Former President Joe Biden makes his first public appearance since leaving office at a disability advocacy conference in Chicago.
According to the New York Post, Biden sparked controversy during his speech when he used outdated terminology while sharing a childhood memory about witnessing racial segregation in Delaware schools.
The 82-year-old former president described his fourth-grade experience of seeing African American children, whom he referred to using the dated term "colored kids," being bused separately from white students. Biden explained that this early exposure to segregation fueled his initial interest in politics and social justice.
Biden's recollection centered on his family's relocation from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Wilmington, Delaware. He shared that before moving to Delaware, he had limited exposure to African Americans in his community.
The former president recalled watching from his mother's car as she drove him to Catholic school, observing African American students being prevented from attending Claymont High School. This experience, according to Biden, ignited his early sense of moral outrage against racial discrimination.
The conference organizers struggled with technical difficulties during Biden's entrance, as Bruce Springsteen's introduction music continued playing, drowning out the beginning of his speech.
Biden dedicated a significant portion of his address to defending Social Security benefits, presenting it as more than just a government initiative. He emphasized its fundamental importance to American society.
The former president expressed strong opposition to Republican proposals regarding Social Security reforms. Biden became particularly animated when discussing this topic, though he consciously restrained himself from further commentary.
He addressed recent claims about Social Security fraud with humor, stating:
Those 300-year-old folk getting that Social Security, I want to meet them. I'd like to figure out how they live that long. Hell of a thing, man. I'm looking for longevity.
While Biden avoided directly naming President Trump, he indirectly referenced ongoing debates about Social Security fraud. These claims have been prominently featured in discussions by Trump and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk.
The speech marked Biden's first public address since departing the White House in January 2025. The choice of venue at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled conference highlighted his continued focus on social welfare issues.
The former president's departure from the stage proved somewhat awkward as he appeared momentarily disoriented before identifying and pointing to the stairs before making his exit.
Joe Biden's return to public speaking occurred at the ACRD conference in Chicago, where he addressed issues of racial segregation from his childhood and defended Social Security benefits. His use of dated terminology while discussing his early exposure to segregation generated significant attention, though the majority of his speech focused on current policy debates surrounding Social Security. The former president's first post-presidency appearance suggests he intends to remain engaged in public policy discussions, particularly regarding social welfare programs and civil rights issues.
