Former President Joe Biden broke his silence on Social Security in a speech on Tuesday evening. This was his first public address since Donald Trump took office. Biden spoke at an event for advocates of disabled individuals in Chicago, where he accused Trump and Elon Musk’s administration of attempting to "dismantle" Social Security.
Biden was late to the event, starting his speech while the walkout music was still playing, which made him hard to hear at first. He opened with a personal story about his childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, reflecting on race and civil rights. He recalled seeing children of color on a bus and expressed his confusion about why they weren’t allowed to go to school with white children.
After this anecdote, he returned to the teleprompter and criticized Trump’s administration for what he described as significant damage to Social Security. He claimed that in just a short time, the new administration had caused a lot of harm, specifically to the Social Security Administration.
Biden made a curious remark about anti-fraud measures, joking about wanting to meet "300-year-old folks" who receive Social Security. He claimed that his administration had strengthened protections against fraud, despite reports of ongoing issues in the system.
During his speech, Biden’s delivery varied from soft whispers to loud outbursts, reminiscent of his speaking style towards the end of his presidency. His comments prompted Fox News to cut away for a fact-check, where anchor Brett Baier pointed out discrepancies in Biden’s statements about Social Security.
Baier noted that while Biden claimed the program was being dismantled, Trump and Musk had stated they were targeting waste and fraud within the system. Trump has also assured that he would not cut benefits for seniors.
Recently, Musk stirred controversy by labeling Social Security as "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time" during a podcast appearance. Meanwhile, Trump highlighted issues of incompetence and fraud in Social Security during a recent speech to Congress.
Under Trump’s administration, the Social Security Administration has seen significant staff reductions, with around 7,000 employees lost and more cuts expected. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made light of Biden’s late-night appearance, joking about his usual bedtime.
Biden’s speech has sparked discussions about the future of Social Security and the ongoing tensions between the former president and current administration.