CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� Former President warned on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has 鈥渢aken a hatchet鈥� to , weighing in on a critical issue for millions of Americans as the 82-year-old Democrat briefly returned to the national stage.
Biden, who has largely avoided speaking publicly since leaving the White House in January, gave an evening speech at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago. The former president was speaking as Democrats across the nation offered similar warnings for what they described as a Social Security Day of Action.
鈥淚n fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It's kind of breathtaking," Biden charged during a speech that spanned just under a half-hour. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.鈥�
It was no coincidence that Tuesday鈥檚 appearance, which marked Biden's first major event since leaving office, was focused on Social Security. Democrats have increasingly focused on Trump's turbulent leadership over the popular government agency that provides benefits to more than 70 million Americans.
Both parties expect Social Security to emerge as a key issue in next year鈥檚 midterm elections.
Speaking before a crowd of roughly 200 people, Biden largely stuck to his prepared remarks but also rambled at times as he told stories about growing up with working-class people.
He referred to the Republican president only as 鈥渢his guy.鈥� Trump, by contrast, continues to blame Biden for many of the nation鈥檚 problems and often attacks his predecessor by name.
Conservatives immediately seized upon a Biden reference to the country's political divisions as an attack on Trump supporters.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are," Biden said. "As I said, I鈥檝e been doing this a long time. It鈥檚 never been this divided. Granted, it鈥檚 roughly 30%, but it鈥檚 a 30% that has no heart.鈥�
A Biden spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for clarification about whom Biden was referencing.
Earlier in the day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took a shot at the former president鈥檚 age and fitness when asked about Biden's appearance.
鈥淚鈥檓 shocked that he is speaking at nighttime,鈥� Leavitt said during Tuesday鈥檚 White House press briefing. 鈥淚 thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.鈥�
She said that Trump, who is 78 years old, would sign a presidential memorandum Tuesday afternoon 鈥渁imed at stopping illegal aliens, and other ineligible people, from obtaining鈥� Social Security benefits. The memorandum will expand the Social Security Administration鈥檚 fraud prosecutor program to at least 50 U.S. attorney offices, and establish Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution programs in 15 U.S. attorney offices, Leavitt said.
The Social Security Administration pushed back against Biden鈥檚 remarks using its official X account.
鈥淔ormer President Joe Biden is lying to Americans,鈥� the agency wrote.
Trump's moves on Social Security have stirred controversy
The Republican president almost immediately began slashing the government workforce upon his return to the White House, including thousands of employees at .
Along with a planned layoff of 7,000 workers and contentious plans to impose tighter identity-proofing measures for recipients, the SSA has been sued over a decision to allow Trump adviser Department of Government Efficiency to and other personally identifiable information.
Musk, the world鈥檚 richest man and one of Trump鈥檚 most influential advisers, has called Social Security 鈥渢he biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.鈥�
At the same time, Social Security recipients have complained about long call wait times as the agency鈥檚 鈥渕y Social Security鈥� benefits portal has seen an increase in outages. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income, including disabled seniors and low-income adults and children, also reported receiving a notice that said they were 鈥渘ot receiving benefits.鈥�
The agency said the notice was a mistake. And the White House has vowed that it would not cut Social Security benefits, saying any changes are intended to reduce waste and fraud.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e shooting first and aiming later,鈥� Biden alleged. 鈥淭hey 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.鈥�
Among the conference attendees was Michigan-based attorney Jason Turkish, who leads one of the country鈥檚 largest disability law firms. He said Trump鈥檚 presidency has caused anxiety for many of his 32,000 clients nationwide, who are worried about diminished benefits and uncertainty over agency changes.
鈥淲e go from Republican to Democrat, Democrat to Republican and there鈥檚 always been a belief that Social Security is just something we do not touch,鈥� he said.
Still, he said there are signs that Social Security Administration officials are open to change. He cited how the agency on plans to require beneficiaries to go to a field office to verify their identity. Turkish is also optimistic about agency modernization efforts.
A return to the stage for Biden
Biden is not expected to make frequent public appearances as he transitions into his post-presidential career. He still maintains an office in Washington, but has returned to Delaware as his regular home base. Trump has .
鈥淭his is an all hands on deck moment, which is why President Biden鈥檚 voice in this moment is so important,鈥� Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a call with reporters ahead of Biden鈥檚 address.
While Biden may be in a position to help his party with fundraising and messaging moving forward, he left the White House with weak approval ratings.
Biden also faces blame from some progressives who argue he shouldn鈥檛 have sought a second term. Biden ended his reelection bid after his disastrous debate performance against Trump and made way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the fall.
Just 39% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Biden in January, according to a Gallup poll taken shortly after Trump鈥檚 inauguration.
Views of the Democratic former president were essentially unchanged from a Gallup poll taken shortly after the November election. They broadly track with the steadily low favorability ratings that Biden experienced throughout the second half of his presidential term.
Indeed, while some Democratic leaders welcomed Biden's return this week, others were not pleased to see him.
鈥淭he best role that Biden could play going forward would be to stay off the public stage,鈥� said progressive activist Norman Solomon. 鈥淭hat might sound harsh, but frankly, his self-centered mentality has already done so much damage to the Democratic Party and the country that he certainly owes us some belated humility.鈥�
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Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen, Will Weissert and Linley Sanders contributed to this report.
Steve Peoples And Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
