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Former U.S. president Joe Biden, in a lengthy address (via CBS) at a conference in California on Wednesday night, said some of his most significant achievements in office are “changing so rapidly” under the current administration that some European leaders have turned to him for advice.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), without ever mentioning President Donald Trump by name, Biden spoke for more than an hour to thousands of human resources experts invited by the HR trade group SHRM to a gathering in San Diego about the risks of the U.S.’ move toward isolationism and the dangers of abandoning his administration’s efforts to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance.
“We strengthened NATO in a significant way,” he told the audience on Wednesday, adding that now, he is “getting calls … from a number of European leaders asking me to get engaged.”
“I’m not, but I’m giving advice,” he continued.
Both Finland and Sweden joined NATO while Biden was in office, largely in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the U.S. and other NATO members have supplied the war-torn country with billions of dollars in aid and ammunition.
But Trump has been critical of other NATO members’ military spending, and left last month’s G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., early, despite saying the alliance was “not a rip-off.”
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The White House responded to Biden’s remarks by criticizing his foreign policy, telling the WSJ that it left “America weaker than ever before.”
“Thanks to President Trump, NATO allies have made a historic 5 per cent defence spending pledge, Iran’s nuclear capabilities are obliterated, and our country’s standing on the world stage is restored,” Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, said.
Despite his health, Biden said he continues to participate in political discussions with both Democratic and Republican officials.
“I really cared about what I was doing,” he told the crowd of his time as president. “Many of the things I worked so damn hard, that I thought I changed in the country, are changing so rapidly.”
The 82-year-old, who was diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer in May, made no mention of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill,” which narrowly passed through Congress hours earlier, and will fund his deportation policy while slashing funding for Medicaid and other social safety nets.
The SHRM conference was one of only a few appearances made by the former president since leaving office. He has stepped away from public service to focus on his health and to spend time with his family.
Citing the American Cancer Society, fewer than 40 per cent of patients diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer are alive after five years.
SHRM president Johnny C. Taylor Jr. joined Biden on stage after his speech and asked him what he would most like to be remembered for.
bluelifesacrifice on July 5th, 2025 at 05:12 UTC »
Democrats worked so damn hard not to look political, only to get absolutely steam rolled by Republicans the moment they took power.
I remember months ago he said he was trying to insulate the government from Trump and add safeguards to make sure that Trump couldn't do much damage.
I remember when Biden threatened war with Iran if Iran tried, not succeeded, but attempted to off Trump.
People in the government aren't' doing their Constitutional jobs. Pure and simple.
Trump ripped out safeguards, fired JAG officers, installed loyalists in positions of power and is now threatening Americans who speak out against him while trying to rally violence against Democrats by his base.
January 6 was too far. Trumps circle called to march on the capital and trial by combat. His people broke into the capital building looking for prisoners.
Trump is ripping up our intelligence agencies, our internal checks, the FBI and their hard work, institutions, education, our CDC, weather monitoring, renewable energy tech development, leaving Ukraine to be taken over by Putin, allowed Iran to attack our military bases which there's still that war going on and now ICE is getting military level funding to build concentration camps for Latinos while Republicans laugh about how alligator lives matter and soon they'll have 65 million meals, which is the estimated population of Latinos in the country.
People in our government aren't doing their jobs. That's all this is.
HandsLikePaper on July 5th, 2025 at 02:03 UTC »
Should have tossed Garland out then.
Merrick Garland carved his name into the history books, but not how he wanted. He'll be listed alongside Chamberlain under appeasement.
repfamlux on July 5th, 2025 at 02:02 UTC »
Biden should have ordered a special counsel to investigate j6 on day one, he failed us all.