WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden urged Americans on Wednesday to “stand guard” against a “dangerous” oligarchy forming under Donald Trump as he delivered a dark farewell address before stepping down next week.
In a primetime speech from the Oval Office at the end of his single term in office, the 82-year-old warned of an ultra-wealthy “tech industrial complex” that could gain unchecked power over the American people.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy,” the 82-year-old Democrat said.
“That’s a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people.”
Biden also lashed out at social media firms, with X owner and the world’s richest man Elon Musk set to play a key role in Trump’s incoming administration and Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg courting the Republican.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power,” said Biden.
Biden also warned of the dangers of AI, saying that America must take the “lead” over China on the transformative technology, and said that “powerful forces” threatened his climate achievements.
Signing off Trump returns for a second term on January 20, Biden told Americans: “Now it’s your turn to stand guard.”
Biden’s speech took a dark turn after he began by touting his legacy on the economy, healthcare, climate and tackling the gun violence that plagues the United States.
America’s oldest ever president has spent much of his final months in office trying to burnish his reputation before he is replaced by the bitter political rival he defeated in the 2020 election—a result Trump still disputes.
Biden’s efforts got a boost earlier Wednesday when Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal Biden said he’d ordered his administration to cooperate with Trump’s team to reach an accord. But his legacy was badly damaged by his decision to run for a second term despite his age.