by Stefano Vaccara
NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) — Speaking to Americans for the last time from the Oval Office of the White House, President Joe Biden in a farewell address to the nation on Wednesday evening expressed his concerns about the country’s future, urging Americans to defend the institutions of the United States against the “strong powers” that claim to reshape American society at their convenience.
Biden warned that “an oligarchy of billionaires” is emerging in America, and sounded the alarm about the “dangerous concentration of power” they could achieve at the expense of democracy.
“Today, an oligarchy of extreme wealth, power, and influence is forming in America that literally threatens our entire democracy, our fundamental rights and freedoms, and the opportunity for all to advance,” Biden said.
Although Biden did not explicitly mention President-elect Donald Trump, it was clear that he was referring to certain billionaires like Elon Musk who are already wielding enormous influence in the new administration even before they enter the White House. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as well as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, have also “approached” the president-elect and will in fact be present at the Jan. 20 inauguration.
Biden spoke for 17 minutes, fulfilling the tradition of farewell speeches by U.S. presidents dating back to George Washington. Biden’s warning was reminiscent of that in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell address, which spoke of “the military-industrial complex.” Biden, naming the very president-general of the 1950s, referred to the “technological-industrial complex,” in which he warned of the erosion of truth itself caused by unchecked social media platforms making specific reference to Meta’s decision to eliminate fact-checkers — and the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.
Biden urged Americans to defend democratic institutions and continue to fight for progress in areas such as climate change.
“Powerful forces want to use their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we have taken to address the climate crisis to serve their power and profit interests,” he said.
Referring to his half-century of public service, he said that “after 50 years at the center of it all, I know that believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society.”
“We know that the idea of America, our institutions, our people, our values that sustain it, are constantly being tested,” he said, and then insisted on “ongoing debates about power and the exercise of power. About whether we can lead by the example of our power or the power of our example. Whether we show the courage to oppose the abuse of power, or surrender to it.”
“Democracy must be defended, defined and enforced,” Biden said. “Believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society: the presidency, Congress, the courts, a free and independent press.”
Comparing the current moment to the era of the wealthy “robber barons” of the 19th century, Biden predicted that the nation will once again have to take drastic actions to limit the power of the wealthy, including raising taxes and eliminating dark money from politics.
Biden also proposed strengthening the “checks and balances” of American democracy by establishing term limits for the Supreme Court, as well as banning members of Congress from negotiating actions.
Biden also attacked the Supreme Court’s recent interpretation that upheld that the Constitution grants presidents broad immunity, a decision that Trump could take advantage of during his term.
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president, is immune from the crimes he commits while in office,” Biden said.
A few hours before Wednesday night’s speech, Biden achieved his latest foreign policy goal by announcing that Israel and Hamas had accepted an agreement he proposed last spring for a ceasefire in Gaza (although Trump has already taken credit for the deal).
Biden thanked his family, first lady Jill and his son Hunter, who was in the Oval Office with his wife and their child. “You are the loves of my life and the life of my love,” he said.
Kamala Harris was also present as the president delivered the speech, and Biden called his vice president an “incredible partner,” adding that she and her husband have become “like family.”
So Biden concluded by saying, “Now it is your turn to stand watch. May each of you be the keeper of the flame. Keep the faith. I love America. You love her, too. God bless you all. May God protect our troops. Thank you for this great honor.”
– photo: Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).