Washington – Former president Joe Biden He returns to the national stage on Tuesday to raise liberal concerns that the president Donald Trump’s The agenda is threatening the health of Social security.
The 82 -year -old Democrat has greatly avoided speaking publicly since he left the White House in January. That is even when Trump frequently blames Biden for many of the nation’s problems, often attacking his predecessor by name.
Biden is expected to fight in a night speech to the National Conference of Lawyers, Counselors and Representatives of Disabled in Chicago. While Biden has made a handful of public appearances in recent weeks, Tuesday’s high profile direction focuses on a critical issue for dozens of millions of Americans who could define the half -period elections next year.
“As bipartisan leaders have agreed for a long time, Americans who withdraw after paying social security all their life deserve the vital support and the care services they receive,” said Rachel Buck, executive director of the ACRD. “We are delighted that the president joins us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security.”
Trump almost immediately began to reduce the government’s workforce upon his return to the White House, including thousands of employees of the Social Security Administration.
Together with a planned dismissal of 7,000 workers and controversial plans to impose stricter identity -proof measures for the recipients, the SSA has been sued by the decision to allow Elon Musk’s Government efficiency department to access the social security numbers of people and other personal identification information.
Musk, the richest man in the world and one of Trump’s most influential advisors, has called the Social Security “the greatest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
At the same time, Social Security recipients have complained about the long waiting times of calls, since the “my social security” portal of the agency has seen an increase in interruptions. People who receive supplementary security income, including older people with disabilities and low -income adults and children, also reported having received a notice that said “were not receiving benefits.”
The agency said the warning was a mistake. And the White House has promised that it would not reduce the benefits of Social Security, saying that any change is intended to reduce waste and fraud.
Biden will join in Chicago for a bipartisan group of former elected officials, including former Senator Roy Blunt, R-MO., Former Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., And former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley.
“Social Security is a sacred promise among generations,” said O’Malley. “We are deeply grateful to the president for joining us in ACRD to discuss how we can maintain that promise for all Americans.”
Biden is not expected to make frequent public appearances as the transition to its post-presidency. He still maintains an office in Washington, but has returned to Delaware as its regular operations base. Trump has revoked its security authorizations.
While Biden may be in a position to help his party with collection of funds and messages, he left the White House with weak approval ratings. Biden also faces the guilt of some progressives who argue that they should not have looked for a second mandate. Biden finished his re -election offer after his disastrous debate performance against Trump and gave way to the then vice president Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the fall.
Only 39% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Biden in January, according to a Gallup poll Taken shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
The opinions of the former Democratic president did not essentially change a Gallup survey carried out shortly after the November elections. In general terms, they track with the constantly low favorability qualifications that Biden experienced during the second half of his presidential mandate.
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Villages reported from New York. Associated Press’s writer, Linley Sanders, contributed to this report.