In a significant move, former President Joe Biden is set to make a high-profile return to the national stage this Tuesday. His focus will be on raising awareness about the critical concerns surrounding Social Security, particularly the implications of President Donald Trump's agenda, which many liberal advocates believe threatens the health and sustainability of this vital program. This speech comes after Biden has largely refrained from public appearances since departing the White House in January.
Biden's anticipated address will take place during the evening at the national conference of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) in Chicago. The event is particularly significant as it highlights an issue that affects tens of millions of Americans and could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes of the upcoming midterm elections. Rachel Buck, the executive director of ACRD, emphasized the importance of Social Security for retirees, stating, “As bipartisan leaders have long agreed, Americans who retire after paying into Social Security their whole lives deserve the vital support and caring services they receive.”
Since his return to the political sphere, Trump has been vocal about his criticism of Biden, often directly attributing a multitude of national issues to his predecessor. Notably, during his time in office, Trump initiated significant cuts to the government workforce, including a notable reduction of employees at the Social Security Administration (SSA). His administration's controversial plans included laying off 7,000 workers and imposing stricter identity-proofing measures for Social Security recipients.
The SSA has also faced legal challenges over a decision to grant Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency access to individuals’ Social Security numbers and personal information. Musk, who has been a prominent adviser to Trump, controversially labeled Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” Meanwhile, many Social Security recipients have expressed frustrations over long wait times and outages in the SSA’s “my Social Security” benefits portal. Reports have also emerged of recipients receiving erroneous notices stating they were “not receiving benefits,” which the agency later attributed to a mistake.
Despite these challenges, the White House has reassured the public that it will not cut Social Security benefits. Instead, any proposed changes aim to diminish waste and fraud within the system. Biden's address in Chicago will also feature a bipartisan group of former elected officials, including former Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), along with former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley. O'Malley has stated, “Social Security is a sacred promise between generations.”
As Biden transitions into his post-presidency phase, he is not expected to make frequent public appearances. Although he maintains an office in Washington, he has returned to Delaware as his primary residence. His current situation is further complicated by the fact that Trump has revoked his security clearances. While Biden has the potential to aid his party through fundraising and messaging efforts, he left the White House with low approval ratings, facing criticism from some progressive factions who felt he should not have sought a second term.
After a tumultuous debate performance against Trump, Biden ultimately stepped aside for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who subsequently lost to Trump in the following election. A Gallup poll from January revealed that only 39% of Americans held a favorable opinion of Biden shortly after Trump’s inauguration, reflecting the ongoing challenges he faces in rehabilitating his public image.
With his upcoming speech, Biden aims to reassert his influence on crucial issues like Social Security, potentially setting the stage for a renewed dialogue on the future of this critical program.
