Biden cautions against emerging 'oligarchy' that threatens democracy in somber farewell address
Although he did not reference Donald Trump directly, he asserted that no president should be exempt from accountability for crimes committed during their time in office.
TroibNews 
In a solemn farewell address delivered on Wednesday, President Joe Biden warned of a growing ultrawealthy "oligarchy" in America that he believes endangers the nation's democracy. As he prepares to hand the White House back to Donald Trump, Biden raised multiple concerns about the country's future, urging citizens to protect U.S. institutions from “powerful forces” seeking to alter the foundations of society.
“An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights, freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden asserted. He emphasized the need for Americans not to be bullied into sacrificing the future for upcoming generations. “We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and grandchildren,” he stated.
While he refrained from mentioning Trump directly during his approximately 15-minute speech, Biden did advocate for amending the Constitution "to make clear that no president is immune from crimes." This remark pointed to a Supreme Court decision from the previous year, which deemed Trump immune from certain actions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
As Trump prepares for his return to the presidency, he has been closely associated with billionaire Elon Musk. In recent weeks, figures like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have also appeared to build rapport with the president-elect. Biden's stark warning served as a departure from the customary tone of farewell addresses, which often highlight achievements and express hope for the future. His remarks indicated lingering concerns about entrusting the presidency to someone he previously cautioned was “willing to sacrifice our democracy” for personal gain.
“Democracy must be defended and be defined and be imposed,” Biden emphasized. He elaborated that believing in the essence of America requires respect for the governance structures of a free society, which include the presidency, Congress, the courts, and an independent press.
Biden likened the current situation to the 19th century’s era of robber barons, predicting the necessity for significant measures to rein in the affluent, such as increasing taxes and eliminating dark money from politics. He singled out the tech industry for criticism, particularly social media platforms that allow misinformation to proliferate, stating that Americans are “buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power.”
“Social media is giving up on fact checking,” he remarked, seemingly referencing Zuckerberg’s choice to dismantle his company's fact-checking operations in a bid to align with Trump. “The truth is smothered by lies, told for power and for profit,” he added.
Biden's grim outlook on the threats to the nation marked a shift from his previous speeches since Trump’s election win, which typically highlighted his administration's achievements and expressed hopes for the future. Nevertheless, he took pride in the progress he has made, asserting that the full impact of his work would eventually be felt. “It will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together, but the seeds are planted,” he noted, citing infrastructure improvements, enhanced American manufacturing, and healthcare advancements.
He also highlighted a significant recent achievement: a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas finalized earlier that day. However, Biden consistently returned to the themes of democracy and the necessity of safeguarding America’s institutions—principles that were central to his successful campaign against Trump in 2020, yet which were not sufficient to overcome challenges four years later.
Biden refrained from revisiting the circumstances that led to Trump’s comeback, including his unsuccessful reelection campaign and his decision to exit the race just 107 days before Election Day. Although Biden maintains that he could have defeated Trump had he remained in the contest, he underscored that the implications of the Democrats’ electoral loss are his primary concern.
“The president’s power is not unlimited, it’s not absolute and it shouldn’t be,” he stressed, urging a politically disillusioned public to stay engaged. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure.”
“Now,” Biden concluded, “it’s your turn to stand guard.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
“An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights, freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden asserted. He emphasized the need for Americans not to be bullied into sacrificing the future for upcoming generations. “We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and grandchildren,” he stated.
While he refrained from mentioning Trump directly during his approximately 15-minute speech, Biden did advocate for amending the Constitution "to make clear that no president is immune from crimes." This remark pointed to a Supreme Court decision from the previous year, which deemed Trump immune from certain actions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
As Trump prepares for his return to the presidency, he has been closely associated with billionaire Elon Musk. In recent weeks, figures like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have also appeared to build rapport with the president-elect. Biden's stark warning served as a departure from the customary tone of farewell addresses, which often highlight achievements and express hope for the future. His remarks indicated lingering concerns about entrusting the presidency to someone he previously cautioned was “willing to sacrifice our democracy” for personal gain.
“Democracy must be defended and be defined and be imposed,” Biden emphasized. He elaborated that believing in the essence of America requires respect for the governance structures of a free society, which include the presidency, Congress, the courts, and an independent press.
Biden likened the current situation to the 19th century’s era of robber barons, predicting the necessity for significant measures to rein in the affluent, such as increasing taxes and eliminating dark money from politics. He singled out the tech industry for criticism, particularly social media platforms that allow misinformation to proliferate, stating that Americans are “buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power.”
“Social media is giving up on fact checking,” he remarked, seemingly referencing Zuckerberg’s choice to dismantle his company's fact-checking operations in a bid to align with Trump. “The truth is smothered by lies, told for power and for profit,” he added.
Biden's grim outlook on the threats to the nation marked a shift from his previous speeches since Trump’s election win, which typically highlighted his administration's achievements and expressed hopes for the future. Nevertheless, he took pride in the progress he has made, asserting that the full impact of his work would eventually be felt. “It will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together, but the seeds are planted,” he noted, citing infrastructure improvements, enhanced American manufacturing, and healthcare advancements.
He also highlighted a significant recent achievement: a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas finalized earlier that day. However, Biden consistently returned to the themes of democracy and the necessity of safeguarding America’s institutions—principles that were central to his successful campaign against Trump in 2020, yet which were not sufficient to overcome challenges four years later.
Biden refrained from revisiting the circumstances that led to Trump’s comeback, including his unsuccessful reelection campaign and his decision to exit the race just 107 days before Election Day. Although Biden maintains that he could have defeated Trump had he remained in the contest, he underscored that the implications of the Democrats’ electoral loss are his primary concern.
“The president’s power is not unlimited, it’s not absolute and it shouldn’t be,” he stressed, urging a politically disillusioned public to stay engaged. “After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure.”
“Now,” Biden concluded, “it’s your turn to stand guard.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
