In his first major speech since leaving office, Biden, criticised Trump’s Social Security changes and accused Republicans of targeting essential benefits for Americans
Former US president Joe Biden warned on Tuesday that President Donald Trump had “taken a hatchet” to Social Security, weighing in on a critical issue for millions of Americans as the 82-year-old Democrat briefly returned to the national stage.
Biden, who has largely avoided speaking publicly since leaving the White House in January, gave an evening speech at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago. The former president was speaking as Democrats across the nation offered similar warnings for what they described as a Social Security Day of Action.
“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking,” Biden said during a speech that lasted just under a half-hour. “They’ve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration (SSA).”
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It was no coincidence that Tuesday’s appearance, which marked Biden’s first major event since leaving office, was focused on Social Security. Democrats have increasingly focused on Trump’s turbulent leadership over the popular government agency that provides benefits to more than 70 million Americans
Both parties expect Social Security to emerge as a key issue in next year’s midterm elections.
Speaking before a crowd of roughly 200 people, Biden largely stuck to his prepared remarks but also rambled at times as he told stories about growing up with working-class people.
He referred to the Republican president only as “this guy”. Trump, by contrast, continues to blame Biden for many of the nation’s problems and often attacks his predecessor by name.
Conservatives immediately seized upon a Biden reference to the country’s political divisions as an attack on Trump supporters.
“We can’t go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are,” Biden said. “I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s never been this divided. Granted, it’s roughly 30 per cent, but it’s a 30 per cent that has no heart.”
A Biden spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification about whom Biden was referencing.
Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took a shot at the former president’s age and fitness when asked about Biden’s appearance.
“I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime,” Leavitt said during Tuesday’s White House press briefing. “I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.”
She said that Trump, who is 78 years old, would sign a presidential memorandum Tuesday afternoon “aimed at stopping illegal aliens, and other ineligible people, from obtaining” Social Security benefits. The memorandum will expand the Social Security Administration’s fraud prosecutor programme to at least 50 US lawyer offices, and establish Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution programmes in 15 US lawyer offices, Leavitt said.
The Social Security Administration pushed back against Biden’s remarks using its official X account.
“Former President Joe Biden is lying to Americans,” the agency wrote.
Trump’s moves on Social Security have stirred controversy.
The Republican president almost immediately began slashing the government workforce upon his return to the White House, including thousands of employees at the Social Security Administration.
Source: MSN
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