Former President Joe Biden is stepping back into the national spotlight this Tuesday, voicing strong concerns that President Donald Trump’s current agenda could put Social Security in jeopardy.
The 82-year-old Democrat has mostly stayed out of the public eye since leaving the White House in January, following the long-held tradition of former presidents keeping a low profile. That’s despite Trump frequently criticizing Biden by name and blaming him for a range of national issues.
In a notable return, Biden is scheduled to speak Tuesday evening at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) in Chicago. While he has made a few recent appearances, this speech marks a major moment, as it focuses on Social Security—a vital issue for tens of millions of Americans and one that may influence the upcoming midterm elections.
Rachel Buck, executive director of ACRD, emphasized the importance of Biden’s appearance: “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. We are thrilled the president will be joining us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security.”
Since returning to office, Trump has quickly begun scaling back the federal workforce, including eliminating thousands of jobs at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Among the changes raising concern are plans to lay off 7,000 employees and implement stricter identity verification for recipients.
In addition, the SSA is facing a lawsuit over a controversial decision to grant Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access to Americans’ Social Security numbers and personal information. Musk, now one of Trump’s closest advisers, has previously referred to Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
These changes have already had an impact. Many recipients have reported longer wait times when contacting the SSA, and the agency’s online platform, “my Social Security,” has experienced frequent technical issues. Some individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which serves low-income adults, children, and disabled seniors, said they received notices incorrectly stating that they were no longer receiving benefits.
The SSA later clarified that the notices were issued in error. The White House has maintained that there are no plans to cut Social Security benefits and that recent actions are intended to reduce fraud and inefficiencies.
Joining Biden in Chicago will be a group of former bipartisan leaders, including ex-Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), along with Martin O’Malley, a former Social Security Administrator. O’Malley called Social Security “a sacred promise between generations,” and expressed gratitude for Biden’s participation in the event.
Biden is not expected to make frequent public appearances moving forward. Although he maintains an office in Washington, he has returned to Delaware as his primary residence. Since Trump’s return to the White House, Biden has had his security clearances revoked.
Though Biden may still play a role in supporting his party’s messaging and fundraising efforts, his political standing remains shaky. He left office with low approval ratings and faced criticism from progressives who felt he should not have sought a second term. After a poor debate performance against Trump, Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed then–Vice President Kamala Harris, who later lost to Trump in the general election.
According to a Gallup poll conducted shortly after Trump’s inauguration, only 39% of Americans held a favorable view of Biden. These numbers were largely unchanged from surveys conducted after the November election and reflect the ongoing challenges he faced in public opinion during the latter part of his presidency.
