In his first major public appearance since stepping away from politics, former U.S. President Joe Biden took direct aim at Donald Trump’s sweeping changes to the federal government, accusing his successor of putting Social Security — a lifeline for millions of Americans — in serious jeopardy.
Speaking at a disability advocacy conference in Chicago on Tuesday, the 82-year-old Democrat criticized the Trump administration’s rapid push to downsize government agencies, particularly the Social Security Administration. “In less than 100 days, this administration has caused so much damage, it’s hard to believe,” Biden said. “They’ve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration, forcing out 7,000 employees. That’s not efficiency — that’s sabotage.”
Biden’s remarks came as part of a broader push to spotlight how the Trump administration’s cuts, under a so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” effort led by Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk, are already hurting everyday Americans. He pointed to problems like the Social Security website crashing, which he said was delaying critical retirement and disability payments.
“Millions rely on Social Security to survive — to pay rent, to buy food. For many, it’s their only income. And now it’s under threat,” Biden warned.
He also took a swipe at Trump’s commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, a former hedge fund manager, who recently downplayed complaints about benefit delays by saying “fraudsters” would complain, not his mother-in-law. Biden shot back: “What about the 94-year-old woman living alone without a billionaire son-in-law? What happens to her?”
While Biden’s speech was passionate, it also showed signs of the aging that influenced his decision not to run for re-election. He occasionally stumbled through sentences and trailed off mid-thought, using his familiar “anyways” to move on. Trump later mocked one such moment with a clip posted to social media — without needing to add commentary.
Despite that, Biden’s message was clear: he’s deeply concerned about the future of Social Security under Trump’s leadership and wants to make it a defining issue heading into the next election.
Social Security remains a hot-button topic in American politics — often referred to as the “third rail” because of its sensitivity. Biden’s speech signals that it may once again become a central issue in the national conversation.
