Biden gives first speech since post-presidency and takes aim at Trump and Elon Musk

Joe Biden has indirectly hit out at Donald Trump’s government for not sticking to ‘a sacred promise’ the US made to its people.

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the US on January 20, 2025, and despite that only being several months ago, he’s certainly wasted no time signing off a staggering amount of executive orders and making changes to the political system – whether it be launching the Department of Government Eficiency (DOGE) and appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk as its lead, or slashing the federal workforce.

Last night (Tuesday, April 16), former US president Joe Biden took to the stage at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled conference in Chicago.

The 82-year-old took to the stage and after reflecting on his childhood and family, told the crowds he wanted to ‘talk to [them]’ about an issue that’s front and center right now for millions of Americans’ – ‘social security’.

Reflecting on the day being declared Social Security National Day of Action by the Democrats, Biden acknowledged: “Everyone in this room fights for people with disabilities who rely on Social Security to survive – and it’s not just the physical side, it’s the mental side.

“You make sure folks get the benefits they earn after a lifetime of hard work, the work they do is more than just a profession, what you do, it’s a calling.”

Biden reflected on Social Security as being not just ‘a government program’, but ‘a sacred promise we made’.

“73 million Americans receive Social Security, from the first pay check for their entire life they pay into social security and in return, they count on social security to be there for them when they’re going to need it,” he continued. “Folks, we must never ever betray that trust or turn our backs on an obligation – that’s why during my presidency we protected social security and made it stronger.”

Alas, Trump hasn’t had quite the same approach. While Biden ‘secured nearly $2 billion dollars to secure customer service’ and ‘slash[ed] wait times,’ Trump has signed executive orders to restrict Social Security, such as ‘illegal aliens’ not obtaining benefits.

While not naming anyone, Biden continued: “We also face the constant threat of some members, Republican members of the Congress to cut and gut Social Security – cut and gut it period – they want to let social security expire every five years – that was a proposal – unless re-authorized by the Congress.

“Who the hell do they think they are? “

Biden nearly continued on his rant, before stopping himself and noting: “I will not go further or get in trouble.”

Alongside drawing on the raising of the retirement age too, he snubbed: “Last time this guy had the job he raised the debt ceiling because of an enormous and profligate tax to the super wealthy.”

And the cuts to social security? Well, Biden questioned: “How do you sleep at night? How do you sleep at night?

“You’ve got to ask yourself why is this happening? […] Well they’re following that old line from tech startups that quote is ‘Move fast break things’.

“They’re certainly breaking things, they’re shooting first and aiming later,” Biden said. “The result is a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights.

“My friend Governor Ali knows what they’re really up to. He says – and I love this quote – ‘They want to wreck it so they can rob it.'”

Biden questioned who ‘they think they are’ and resolved the cuts won’t happen on his ‘watch’, adding he ‘refuse[s] to go along with any of it’.

He said: “One of the most important jobs of any elected official is to make sure the government works for the people, works for all the people […] and that we keep our promises to the people, all the people.”