Biden Warns Global Leaders Fear Trump’s Return to Power \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Joe Biden sharply criticized Donald Trump in a speech, claiming global leaders fear his potential return to the White House would threaten democracy worldwide. Biden shared that international leaders privately express concern about Trump, stressing the importance of preventing his reelection. Biden’s remarks came during a speech in New Hampshire that was initially focused on health care, where he also highlighted achievements in reducing prescription drug costs for seniors.
Biden’s Trump Criticism and Health Care Achievements: Quick Looks
- Global concerns: Biden said world leaders fear Trump’s return would endanger global democracy.
- Direct criticism: Biden emphasized the seriousness of the threat Trump poses to the U.S. Constitution.
- Lock him out: Biden joked about “locking up” Trump politically, calling for his defeat in the upcoming election.
- Health care savings: Biden highlighted nearly $1 billion in savings for Medicare recipients from prescription drug reforms.
- Future caps: Drug cost caps for Medicare recipients will drop to $2,000 per year in 2025, saving even more seniors.
- Trump’s impact: Biden’s criticism of Trump overshadowed his focus on health care achievements in New Hampshire.
Deep Look
Speaking in Concord, New Hampshire, Biden told the audience, “Every international meeting I attend, one leader after another pulls me aside and says, ‘Joe, he can’t win. My democracy is at stake.’” He referenced his recent trip to Germany, emphasizing that the fear of Trump’s return is a constant topic among world leaders.
Biden’s voice rose as he posed a rhetorical question to the crowd: “If America walks away, who leads the world? Who? Name me a country.” This impassioned plea was part of a broader message that the U.S. must remain a global leader and that Trump’s anti-democratic views threaten not only the U.S. but the global order.
The comments were a sharp deviation from the intended subject of the event—Biden’s accomplishments in health care reform, specifically in reducing prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients. While the speech was supposed to focus on policy, Biden’s critique of Trump brought an element of raw politics to the stage just weeks before Election Day.
Biden made it clear that he views Trump as a significant threat to democracy. He emphasized the stakes of the upcoming election, suggesting that his legacy as president is partly tied to ensuring Trump does not return to power. After the speech, Biden visited a Democratic campaign office in New Hampshire and continued his criticisms of Trump, at one point saying, “We’ve got to lock him up.”
The phrase “lock him up” echoed the chants Trump supporters used against Hillary Clinton in 2016, but Biden clarified his meaning. He quickly added, “Politically lock him up. Lock him out, that’s what we have to do,” emphasizing the need to defeat Trump in the election, not pursue legal actions against him.
Throughout the event, Biden largely avoided mentioning Vice President Kamala Harris, who is leading the Democratic ticket for the 2024 election after replacing Biden in July. However, he did acknowledge that Harris had been endorsed by notable Republicans, including former Representative Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Biden instead focused on Trump’s relationship with autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Trump is proud to be friends with someone who opposes democratic values.
“He believes in the free press like I believe I can climb Mt. Everest,” Biden joked, alluding to Trump’s frequent attacks on the media. Biden then criticized Trump and his supporters, labeling the MAGA movement as “anti-democratic” and suggesting they have little regard for the U.S. Constitution.
Biden’s warnings became even more direct as he urged the audience to consider the consequences of a Trump victory in the next election. “Think about what happens if Donald Trump were to win this election,” Biden said solemnly. “He’s not joking about it, he’s deadly earnest. It’s a serious, serious problem.” Biden concluded his remarks by asserting, “We must win,” underscoring the urgency of the Democratic campaign.
The president’s criticisms of Trump may have overshadowed the original focus of the event—Biden’s accomplishments in health care policy, particularly for seniors. At the Concord event, Biden was joined by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, whom Biden defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary. Together, they highlighted the success of health care reforms that have reduced prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients.
Biden pointed to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which found that nearly 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries saved almost $1 billion on prescription drugs during the first half of 2023. The savings are largely attributed to a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden helped pass in 2022.
Under the new rules, Medicare beneficiaries now have an annual cap of $3,500 on their prescription drug costs, a change that has provided relief to millions of seniors. Biden emphasized that the changes benefit not only seniors but also taxpayers. “It’s also saving taxpayers billions of dollars,” Biden said.
Further savings are expected, as the drug cost cap for Medicare recipients will fall to $2,000 in 2025. This will especially benefit seniors with chronic illnesses who require expensive medications. However, the lower cost cap has come at a price for some, contributing to higher premiums in certain Medicare drug plans. Some insurers have raised their prices or even withdrawn plans from certain markets, but the Biden administration has taken steps to mitigate these premium increases by providing insurers with billions of dollars from the Medicare trust fund.
Biden also highlighted another significant change coming in 2026, when the federal government will, for the first time, negotiate the prices of the 10 most expensive drugs covered by Medicare. These include popular medications like the blood thinners Xarelto and Eliquis, and diabetes drugs like Jardiance and Januvia. Currently, Medicare spends over $50 billion annually on these 10 drugs alone, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that negotiations will save taxpayers $3.7 billion in the first year.
While Biden’s speech underscored the progress made in lowering drug costs and reforming Medicare, his warnings about Trump were what captured the most attention. He ended the event by declaring, “No president has ever been like this guy. He’s a genuine threat to our democracy.” As the 2024 election looms, Biden’s message was clear: safeguarding democracy from Trump is a defining issue, not only for the U.S. but for the entire world.
Biden Warns
