President Joe Biden‘s farewell address on Wednesday came with a series of warnings for the future of the country, including a rising “oligarchy taking shape” that he said threatens American democracy.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
Biden’s comments, delivered from the Oval Office, seemed clearly aimed at billionaire Elon Musk, who has been at the side of President-elect Donald Trump since his election win, and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg.
Biden also launched into a sharp criticisms of social media platforms, arguing they are neglecting to fact-check.
“Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit,” Biden said, appearing to reference Meta ending its fact-checking program.
The president warned of the potential perils of artificial intelligence while calling it “the most consequential technology of our time.”
“Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society,” he said.
Biden continued, arguing that without safeguards, artificial intelligence could “spawn new threats to our rights, our way of life, to our privacy, how we work and how we protect our nation.”
Biden also said that he wishes the incoming Trump administration success.
“It’s not just about the last four years of his administration. He is stepping down from his career,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday.
“So you can imagine the president has a lot to say, a lot of thoughts that he wants to share, really touch on the moment that we’re in right now,” she added.
In a letter Wednesday previewing his prime-time remarks, Biden touted persistent job growth, lower prescription drug costs and investments in clean energy to fight climate change.
He portrayed the early days of his administration as a battle to emerge from the grips of the Covid pandemic and “a winter of peril,” saying Americans came together and “braved through it.”
“We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure,” Biden said in the letter.
Biden also highlighted his economic record, particularly the consistent gains in the labor market.
Biden might be able to add a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to his administration’s list of accomplishments.
He began his farewell address highlighting a new cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, noting that much of it would be implemented by the incoming Trump administration.
If the agreement announced Wednesday afternoon goes into effect this weekend as planned, it would be a major breakthrough in the protracted war that has weighed on Biden’s presidency and prompted criticism from within his own party.
President Joe Biden spoke about the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.
In his letter, Biden did not refer to President-elect Donald Trump by name but made indirect references to him.
“I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake. The very nature of who we are was at stake. And, that’s still the case,” he said.
Jean-Pierre said Biden wants to “be positive” and “talk about what we have been able to do.” She also said the address was “not going to be partisan.”
Striking a personal tone in his letter, Biden reflected on his upbringing and his life as a public official. “Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings” serve for 50 years in the halls of Congress, as vice president and eventually in the Oval Office.
“I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people,” he said.
Biden has yet to lay out specifics for his post-presidency plans.
He and the first lady plan to travel directly from the inauguration to Central California for personal time, three administration officials said. The couple plan to stay in Santa Barbara County, though wildfires in Los Angeles could affect their plans, officials said.
Biden was asked by a reporter last week about his plans after leaving office: Would he speak out post-presidency or be “out of sight and out of mind?”
“I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,” Biden responded.
Caroline Kenny, Ghael Fobes, Megan Shannon and Kelly O’Donnell contributed.
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