President Biden Delivers Powerful Speech Slamming Recent Attacks on Social Security in First Public Remarks Since Leaving Office

President Biden Delivers Powerful Speech Slamming Current Attacks on Social Security in First Public Remarks Since Leaving Office

Chicago, IL – April 15, 2025

President Joe Biden made his first public remarks at the annual conference of the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives of the Disabled

President Joe Biden made his first public remarks at the annual conference of the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives of the Disabled (ACRD) in Chicago today, delivering a passionate speech centered on the importance of both preserving and strengthening Social Security — particularly for Americans with disabilities.

 

Introduced by former Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, who served as the Commissioner of Social Security during the Biden Administration, President Biden took the stage to a standing ovation and was honored with ACRD’s prestigious Beacon of Hope Award, recognizing his long-standing commitment to disability rights and preserving and strengthening Social Security’s programs for all Americans.

 

The President did not hold back in his remarks, sharply criticizing the current administration for having “taken a hatchet” to Social Security within its first 100 days in office, which he described as an orchestrated effort to dismantle a vital American institution and deprive Americans with disabilities of their dignity. Quoting O’Malley in his speech, the President rebuked the current administration’s approach to Social Security characterizing their recent actions toward the agency as,

 

“They want to wreck it so they can rob it.”

 

He stated, without naming names directly, that the current administration and its supporting members of Congress want to continue to hand tax cuts to the ultra wealthy paid for with cuts to Social Security, causing hard-working families, seniors, and disabled Americans to suffer, an action he described as “deliberate,” “cruel,” and a “sign of weakness.”

 

President Biden’s long-standing career of supporting disabled Americans is recognized.

 

Throughout his speech, Biden called for unity and collective action to defend Social Security against political attacks. He highlighted efforts of his own administration to protect and expand benefits, reduce wait times, and achieve fairness in the disability claims process. He applauded Democrats efforts to protect the Social Security Administration against recent attacks in their National Day of Action to Protect Social Security.

 

The organization the President addressed, comprised of individuals that represent claimants before the Social Security Administration seeking disability benefits due to their impairments preventing them from being able to work, recognized the 46th President’s unwavering commitment to strengthening Social Security’s safety net programs across his career, from advocating for and supporting the Americans With Disabilities Act as a Senator in 1990 to signing the Social Security Fairness Act into law earlier this year as his term came to a close.

 

President Biden’s first remarks since leaving office were delivered in the classic “Joe Biden fashion” that Americans have come to know and love–with warmth, humility, passion, humor, and sincerity. He touched on his Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware roots, humbly highlighted the substantial accomplishments of Gov. Martin O’Malley during his tenure as Commissioner, and praised the attendees, all counselors and advocates for the disabled from across the country, for doing “God’s work” in fighting for the dignity of Americans with disabilities. He acknowledged the work disability lawyers and representatives play in upholding the founding promise of our nation that all men and women are created equally in the work that they do, delivered with the profound sincerity Joe Biden is known for.

 

 

“God love ya,” the President remarked in praising the disability advocates present at the conference he spoke at today. 

 

As the conference continued, attendees praised Biden’s message and leadership, expressing hope that his words would galvanize elected officials and disability advocates nationwide to push back against harmful cuts to Social Security and rally for reform and support for the Social Security Administration.  

 

Anderson & Ackerman Law Group

At Anderson & Ackerman Law Group, we have been fighting for disabled Americans for years, from the initial application, through denials, hearings, and appeals all the way to federal district court. If you or a family member have questions about the social security disability process or need assistance with your own claim for benefits, contact our office for a free consultation to learn how we may be able to help you.