Joe Biden's farewell address warned of an "oligarchy emerging" that threatens American democracy, sparking polarized reactions from lawmakers that seemed to confirm the president's emphasis on the fragility of democracy.
On Wednesday, Biden sounded the alarm about the future of the United States in his final speech in the Oval Office before President-elect Donald Trump returns to power. "Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America," he said, which poses a challenge to "our fundamental rights and freedoms."
Biden urged the United States to be wary of what he called the growing "tech-industrial complex," appearing to deliberately echo former President Dwight Eisenhower's 1961 farewell address, whose warnings about the "military-industrial complex" became synonymous with the United States. The overreach of American corporate power in the democratic realm.
Biden's comments were a thinly veiled attack on tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, who have not only amassed heretofore unseen wealth but They have recently publicly expressed their support for Trump. All three are expected to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday.
Within hours, however, Biden's speech pivoted to another partisan battleground - perhaps the clearest example of the political divisions that have plagued his presidency.
"President Biden delivered his farewell address to a country made stronger by his leadership," former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California wrote on A historic four years that brought progress, hope and unity to American families."
Republican lawmakers seemed to see a completely different speech.
“Joe Biden’s legacy is in one word: failure,” Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde said on X.
South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace accused Biden of using his farewell not to target China, Russia and Iran but to attack American citizens, "calling them 'oligarchs' and a 'threat to democracy.'"
The contrasting interpretation comes as Biden prepares to hand the presidency back to Trump. Biden dramatically dropped out of the race last summer amid concerns about his age and fitness for office, while Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November.
Despite Biden's warnings about the fragility of democracy, he has championed his administration's achievements, including major infrastructure investments, a clean energy plan and prescription drug reform.
Former President Barack Obama praised the achievements, noting "17 million new jobs, historic wage growth and lower health care costs" under Biden.
Republicans dismissed that claim. Oklahoma Congressman Kevin Hearn wrote on social media: "Joe Biden's presidency will be defined by weak, failed and dangerous liberal policies." while Florida Senator Rick Hearn Scott said Biden's speech "should be an endless apology for what he called "laws" and "inflation-fueled policies."
While warning about concentrations of wealth and power, the president also called for changes to the Constitution to ensure presidential accountability — remarks that seemed especially poignant given Trump's impending return to office.
Biden argued that no president should be immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office, a statement that some Republicans interpreted as a partisan attack rather than broader democratic principles.
Hours before his speech, Biden announced what may prove to be his final diplomatic achievement: a breakthrough ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that could end the 15-month conflict in Gaza. The deal, which Biden first proposed last spring and which Trump's team helped finalize, offers a rare moment of bipartisanship — though it was virtually absent from lawmakers' response to his farewell.
Instead, reactions were predictably divided along party lines, with Democrats such as Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan saying he would "forever be proud" of his achievements in creating millions of jobs and turning around the economy, while Republicans Counting down the days until Trump’s return.
Indiana Rep. Rudy Yakym wrote on
Biden's speech showed that his presidency began with ambitious promises to restore America's soul and unite a divided country, only to end up with those divisions remaining deep. While talk of “shaky” press freedoms, rising disinformation and dark money in politics – systemic issues that should theoretically transcend party lines – they are immediately framed by politicians’ preferred partisan lens.
"We are sad to see you go, but the legacy you created will impact our community for years to come," wrote Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, while Rep. Lisa R., R-Mich. Lisa McClain put forward a completely different view. Take: “January 20th can’t come soon enough.”