Biden argues that ‘oligarchy’ and social media are threats to democracy in farewell speech
President Joe Biden’s farewell speech on Wednesday was accompanied by a series of warnings about the country’s future. Among them is that a “rising oligarchy is forming” that threatens American democracy.
“Today, America is an oligarchy of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our fundamental rights and freedoms, and a fair chance for all to get ahead,” Biden said.
Biden’s comments, delivered from the Oval Office, appear to be clearly aimed at billionaire Elon Musk, who has stood by President-elect Donald Trump since his election victory, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Biden recalled former President Dwight Eisenhower’s warning against creating a “military-industrial complex” in which he used his power. 1961 Farewell speech To warn of “the potential disastrous rise of misplaced power.”
“Six decades later, I am equally concerned about the potential rise of the tech-industrial complex,” Biden said. “It could pose a real danger to our country as well.”
Biden also launched sharp criticism of social media platforms, arguing that they neglect to verify facts.
“Social media is abandoning fact-checking. The truth is being stifled by lies told for power and for profit,” he said, in an apparent reference to Meta’s termination of the fact-checking program.
Biden warned of the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, calling it “the most important technology of our time.”
“Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks to our economy, security and society,” he said.
Biden continued, saying that without safeguards, AI could “generate new threats to our rights, to our way of life, to our privacy, to how we work, to how we protect our nation.”
Biden appeared to attack his successor when he said the Constitution should be amended “to make clear that no president is immune from crimes he commits while in office.” Constitutional amendment would require deep support and bipartisanship at both the federal and state levels, making it unlikely in the near term.
His comments appeared to be aimed at Trump, who has been impeached twice, indicted on four counts and convicted in Manhattan. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and routinely maintained that he had done nothing wrong, and the federal charges against him were dropped after he won the election.
“The president’s power is not limited,” Biden said. “It’s not absolute, nor should it be.”
Biden also said he wishes the incoming Trump administration success.
“This is not just about the last four years of his administration,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday. He is stepping down from his career.
“So you can imagine that the president has a lot to say, a lot of ideas he wants to share, and it really touches on the moment we’re in right now,” she added.
In a message Wednesday reviewing his prime-time remarks, Biden highlighted parts of his speech that touched on what he sees as his key accomplishments, touting continued job growth, lower prescription drug costs and investing in clean energy to combat climate change.
“Powerful powers want to exert their influence unchecked to undo the steps we have taken to address the climate crisis, to serve their own interest: for power and profits,” he said in his speech. “We must not be intimidated into sacrificing the future.” The future of our children and grandchildren.”
He began his farewell speech by highlighting the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, indicating that the incoming Trump administration would implement much of it.
If the agreement announced Wednesday afternoon goes into effect this weekend as planned, it would mark a breakthrough in the long war that has roiled Biden’s presidency and drawn criticism from within his own party.
In his message And his words, Biden did not refer to Trump by name, but he referred to him indirectly.
“I ran for president because I believed the soul of America was at stake. The very nature of our identity was at stake. And that remains the case,” he said in the letter.
In his speech, he said that serving as president was “the highest honor of my life.”
“I still believe in the idea that this nation represents, a nation in which the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure,” he said. “Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be guardians of the flame. May you keep the faith.”
Biden has not yet specified the details of his post-presidency plans.
Three administration officials said he and First Lady Jill Biden plan to travel directly from the inauguration to central California to spend personal time. Officials said they plan to remain in Santa Barbara County, although wildfires in the Los Angeles area may impact their plans.
Last week, a reporter asked Biden about his plans after leaving office regarding his role as a political figure: Will he speak publicly after the presidency or will he be “out of sight and out of mind”?
“I will never be out of sight or out of mind,” he replied.