After Giving Medals To Billionaires, Biden Warns Of "oligarchs", "abuse Of Power", & "tech-industrial Complex" In Farewell Address

Five days before leaving office, President Joe Biden delivered a live primetime farewell address to the nation, highlighting his accomplishments and warning of emerging threats, including oligarchs and a “tech-industrial complex.”

His speech, delivered from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, not only marked the end of his presidency but also the conclusion of his five-decade political career.

“After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure,” Biden said before ending his speech.

“Now, it’s your turn to stand guard.”

In what may be the most repugnantly hypocritical claim he has made since December, HeadlineUSA's Ben Sellers points out that President Biden used his farewell address to the nation to deliver an unhinged rant about the “oligarchy” taking root in America—just weeks after brazenly giving one of the nation’s highest civilian awards to several of his far-left donor friends. 

Biden drew heavy criticism for the Jan. 4 ceremony where he offered his quid-pro-quo consolation prize, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, to at least two of the leading Democrat donors in his 2020 election, George Soros and Carlyle Group executive David Rubenstein.

DISGRACEFUL: Biden awards George Soros — who has spent billions destroying the fabric of America as Democrats' biggest donor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. pic.twitter.com/AHkbhC6PdU

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 4, 2025

As Emel Akan reports for The Epoch Times, Biden’s political career, which spanned decades and included serving as a senator from Delaware and as vice president under President Barack Obama, will come to an end on Jan. 20 when he hands the reins to Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

“In the past four years, our democracy has held strong, and every day, I’ve kept my commitment to be president for all Americans through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history,” Biden said.

Ahead of Biden’s farewell speech, the White House released a fact sheet outlining his administration’s record, highlighting a long list of actions, starting with the efforts to combat the pandemic.

“Millions of Americans now have the dignity of work. Millions of entrepreneurs and companies creating new businesses and industries, hiring American workers, using American products,” Biden said.

“Together, we’ve launched a new era of American possibilities.”

Biden is leaving office with his approval rating at the lowest point of his term, according to a recent CNN poll. Only 36 percent of U.S. adults say they approve of how Biden handled the presidency, with particularly low marks on issues like immigration, foreign affairs, and the economy.

Biden stated that although a positive impact of his policies and spending priorities may not be felt right away, he believes they will produce lasting benefits in the years ahead.

“You know, it will take time to feel the full impact of all we’ve done together but the seeds are planted. And they‘ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come,” he said.

In his nearly 17-minute speech, Biden did not mention his successor by name but wished success to the incoming administration.

“I’m so proud of how much we’ve accomplished together for the American people. And I wish the incoming administration success because I want America to succeed,” Biden said.

Biden Issues Warning

Presidential farewell addresses are a longstanding tradition in American politics, offering presidents a final chance to reflect on their time in office, list their accomplishments, and provide parting advice to the nation.

As Ronald Reagan famously remarked in his 1989 farewell address, “There is a great tradition of warnings in Presidential farewells.” This tradition is a key feature of farewell addresses, where outgoing leaders look to the future and warn of potential dangers facing the nation.

Biden’s farewell address followed the same pattern.

“I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern,” Biden said.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

Biden referred to Dwight Eisenhower’s iconic 1961 farewell address where he warned the nation about the dangers of the “military-industrial complex.”

“The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist,” Eisenhower said during his speech.

“Six decades later, I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country,” Biden said.

“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Errors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking.”

Biden recently expressed disapproval of Meta’s decision to do away with its current social media fact-checking program, calling it “really shameful.”

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg justified the decision last week in a video statement by saying that fact-checking has become “too politically biased,” resulting in censorship and a loss of trust.

He also warned of dangers of AI, saying that it’s crucial for people to govern this new technology.

“As the land of liberty, America, not China, must lead the world in the development of AI,” Biden said.

Biden also hinted in his speech at charges his Department of Justice made against Trump.

“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president, is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden said.

(L-R) Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice-President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, and Hunter Biden listen to President Joe Biden (off frame) as he delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 15, 2025. Mandel Ngan - Pool/Getty Images

This marked the president’s fifth and final address from the Oval Office since taking office.

The president last spoke from behind the Resolute Desk on July 24, when he addressed the nation to explain his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

Farewell addresses are a key opportunity for presidents to shape the narrative of their time in office, according to Tom McArdle, former White House speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

“Presidents use farewell addresses primarily to try to write history before the historians do, and they rarely succeed,” he told The Epoch Times.

Their efforts often fail because the true measure of a presidency is shaped more by actions than words, McArdle said.

It’s inevitably Biden’s performance that will define his legacy, he said.

The president’s farewell speech comes on the heels of a breakthrough in the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas reached a deal for a hostage and prisoner swap, along with a six-week ceasefire, set to take effect on Jan. 19.

Before he began his farewell speech, Biden took credit for his work in brokering the deal in the Middle East.

“After eight months of non-stop negotiation by my administration, a cease-fire and hostage deal has been reached by Israel and Hamas,” Biden said.

“This plan was developed and negotiated by my team, and it will be largely implemented by the incoming administration.”