In his first major public appearance since leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden issued a direct warning to Americans: Donald Trump’s administration is taking a hatchet to Social Security.
Speaking at the National Conference of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) in Chicago, Biden didn’t hold back. The 82-year-old Democrat accused President Trump of launching an all-out assault on one of America’s most essential programs.
“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and destruction,” Biden said. “They’ve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.”
Social Security Becomes a Flashpoint
Biden’s speech wasn’t just a personal comeback—it was part of the Democratic Party’s “Social Security Day of Action,” as they rally nationwide to protect benefits many fear are at risk.
Biden highlighted troubling moves under Trump’s leadership:
- Planned layoffs of 7,000 SSA employees
- Tighter identity checks for beneficiaries
- Reports of system errors telling people they weren’t receiving benefits
- Controversial access to personal data by Trump adviser Elon Musk, who has publicly called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme”
Trump’s Counter: Fighting Fraud?
The White House fired back swiftly. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mocked Biden’s age, saying, “I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime.”
She added that Trump was signing a memorandum to stop “illegal aliens and other ineligible people” from receiving Social Security benefits, and expanding fraud prosecution programs across the country.
Biden Backed by Bipartisan Voices
Biden wasn’t alone in Chicago. He was joined by former officials like:
- Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
- Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
- Former SSA head Martin O’Malley, who called Social Security a “sacred promise between generations.”
Grassroots Anxiety and Hope
Disability attorney Jason Turkish, who represents over 32,000 clients, said his clients are increasingly anxious.
“We’ve always believed Social Security was off-limits. That belief is being shaken.”
However, Turkish also noted that the SSA seems willing to walk back some controversial decisions, offering hope for modernization and reform.
Mixed Reaction from Democrats
While some welcomed Biden’s return to the spotlight, others felt he should stay out of the way.
“The best role Biden could play going forward would be to stay off the public stage,” said progressive activist Norman Solomon. “He owes the country some belated humility.”
Still, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised the former president’s voice, calling it “crucial at a moment when Social Security is under threat.”
