Biden Gives Final Speech

By
Billy Costigan
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Joe Biden’s farewell speech Wednesday night was less a grand exit and more a floundering finale, showcasing the incoherence and tone-deafness that has marked much of his presidency. With just days left before handing over the keys to the Oval Office, Biden sat behind the Resolute Desk for one last national address. It was an opportunity to reflect on his tenure and inspire hope for the future, but instead, Americans were treated to a scattershot rant that veered between random grievances and doomsday warnings.

The president’s decision to focus part of his speech on social media “fact-checking” was baffling, to say the least. He lamented the supposed dangers of misinformation, warning that social platforms were “giving up on fact-checking” and claiming that the truth was being “smothered by lies.” Of all the topics Biden could have chosen for a farewell address, this one felt oddly petty and misplaced. Past presidents have used their final moments in the spotlight to emphasize unity, freedom, or the strength of American ideals. Biden chose to whine about moderation policies on social media platforms. It’s hard to know whether to laugh or cringe.

Even more concerning was the undertone of authoritarianism in Biden’s rhetoric. His calls to “hold social platforms accountable” for misinformation smacked of the kind of state censorship seen in regimes like China. In a nation built on the principle of free speech, it’s chilling to hear a sitting president suggest the government should have a hand in curating “truth.” Were Biden not so feeble and politically impotent, this kind of talk might have set off alarm bells. As it stands, it merely reinforces how out of touch and desperate his administration has become.

Biden also took the opportunity to politicize natural disasters, blaming “climate change” for Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the wildfires raging in California. Hurricanes have struck the Gulf Coast for centuries, long before the advent of modern industry. Similarly, California’s wildfires have less to do with “climate change” and more to do with decades of environmental mismanagement, neglecting reservoirs, and prioritizing radical green policies over practical solutions. Biden’s attempt to tie these tragedies to his political agenda was not only tone-deaf but transparently opportunistic.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Biden speech without vague warnings about democracy being under threat. He railed against an “oligarchy” of ultra-wealthy individuals supposedly undermining the nation. But his complaints rang hollow, given his own cozy relationship with billionaire donors. Let’s not forget, just two weeks ago, Biden awarded George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom—an oligarch if there ever was one—whose main “contribution” to America has been pouring millions into Democratic causes. Meanwhile, Biden’s gripe is clearly aimed at figures like Elon Musk, who had the audacity to support free speech and oppose the left’s narrative. Biden’s definition of “threats to democracy” seems to conveniently align with those who dissent from his party’s agenda.

The president’s delivery didn’t help matters. Slurred words, low energy, and yet another “Ron Burgundy moment”—where he read “end of quote” off the teleprompter—underscored the physical and mental decline that has defined his presidency. These frequent gaffes would be amusing if they weren’t so emblematic of a leader unfit for the demands of the office.

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