Biden, 82, issues ominous warnings about Trump and Elon Musk in farewell speech after 50 years in politics

President Joe Biden’s farewell address contained an ominous warning about his successor Donald Trump and the wealthy people who advise the incoming president.

‘I would like to warn the country about a number of issues that concern me greatly. And this is a dangerous worry. And that is the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very small number of ultra-rich people. And the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power goes unchecked,” he said.

Biden compared those who rose to power to the “robber barons” of the early 20th century.

“Today an oligarchy is taking shape in America with extreme wealth, power and influence that threatens our entire democracy, our fundamental rights, the freedoms and the fair opportunity for all to get ahead,” he added, referring to the wealthy advisors. to Trump, which also includes Elon Musk.

He also argued that the Constitution should be changed so that Trump would not have immunity while in office. The Supreme Court ruled that presidents have that protection and Democrats worry about what Trump would do with unlimited power.

“We must amend the Constitution to make it clear that no president, no president, is immune from crimes he or she commits while in office. The president’s power knows no bounds. It is not absolute, nor should it be,” Biden said.

He delivered his prime-time speech Wednesday night to make his case for his presidency as he reluctantly leaves the White House after five decades in politics.

“This will be my last address to you from the American people, from the Oval Office, from this office as president. And I’ve been thinking a lot about who we are and perhaps more importantly, who we should be,” he said.

He delivered his final address to the nation from the Oval Office, speaking from behind the Resolute Desk. Ahead of his remarks, the White House released a document detailing his four years as president. It ran to more than 100 pages.

In his speech, which lasted about 20 minutes, Biden did not mention Donald Trump by name but said he “wanted the input.”the success of the next administration, because I want America to succeed.”

“That is why I have fulfilled my duty to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power, to ensure that we lead by the power of our example. I have no doubt that America is positioned to continue to succeed.”

He also sought to cement his legacy as president, arguing that the full impact of his time in office had not yet been felt.

“It will take time to feel the full impact of everything we have done together. But the seeds have been planted and they will grow and flourish for decades to come,” he said.

First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen sat off to the side to listen to Biden’s speech. Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were in attendance.

He had other warnings: mainly about the “tech-industrial complex” and climate change.

‘I am equally concerned about the potential emergence of a technical industrial complex that could also pose real dangers to our country. Americans are buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling abuses of power. The free press is crumbling, editors are disappearing,” he said.

“Social media is giving up on fact-checking,” he added in a direct jab at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who announced his company was quitting. Zuckerberg will attend Trump’s inauguration and co-host an event for the president-elect.

“The truth is being smothered by lies told for power and profit. We must hold social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families, and our democracy from abuses of power,” Biden said.

He also referenced the wildfires that burned parts of Los Angeles.

‘The existential threat of climate change has never been clearer. Just look at the entire country, from California to North Carolina.”

“Powerful forces want to exert their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we have taken to address the climate crisis, to serve their own interests for power and profit. We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied into sacrificing the future, the future of our children and grandchildren. We have to keep moving forward and pushing faster. There is no time to lose,” he warned.

Much of his speech reflected the ideas he originally came up with: the spirit of America.

He also made a strange comparison to the Statue of Liberty.

‘Just like America, the Statue of Liberty does not stand still. Her foot literally steps forward atop a broken chain of human slavery. She is on the move and literally moving. She was built to sway from side to side, to withstand the wrath of stormy weather, to stand the test of time. Because storms always come. She swings a few inches, but never falls into the current below. An engineering marvel,” he said.

“The Statue of Liberty is also an enduring symbol of the soul of our nation, a soul shaped by forces that bring us together and by forces that pull us apart. And yet we all got through it, through the good times and the hard times.”

Biden, 82, has sought to cement his legacy in recent weeks by going on a farewell tour as wildfires rage through California.

The president presented his foreign policy achievements on Monday. On Wednesday, he announced a ceasefire in the Middle East aimed at ending the war in Gaza, and questioned whether Donald Trump also deserved the credit.

The White House social media accounts are in disarray, posting lists of Biden’s accomplishments: his infrastructure bill, clean energy initiatives and pulling the country out of the COVID pandemic.

Biden, in a letter to the nation released Wednesday morning, described the country as “stronger, more prosperous and more secure” than four years ago.

“It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for more than fifty years,” Biden wrote.

“Nowhere else on earth could a stuttering child from humble beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States,” he said.

“I have given my heart and soul to our nation. And in return, I have been blessed a million times over with the love and support of the American people.”

He also touted his economic record, which included a streak of more than 40 consecutive months on the job, but also a period of high inflation that raised concerns about his handling of the economy and contributed to his election loss.

“Today we have the strongest economy in the world and have created a record 16.6 million new jobs. Wages are up. Inflation continues to fall. The racial wealth gap is the lowest in 20 years.”

“We are rebuilding our entire nation: urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities. Manufacturing is coming back to America,” Biden wrote.

But his presidency also had its failures, including his quest to expand social services, including lowering child care costs and supporting programs to reduce child poverty.

There was the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, in which 13 American soldiers were killed in an airport bombing. And his controversial pardon of his son Hunter.

Ukraine’s war with Russia also hangs over the final days of Biden’s presidency.

Biden himself was wistful as he prepared to leave the White House on January 20.

He even claims he could have defeated Donald Trump in the November election.

“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think so,” Biden told USA Today, citing polls he reviewed.

He reluctantly ended his presidential ambitions in July after a disastrous debate against Trump led Democratic leaders to push him out the door.

His age was clearly visible as he searched for words, searched his message and shuffled onto the stage.

He leaves office with the lowest approval ratings of his presidency. A CNN poll found that only 36% of adults say they approve of how Biden handled his time in office, matching his previous low mark in CNN polls during his term.

Trump, meanwhile, comes in with a mandate, having won the popular vote and every battleground state.

However, Biden has vowed to remain part of public life.

“I will not be out of sight or out of mind,” he said last week when asked about his post-presidential life.

On Sunday he visits Charleston, South Carolina – his last full day as president of the United States. His victory state’s primaries put him on the path to winning the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race.

He and Jill Biden will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday. They will then head to California, NBC News reported, to stay in Santa Ynez, where they spent a vacation in August.

After Trump takes the oath of office, they board the blue and white 747 for their journey west.

But it will no longer be Air Force One – the designation for the plane that carries the President of the United States. The flight will be known simply as Special Mission.