Joe Biden’s final speech divided the American public, with people on all sides declaring it a disappointing and even disturbing affair.
Biden gave a fiery final farewell to the nation Wednesday evening, tearing into Donald Trump as he touted his policies over the past four years.
Scott Jennings, CNN’s firebrand Republican voice, delivered a withering take on the address and Biden’s presidency as a whole, the end of which he deemed ‘pretty terrible.’
‘When I watched this tonight, I remain astonished that he, his family and other people around him thought he could ever run for another term. There’s no way he could serve another six months, much less another four years.’
He noted that while Biden’s approval ratings are at historical lows, Trump returns to office at above 50 percent popularity.
‘Biden’s going to be remembered mostly politically for when he was Vice President with Obama ushering in the Trump era initially – and then as he’s leaving office as President bringing back Trump and Trumpism, stronger and more popular than ever.’
In the end, Jennings – a former advisor to George W. Bush and Mitch McConnell – was flabbergasted at the possibility that Biden would run for president a second time.
Over on more reliably conservative Fox, Dana Perino was equally stunned, not just by Biden’s content but his own hypocrisy.
Joe Biden’s final speech divided the American public, with people on all sides declaring it a disappointing and even disturbing affair
Scott Jennings, CNN ‘s firebrand Republican voice, delivered a withering take on the address and Biden’s presidency as a whole, the end of which he deemed ‘pretty terrible’
‘What in the world was he talking about? For example, when he talks about dark money, does he not remember that just last week he gave the medal of freedom award to George Soros?’
She added that much of what Biden said ‘rings hollow’ and read as if ‘the speechwriters have already left the building’ and Biden’s team asked ChatGPT to write the speech.
‘If you ask people, ‘Are you better off today than you were four years ago?’ The answer is no, except for maybe the solar companies and the delta smelt.’
On social media, left-wing Jacobin columnist Branko Marcetic agreed with Perino on Biden’s hypocrisy about oligarchy but went even further, shoveling dirt on the president’s political corpse.
‘One last, tired bid for relevance, as if the US drift into oligarchy is some novel, profound observation he just made – not something he’s ignored his whole meandering term’s worth of mumbling about democracy or, indeed, the thing that explains his entire career & presidency,’ he wrote.
People of all political stars and stripes were both critical of the speech and deeply confused by the bleak tone.
‘That was surprisingly dark,’ wrote Danny Kemp.
Stephen Richer added: ‘The only thing I’ve gotten from this speech so far is that the person who plays Biden on SNL is pretty darn good. And then it’s just a hodgepodge of unconnected thoughts, no?’
Over on more reliably conservative Fox, Dana Perino was equally stunned, not just by Biden’s content but his own hypocrisy
‘Fiery in substance/writing. Sleepy in style/delivery,’ noted Elex Michaelson.
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‘You have to admit it’s pretty hilarious watching Biden give a ‘farewell’ speech when we all know he hasn’t been president for AT LEAST a year,’ added one commenter.
‘President Joe Biden’s farewell speech scared the hell out of me – and should every American who cares about our democracy,’ said Fernand R. Armandi.
‘He clearly and ominously outlined the existential dangers threatening our nation, but troublingly no sure-fire solutions to save it.’
A left-wing commentator was much more angry, saying they ‘hate’ how mainstream media analyzed the speech and hoped for Biden to discuss his accomplishments.
‘If he had any impact on our lives then we would not need convincing.’
Medea Benjamin, head of anti-war left-wing group CODEPINK, had no time for one CNN commentator calling it a ‘love letter to the country.’
‘I’d call it Genocide Joe’s ‘good riddance speech.’ Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.’
While Biden had the approval of family and the vice president, social media was much more divided
Others had a little more praise for the aging, outgoing president.
Former President Obama’s senior speechwriter David Litt told DailyMail.com that Biden’s oligarchy warning was critical.
It will be seen as one of his ‘final acts of public service to the country he loved and spent his life fighting for.’
Litt said that ‘MAGA commentators’ will ‘doubtless regard Biden’s words with the class and basic decency for which they’re renowned.’
‘But the rest of America – including the America that voted for Trump yet worried he would be too extreme if elected – won’t be so glib.’
Democratic strategist Joel Payne said that Biden ‘surprised us’ with his performance tonight.
‘I think a lot of Democrats will be pleasantly surprised with how Joe Biden showed up tonight,’ he told DailyMail.com.
That’s because he did not simply ‘do a laundry list of his accomplishments’ and instead gave some ‘purpose and some meaning to the moment.’
President Joe Biden kisses his grand-son Beau Biden Jr. as First Lady Jill Biden gestures
He defined the ‘fight ahead’ clearly, he went on.
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‘Biden seemed relaxed,’ said co-founder and CEO of ATHOS Jonathan Bronitsky, who had a more middling look at the speech.
That’s most likely because he’s been ‘getting plenty of rest, hiding from the press, the American people, and the world’ over the last few months.
Jessica Anderson, president of Sentinel Action Fund, told DailyMail.com that the president ‘appears to be sleepwalking out of office.’
She said the farewell speech was nothing more than a ‘feeble attempt to rewrite the history of his failed presidency.’
The 82-year-old was emotional as he addressed the nation for the final time from the Oval Office on Wednesday night, and compared those coming into power to ‘robber barons’ of the early 20th century.
‘I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous concern. And that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra wealthy people. And the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked,’ he said.
‘Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights, the freedoms and the fair shot for everyone to get ahead,’ he added, in a reference to the billionaire advisers to Trump, which include adviser Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who visited Mar-a-Lago last week.
Biden opened his speech from the Resolute Desk by taking credit for the Gaza ceasefire deal that will end the war in Hamas and going back over the accomplishments from his four years in office.
The goal of his speech was to make his case for his presidency as he reluctantly leaves the White House after five decades in politics. And, after four years marred by slip-ups and gaffes during public appearances, he delivered the address from the teleprompter without mistake as he gazed at the camera.
‘This will be my final address to you from the American people, from the Oval Office, from this desk as president. And I’ve been thinking a lot about who we are and maybe even more importantly, who we should be,’ he said.
In his speech, which lasted about 20 minutes, Biden didn’t mention Trump by name but said he ‘wished the incoming administration’s success because I want America to succeed.’
‘That’s why I have held my duty to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power, to ensure we lead by the power of our example. I have no doubt that America is in a position to continue to succeed.’
He also tried to cement his legacy as president, arguing the full effects of his time in office haven’t been felt yet.
‘It will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come,’ he said.
First lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen sat along the side of the Oval Office to listen to Biden speech.
Biden grandchildren Finnegan and Beau Biden were with them.
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff also were present.
Biden thanked his family and his vice president.
When he did so, Jill Biden reached over to take Harris’ hand – a move that came amid reports of a frosty relationship between the two women.
‘It’s been the highest honor of my life to lead you as commander in chief and of course, to Kamala and her incredible partner. The historic vice president. She and Doug have become like family. And to me, family is everything,’ he said.
‘My deepest appreciation to our amazing first lady who was with me in the Oval today, for our entire family. You’re the love of my life and the lives of my love, my eternal thanks to you, the American people.’
Jill Biden gave him a hug and a kiss after his remarks. Biden also hugged other family members, including his grandson Baby Beau.
His speech combined his message of hope with an ominous vision of the future. It was peppered with other warnings: particularly about the ‘tech industrial complex’ and climate change.
Biden gave a fiery final farewell to the nation Wednesday evening , tearing into Donald Trump as he touted his policies over the past four years
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Vice-President Kamala Harris sit as US President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his farewell address to the nation
Biden has spent the past few weeks trying to cement his legacy, going on a farewell tour of sorts.
The president laid out his foreign policy accomplishments on Monday. On Wednesday he announced a ceasefire deal in the Middle East designed to end the war in Gaza and bristled at a question of whether Donald Trump also deserved credit.
The White House social media accounts have been in over drive, posting lists of Biden’s accomplishments: his infrastructure law, the clean energy initiatives and bringing 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 it was four years ago.
But his presidency had its failures, including his quest to expand social services, including lowering the cost of child care and sustaining programs to cut child poverty.
There was the disastrous 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan where 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 the Biden’s presidency.
Biden leaves office with the lowest approval numbers of his presidency. A CNN poll found only 36% of adults say they approve of the way Biden handled his time in office, matching his previous low mark in CNN polling during his term.
Trump, meanwhile, comes in with a mandate, having won the popular vote and every battleground state.
Biden, however, has vowed to stay a part of public life.
‘I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,’ he said last week when asked about his post-presidential life.
He will visit Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday – his final full day as president of the United States. His victory state’s primary put him on the road to winning the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race.
He and Jill Biden will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Then they will head to California, NBC News reported, to stay in Santa Ynez, where they spent time in August on vacation.
After Trump takes the oath of office, they will 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 simply be known as Special Mission.