In a disastrous speech, Joe Biden made a fool of himself and incessantly disrespected President Donald Trump, refusing to call his successor by name throughout his nearly 30-minute public appearance and discounting statements made by Elon Musk that questioned the legitimacy of the U.S. Social Security Administration’s practices.
For context, on April 15, 2025, Biden returned to the national stage four months after leaving the White House, delivering a speech in Chicago that focused primarily on protecting Social Security benefits. Speaking to a group of disability advocates who had gathered for a national conference, Biden was characteristically vague, derisive, and unable to make a coherent point.
According to press accounts, Biden began his speech by taking a jab at the Trump Administration, saying, “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking it can happen that soon.” He continued, accusing President Trump and his Cabinet of taking “a hatchet to the Social Security Administration.
Moving on, Biden zeroed in on the DOGE-spearheaded layoffs of 7,000 Social Security Administration employees, accusing President Trump of “getting ready to push thousands more out of the door” and baselessly claiming, “They want to wreck it so they can rob it,” in reference to the Trump Administration’s motivations behind laying off SSA employees.
Unwilling to let up, Biden continued by pushing back at Elon Musk’s description of Social Security as “a Ponzi scheme,” saying, “A Ponzi scheme? What the hell are they talking about? People earn these benefits. They paid into that benefit. They rely on that benefit.”
Biden went on to single out Elon Musk and President Trump again, this time based on statements made about 200 and 300-year-old deceased Americans receiving Social Security Benefits. Biden said, “By the way, those 300-year-old folk getting that Social Security — I want to meet him because I’d like to figure out how they live that long. Hell of a thing, man. I’m looking for longevity because it’s hell when you turn 40.”
Near the conclusion of his speech, Biden described Social Security as a “sacred promise” and said, “Social Security is about more than retirement accounts. It’s about honoring a fundamental trust between government and people. It’s about peace of mind for those who work their whole lives.”
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Ahead of Biden’s speech, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called out the former president for his reputation for sleepiness. During a daily press briefing, Leavitt told reporters, “I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime. I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight,” and adding, “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,” Leavitt said. “He will always protect that program.”
Watch an embarrassing clip from Biden’s speech:
Featured image credit: screenshot from embedded video