Former President Joe Biden went after the Trump administration’s Social Security policies in a speech Tuesday night.
“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 told the crowd in Chicago.
He was speaking at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference—his first major address since leaving office.
“In the 90 years since Franklin Roosevelt created the Social Security system, people have always gotten their Social Security checks,” Biden said. “They've gotten them during wartime, during recessions, during the pandemic. No matter what, they got them. But now, for the first time ever, that might change. It would be a calamity for millions of families, millions of people.”
The speech lasted under an hour and focused heavily on his administration’s record on Social Security. He slammed Trump’s team, claiming their policies are causing stress and fear among seniors.
“Why are these guys taking aim at Social Security now?” Biden asked. “Well, they're following that old line from tech startups. The quote is, ‘Move fast, break things.’ They're certainly breaking things. They're shooting first and aiming later.”
“The result is a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights,” he added.
Although billed as his first public speech since January 20, Biden has made other appearances—like the National High School Model United Nations and a union event with electrical workers.
ACRD advocates for disability professionals and aims to improve tools and training in the field, according to its website.