Biden, in first speech since leaving office, says Trump is threatening Social Security

Former President Joseph R. Biden returned to the spotlight Tuesday, excoriating President Trump’s cost-cutting agenda, saying it threatens Social Security and will harm older Americans.

In his first speech since leaving office, Mr. Biden sought to frame access to entitlement as a key issue in next year’s midterm elections. He spoke at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago.

Although he refrained from uttering his successor’s name, Mr. Biden lobbed plenty of harsh criticism at Mr. Trump, accusing him of cruelly pursuing cost savings at the expense of everyday Americans.

“This new administration has made so much damage and so much destruction it’s kind of breathtaking it could happen that soon,” he said. “They’ve taken a hatchet to the Social Security Administration, pushing an additional 7,000 employees — 7,000 — out the door in that time.”

Ahead of Mr. Biden’s speech, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mocked the former president’s age and hesitancy to hold events in the evening.

“I’m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime,” she said during the White House press briefing. “I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight.”

Since taking office, Mr. Trump slashed thousands of jobs at the Social Security agency and proposed a controversial plan to impose tighter measures to verify recipients’ identities. He also came under fire for allowing the Department of Government Efficiency to access individuals’ Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information.

Social Security recipients have also complained about long call wait times and outages at the Social Security benefits portal. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income, including older adults with disabilities and low-income adults, received a notice that they were no longer receiving benefits. The Social Security Administration said the notice was an error.

“These guys are willing to hurt the middle class and working class in order to deliver significantly greater wealth to their already wealthy friends. Who in the hell do they think they are?” Mr. Biden said.

Ms. Leavitt assured Americans that Mr. Trump won’t cut Social Security, a claim repeated by Democrats who warn that entitlement programs must be slashed to achieve the kind of budget cuts the president has demanded. They say his efforts to curb government spending are coming at the expense of programs and services Americans depend upon.

“Let me make this very clear ahead of former President Biden’s remarks: The president, this president, President Trump, is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding, taxpaying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program,” she said. “He will always protect that program. He campaigned on it.”

While Mr. Biden may make himself available for fundraising and messaging, it’s unclear whether he’s a figure that will resonate with many Americans. He left the White House with just a 39% approval rating.