On April 15, 2025, former President Joe Biden delivered his first significant public address since leaving office, using the platform to sharply criticize the Trump administration’s handling of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Speaking at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference in Chicago, Biden accused the current administration of undermining the vital program that serves over 73 million Americans, including retirees, people with disabilities, and others. His remarks coincided with the Democratic Party’s Save Social Security National Day of Action, amplifying the political stakes of the issue.
Context and Significance of Biden’s Speech
Biden’s speech marked a notable return to the public stage, as he addressed an audience of disability advocates at a time when Social Security is under intense scrutiny. The Trump administration has introduced sweeping changes to the SSA, including significant staff reductions and policy shifts, spearheaded by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. These changes have sparked widespread concern among beneficiaries, who fear delays or interruptions in their benefits. Biden framed the issue as a matter of fairness and economic security, emphasizing the program’s role as a lifeline for millions.
“Seriously, people are now genuinely concerned for the first time in history, for the first and only time in history, that Social Security benefits may be delayed or interrupted,” Biden said, highlighting the unprecedented anxiety surrounding the program’s future.
The timing of Biden’s remarks was strategic, aligning with Democratic efforts to mobilize public opinion against Republican policies. On the same day, Democrats launched digital ad campaigns attacking the Trump administration’s proposals, such as President Trump’s order to eliminate paper check payments, which could disproportionately affect elderly and rural beneficiaries.
Biden’s Critique of the Trump Administration
Biden’s speech was a blend of forceful condemnation and personal reflection, delivered in his characteristic soft-spoken style with moments of sharp wit. He accused the Trump administration of deliberately dismantling the SSA to pave the way for misusing its funds. “You’ve got to ask yourself, why is this happening? Why are these guys taking aim at Social Security now?” Biden asked the audience. “They want to wreck it so they can rob it.”
He elaborated on this claim, suggesting that the administration’s goal is to divert Social Security’s trust fund to finance an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, which primarily benefited wealthy individuals and corporations. “And why do they want to rob it? In order to deliver huge tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations and keep it going,” Biden said. “That’s going to cost $5 trillion. Where are they gonna get $5 trillion to pay for it? Well, they’re going to continue to run the deficit up… and then by taking the money from someplace else.”
Biden also criticized the administration’s staffing cuts, noting that 7,000 SSA employees have been let go, including experienced career officials. “There’s 7,000 employees, 7,000 out the door in that time. Including the most seasoned career officials. Now they’re getting ready to push thousands more out the door,” he said. These reductions, he argued, have already led to tangible consequences, such as a crashing SSA website and difficulties for users trying to access their accounts. “The technology division of the Social Security administration has been cut in half. And so the website’s crashing. People can’t sign onto their accounts. What do you think it does?” Biden asked, underscoring the real-world impact on beneficiaries.
Addressing Claims of Fraud
The Trump administration has justified its reforms by citing the need to curb “improper payments” and fraud within the SSA. On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed a memo aimed at addressing alleged Social Security fraud, despite evidence suggesting that such issues are minimal. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley, who introduced Biden at the conference, countered these claims, stating, “Every inspector general for the last 30 years has concluded that the level of fraud in Social Security is actually less than one half of 1%.”
Biden echoed this sentiment, dismissing the administration’s narrative as exaggerated. He sarcastically referenced viral social media claims about fraudulent beneficiaries, joking, “By the way, those 300-year-old folk getting that Social Security, I want to meet them, because I’d like to figure out how they do that.” His humor underscored his broader point: that the administration’s focus on fraud is a pretext for broader cuts that harm vulnerable populations.
The Trump Administration’s Response
In response to Biden’s speech, the SSA issued a series of posts on X, accusing the former president of “lying” about the administration’s intentions. The agency emphasized that President Trump has “repeatedly promised to protect Social Security” and is focused on eliminating taxation on benefits to increase seniors’ income. It also disputed Biden’s claim about technology staff reductions, asserting that it had invested $16.5 million to modernize phone services. Additionally, the SSA cited $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022 and claimed that over 2 million “illegal aliens” received Social Security numbers in the most recent fiscal year, though immigrants typically receive these numbers upon gaining work authorization.
Biden’s Call for Unity and Reflections on Division
Beyond policy critiques, Biden used his speech to reflect on the state of the nation, warning that the United States is more divided than at any point in his long career. “We can’t go on like this as a divided nation, as divided as we are. I said I’ve been doing this a long time, it’s never been this divided,” he said. He attributed much of this division to a “thirty percent” of the population that he described as lacking compassion, stating, “Granted it’s roughly thirty percent, but it’s a thirty percent that has no heart.”
Despite this sharp critique, Biden struck a hopeful tone, urging unity and fairness. He drew on his working-class roots in Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as his decades of public service, to connect with the audience. He also referenced his role in passing the Americans With Disabilities Act, for which he was honored at the conference. “As a United States Senator 400 years ago – I was looking back on it, god almighty, I’ve been doing this 50 years – it’s hell turning 40 years old,” he quipped, poking fun at his age, a recurring theme in his 2024 campaign.
Broader Political Context
Biden’s speech occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension. The Trump administration’s recent decision to back off a plan to cut phone services for Social Security recipients, following pushback from groups like AARP, highlighted the public’s sensitivity to changes in the program. Meanwhile, Democrats have seized on Social Security as a key issue, organizing protests and campaigns to galvanize support ahead of future elections. The Save Social Security National Day of Action, declared on the same day as Biden’s speech, underscored the issue’s prominence in the Democratic agenda.
Why It Matters
Social Security is a cornerstone of the American social safety net, providing essential support to over 73 million people. As Biden noted, “73 million Americans receive Social Security from their first paycheck for their entire life, they pay into Social Security. In return they count on Social Security is going to be there for them when they’re gonna need it.” Any threat to the program’s stability has far-reaching implications, particularly for vulnerable groups like people with disabilities and retirees.
Biden’s speech not only highlighted these stakes but also positioned Social Security as a defining issue in the ongoing political battle between Democrats and Republicans. By framing the Trump administration’s policies as an attack on a program that millions depend on, Biden sought to rally public support and hold the administration accountable.
Former President Joe Biden’s first major speech since leaving office was a powerful defense of Social Security and a pointed critique of the Trump administration’s policies. By accusing the administration of “wreck[ing]” the SSA to “rob” its trust fund, Biden tapped into widespread concerns about the program’s future. His remarks, laced with humor and personal anecdotes, underscored the human cost of the administration’s reforms while calling for unity in a deeply divided nation. As Democrats intensify their efforts to protect Social Security, Biden’s speech serves as a rallying cry for advocates and a reminder of the program’s critical role in American life.
