s administration for what he described as reckless changes to key government services, warning that these moves endanger Americans’ retirement security.
Speaking at a disability rights conference in Chicago, Biden expressed alarm at what he called the rapid dismantling of essential institutions under Trump’s leadership.
“In less than 100 days, the damage done is truly staggering,” Biden told the audience. “They’ve slashed Social Security operations, forcing out 7,000 workers.”
The 82-year-old Democrat, dressed in a blue suit and tie and standing before a backdrop of American flags, spoke for approximately 30 minutes. During the speech, he occasionally stumbled over words and struggled through some impromptu remarks, briefly pausing before moving on with his familiar phrase, “anyways.”
Trump responded by posting a video clip of one of Biden’s unscripted anecdotes online, leaving it without comment.
Biden’s address focused heavily on Social Security, a program relied upon by over 65 million Americans. He criticized Trump and his influential adviser Elon Musk for downsizing the agency under their so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” alleging the cutbacks have led to service failures like website crashes that prevent people from accessing their benefits.
Calling Social Security the “lifeline” for many older Americans, Biden said, “Some rely on it just to put food on the table. For millions, it’s their only source of income. Taking that away would be catastrophic.”
He also called out Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a former hedge fund executive, for suggesting that only fraudsters complain about missing payments. Biden pushed back, asking, “What about the 94-year-old woman living alone, without a billionaire in the family to help her out?”
