Chicago: In his first major public address since leaving the White House, former U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration's approach to social welfare programs, warning of the harm caused by recent policy shifts.
Speaking at a disability rights event in Chicago, Biden did not directly name Donald Trump, but took aim at what he described as the damage inflicted by the new administration in a short period. "In less than 100 days, this new administration has caused significant harm and destruction," Biden said. He described Social Security as a "sacred promise" and emphasized its vital role in American lives.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides essential income to retirees and people with disabilities. The program currently supports around 67 million Americans, many of whom are elderly. Biden reiterated that safeguarding Social Security is critical and accused the current administration of endangering it through harmful reforms.
President Trump, meanwhile, addressed a separate gathering in Chicago, asserting that the government has taken an adversarial stance against the Social Security system. Trump, along with tech billionaire Elon Musk, has raised concerns over alleged fraud within the program. Musk now heads a government initiative aimed at improving efficiency, which has been actively working since February to cut about 7,000 jobs — approximately 10% of SSA’s workforce.
Musk has called the SSA the largest fraudulent program in the U.S., while Trump has claimed he intends to eliminate abuse by undocumented immigrants without cutting benefits for eligible citizens. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order barring undocumented immigrants and "other ineligible individuals" from receiving Social Security benefits.
Ahead of Biden’s speech, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that the president remains fully committed to protecting government benefits for “law-abiding, taxpaying American citizens and seniors.” She added, “He will always preserve this program.”
The SSA, now led by a Trump appointee, responded to Biden’s remarks on the social platform X, labeling his claims as “false.”
Since leaving office, Biden has made relatively few public appearances. In February, he signed a deal with a Los Angeles talent agency that represented him during his 2017–2020 political activities.
Former Democratic President Barack Obama also joined in the criticism of Trump’s administration this week, calling the recent freeze of over $2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University “illegal and outrageous” in a post on X.
