Biden to Return to Spotlight With Social Security Speech/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Joe Biden will reemerge on the national stage Tuesday to speak out against recent Social Security cuts under the Trump administration. Biden’s speech at a Chicago disability conference aims to rally support for protecting benefits amid staffing cuts and controversial reforms. The 82-year-old Democrat remains a key voice despite low approval ratings after leaving office.
Biden to Address Social Security: Quick Looks
- Who: Former President Joe Biden
- What: Scheduled to speak about Social Security at a national disability conference
- Where: Chicago, at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference
- When: After 5 p.m. CDT, Tuesday
- Why: To highlight concerns over Trump’s cuts to SSA and advocate for benefit protections
- Context: Trump’s recent moves include 7,000 layoffs, data-sharing with Elon Musk’s agency
- Key Issues: Benefit delays, identity-proofing measures, errors in SSI notices
- Biden’s Status: Largely silent since January; returns with bipartisan allies
Biden to Return to Spotlight With Social Security Speech
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — Former President Joe Biden is set to break his months-long public silence Tuesday with a speech focused on one of the most sensitive issues in American politics: the future of Social Security.
The 82-year-old Democrat will deliver remarks at a Chicago gathering of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD), using the moment to push back against President Donald Trump’s recent Social Security overhauls that critics say are jeopardizing benefits for millions.
“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,” said Rachel Buck, executive director of ACRD.
Biden Returns to the Stage
While Biden has appeared occasionally in public since leaving office in January, Tuesday marks his most high-profile return to date. His speech is expected to sharpen the contrast between Trump’s policies and traditional liberal protections for senior and disabled Americans.
He will be joined by a group of bipartisan allies, including:
- Former Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
- Former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
- Former SSA Administrator Martin O’Malley
“Social Security is a sacred promise between generations,” O’Malley said. “We are deeply grateful to the President for joining us at ACRD to discuss how we can keep that promise for all Americans.”
Trump’s Controversial Overhaul of SSA
Since returning to the White House, Trump has laid off thousands of SSA workers, slashed budgets, and rolled out controversial identity-proofing systems. One of the most contentious changes involves sharing Social Security data with the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, who has called the program a “Ponzi scheme.”
These shifts have led to:
- Long call wait times for beneficiaries
- Increased outages on the SSA’s online portal
- Mistaken notices sent to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients claiming they weren’t receiving benefits
Though the SSA later said those letters were a clerical error, confusion and concern persist among seniors and disabled citizens.
White House Response
Despite the fallout, the Trump administration maintains that its changes aim to cut fraud and reduce bureaucratic waste, not end benefits.
“We are not cutting Social Security,” a White House statement insisted. “These changes ensure that hard-earned benefits go only to those who qualify — and not to fraudsters.”
Biden’s Post-Presidency: Quiet But Strategic
Since departing the White House, Biden has mostly returned to private life in Delaware, retaining a Washington office but staying out of the spotlight. Trump has revoked his security clearances, and Biden’s approval ratings remain low — with just 39% of Americans viewing him favorably in a Gallup poll taken after Trump’s inauguration.
Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign following a widely criticized debate performance and was succeeded on the Democratic ticket by Vice President Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost to Trump.
Yet Biden remains an influential figure for Democrats hoping to defend Social Security and other legacy programs in the 2026 midterms.
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