Outgoing US President Joe Biden warned of the emergence of a “dangerous” elite in America, as he delivered his farewell address and ended a decades-long career in politics.
“There is an oligarchy of extreme wealth, power and influence emerging in America today that truly threatens our entire democracy, our fundamental rights and liberties,” he said Wednesday.
Biden, 82, took aim at an ultra-wealthy “technology industrial complex” that he said could wield unchecked power over Americans.
He also used his final televised speech from the White House to issue a warning about climate change and social media misinformation.
Speaking from the Oval Office, where his family had gathered to watch, he touted the record of his single-term administration, including job creation, infrastructure spending, health care, getting the country out of the pandemic. And referred to making America a safe country.
However, he added that “it will take time to realize the full impact of what we have done together, but the seeds have been sown, and they will grow and they will bloom for decades to come”.
Biden wished Donald Trump’s incoming administration success, but then hinted at several points, with the president saying “there’s a lot at stake right now”.
On climate change, he said, “Powerful forces want to use their unchecked influence to undermine the actions we have taken to address the climate crisis to serve their interests for power and profit. be used for”.
On misinformation, Biden warned that “Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power”.
He also criticized social media companies like Meta, which recently made the announcement. Get rid of independent fact-checkers.. “Social media is abandoning fact-checking. The truth is drowned out by lies told for power and profit,” Biden said.
And his attack on an ultra-wealthy “tech industrial complex” is a cover for Silicon Valley executives such as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man who is close to Trump and a major funder of his campaign. There was a reference.
Other tech bosses such as Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have made efforts to improve relations with Trump ahead of his return to the White House.
Concluding his speech, Biden called on Americans to stand as “guardians” of their country: “All of you be keepers of the flame.”
His farewell speech came on the same day He announced a cease-fire agreement. between Israel and Hamas, which he referred to in his opening remarks.
Biden said the negotiations were the most difficult of his career, and took credit for helping to seal the deal.
The deal will see the ceasefire come into effect on January 19, the day before Trump takes office. The incoming president has also taken credit for the deal, saying it was only possible because he won the November elections.