Biden Launches Fierce Attack on Trump's Social Security Policies in First Major Post-Presidency Address
Former president warns of "breathtaking destruction" to Social Security system as Trump-Musk reforms threaten benefits for millions of elderly and disabled Americans
Former President Joe Biden delivered a scathing critique of the Trump administration's handling of Social Security in his first major public appearance since leaving office, warning that recent policy changes and staffing cuts threaten the financial security of millions of Americans. Speaking to disability advocates in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden characterized the administration's actions as taking "a hatchet" to what he called a "sacred promise" to the American people.
Trump Administration's Social Security Reforms Under Fire
In his 27-minute address to the 2025 national conference of Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled, Biden outlined what he described as alarming changes to the Social Security system under President Donald Trump and his advisor Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
"In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It's kind of breathtaking," Biden said, carefully avoiding mentioning Trump by name throughout his remarks WBEZ1.
Biden highlighted several specific concerns:
- Thousands of job cuts at the Social Security Administration, with more reportedly planned
- Widely reported outages of the online benefits portal
- A controversial proposal requiring in-person identity checks for beneficiaries
- A lawsuit over Trump's decision to allow Musk's DOGE to access Social Security numbers
"They've taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration," Biden asserted, addressing an audience deeply concerned about potential impacts on disability benefits Deutsche Welle2.
The former president took particular aim at recent characterizations of Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme" by Trump advisors, declaring: "What the hell are they talking about? People earn these benefits. They paid into that benefit. They rely on that benefit. And no one, no one, no one should take it away" WBEZ1.
Political Reactions and White House Response
The White House quickly rejected Biden's characterization of Trump's Social Security policies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that "President Trump is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding tax-paying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program. He will always protect that program" Deutsche Welle2.
Leavitt also took a personal jab at the 82-year-old former president, saying, "I'm shocked that he is speaking at nighttime. I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight" WBEZ1.
The speech received mixed reactions from Democrats. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Biden's intervention, stating before the address: "This is an all hands on deck moment, which is why President Biden's voice in this moment is so important" Deutsche Welle2.
However, Democratic strategist Karen Finney expressed concern that Biden's reappearance could provide a distraction from criticism of Trump's tariff policies. "We are finally beginning to see cracks in the armor in terms of Trump's policies," Finney noted. "You don't want to become a lightning rod that distracts from Trump. And it could make it easy for Trump to change the subject to Biden" Deutsche Welle2.
Expert Analysis of Social Security Changes
Policy experts have raised significant concerns about the real-world impacts of recent administrative changes at the Social Security Administration. Former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O'Malley, who introduced Biden at the conference, accused Trump and Musk of having "gutted the Social Security Administration with a chainsaw" WBEZ1.
O'Malley also pushed back against administration claims regarding benefit fraud, calling assertions about dead people and illegal immigrants receiving benefits "a big lie" WBEZ1.
The significance of these changes extends beyond administrative reorganization. According to data cited by Deutsche Welle, approximately 73 million elderly and disabled U.S. citizens receive around $1.4 trillion (roughly €1.15 trillion) in benefits annually through the Social Security system Deutsche Welle2.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a prominent Democratic voice, characterized recent policy shifts as potentially deliberate attempts to reduce the number of benefit recipients. "I'd call it idiotic if I didn't suspect that this is actually part of a plan to throw people off of Social Security," Pritzker said, citing concerns about "longer wait times for those looking for assistance with their benefits, improper denial of claims and delayed or missed benefit checks" WBEZ1.
Biden's Post-Presidency Political Role
Tuesday's appearance marked Biden's first major foray back into the political arena since leaving office in January. The former president had notably refrained from public criticism of Trump despite being a frequent target of the current president's attacks, including a Truth Social post on Monday that referred to him as "Crooked Joe Biden" WBEZ1.
Beyond policy critiques, Biden also struck a broader tone about American democracy and national unity. "Nobody's king. Nobody's the boss. Everybody has a shot," Biden said. "We can't go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are" WBEZ1.
The 82-year-old former president did struggle at points during his delivery, occasionally showing the signs of aging that contributed to his decision to abandon his reelection campaign last year following a poor debate performance against Trump Deutsche Welle2.
According to multiple reports, the former president's appearance is part of a coordinated Democratic effort to spotlight Social Security issues, with a national day of action and protests planned across the country CNN3.
Future Implications for Social Security System
The clash between Biden and Trump over Social Security highlights fundamental differences in their visions for the program's future. Biden characterized the system as "more than a government program" but rather "a sacred promise we made as a nation" Deutsche Welle2.
His accusation that the Trump administration was "shooting first and aiming later" with their reforms suggests concerns about long-term planning for the system's sustainability. "They want to wreck it so they can rob it. Why do they want to rob it? In order to give tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations," Biden alleged Deutsche Welle2.
A particularly controversial issue has been the administration's partially reversed plan that would have required in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients. While modified to allow phone verification instead of in-person checks in some cases, the change has still raised concerns about accessibility for vulnerable populations WBEZ1.
As the debate over Social Security's future intensifies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, the question remains: can America's most essential safety net program maintain bipartisan support in an increasingly polarized political environment, or will it become another casualty of the nation's deepening partisan divide?
