Joe Biden has used his first speech since leaving office to criticise the Trump administration’s welfare policies.
The ex-US president told a conference in Chicago that the government had “taken a hatchet” to Social Security, a system which Donald Trump and Elon Musk – who is leading the White House’s cost-cutting efforts – have said is beset by fraud.
The administration is seeking to cut staff at the agency responsible for paying out $1.6 trillion (£1.2 trillion) in benefits a year.
Biden did not refer to Trump by name during his speech on Tuesday, but said: “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking.”
He described social security as a “sacred promise”, adding: “We know just how much social security matters to people’s lives.”
Biden – who was speaking at a disability rights event – did not address his departure from the White House or the 2024 presidential election during his remarks.
The Social Security Agency (SSA) provides a base income for people in the US who are retired or cannot work because of a disability. It covers about 67 million Americans, primarily older citizens.
Democratic politicians have repeatedly accused the administration of planning sweeping Social Security cuts.
Member’s of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency have been making cuts to the agency since February, with the target of slashing 7,000 jobs.
Musk has described social security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time”.
However, Trump has previously said that, while he intends to target fraudulent claims and payments to illegal immigrants, he will not make wholesale cuts to benefits.
On Tuesday, he signed an order preventing illegal immigrants and “other ineligible people” from obtaining Social Security.
Prior to Biden’s Chicago speech, Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president was “absolutely certain” about protecting benefits for “law-abiding tax-paying American citizens and seniors”.
“He will always protect that program,” she added.
In a post on X, the SSA – which is now controlled by a Trump appointee – said Biden had been “lying” during his Chicago speech.
Since leaving office, Biden has kept a relatively low profile. In February, he signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a Los Angeles talent agency which previously represented him from 2017 to 2020.