Joe Biden will speak about Social Security in his return to national stage
Former President Joe Biden returns to the national stage Tuesday to elevate liberal concerns that President Donald Trump's agenda is threatening the health of Social Security.
The 82-year-old Democrat has largely avoided speaking publicly since leaving the White House in January, which is typically the tradition for immediate past presidents. That's even as Trump frequently blames Biden for many of the nation's problems, often attacking his predecessor by name.
Biden is expected to fight back in an early evening speech to the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled in Chicago. While Biden has made a handful of public appearances in recent weeks, Tuesday's high-profile address focuses on a critical issue for tens of millions of Americans that could define next year's midterm elections.
"This is an all hands on deck moment, which is why President Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트s voice in this moment is so important,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a call with reporters ahead of Biden's speech.
[related id='72ae3866-0abc-4fbe-b9a4-442dae5371b3' align='center' source=''][/related]White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, took a shot at the former president's age when asked about his speech.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I바카라 게임 웹사이트m shocked that he is speaking at nighttime," Leavitt said during Tuesday's White House press briefing. 바카라 게임 웹사이트I thought his bedtime was much earlier than his speech tonight."
She said that Trump, who is 78 years old, would sign a presidential memorandum Tuesday afternoon 바카라 게임 웹사이트aimed at stopping illegal aliens, and other ineligible people, from obtaining바카라 게임 웹사이트 Social Security benefits. The memorandum will expand the Social Security Administration바카라 게임 웹사이트s fraud prosecutor program to at least 50 U.S. attorney offices, and establish Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution programs in 15 U.S. attorney offices, Leavitt said.
Despite such moves, the Social Security Administration has been plagued by controversy under Trump's leadership.
The Republican president almost immediately began slashing the government workforce upon his return to the White House, including thousands of employees at the Social Security Administration.
Along with a planned layoff of 7,000 workers and contentious plans to impose tighter identity-proofing measures for recipients, the SSA has been sued over a decision to allow Trump adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to access individuals바카라 게임 웹사이트 Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information.
Musk, the world바카라 게임 웹사이트s richest man and one of Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s most influential advisers, has called Social Security 바카라 게임 웹사이트the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.바카라 게임 웹사이트
[related id='71602e4b-5764-44ef-8462-f5ebc25636d3' align='center' source=''][/related]At the same time, Social Security recipients have complained about long call wait times as the agency바카라 게임 웹사이트s 바카라 게임 웹사이트my Social Security바카라 게임 웹사이트 benefits portal has seen an increase in outages. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income, including disabled seniors and low-income adults and children, also reported receiving a notice that said they were 바카라 게임 웹사이트not receiving benefits.바카라 게임 웹사이트
The agency said the notice was a mistake. And the White House has vowed that it would not cut Social Security benefits, saying any changes are intended to reduce waste and fraud.
Biden will be joined in Chicago by a bipartisan group of former elected officials, including former Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and former Social Security Administrator Martin O바카라 게임 웹사이트Malley.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Social Security is a sacred promise between generations,바카라 게임 웹사이트 O바카라 게임 웹사이트Malley said. "We are deeply grateful to the President for joining us at ACRD to discuss how we can keep that promise for all Americans.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Biden is not expected to make frequent public appearances as he transitions into his post-presidency. He still maintains an office in Washington, but has returned to Delaware as his regular home base. Trump has revoked his security clearances.
[related id='b81cc18a-84de-4bbc-af88-2f247dd51d25' align='center' source=''][/related]While Biden may be in a position to help his party with fundraising and messaging, he left the White House with weak approval ratings. Biden also faces blame from some progressives who argue he shouldn't have sought a second term. Biden ended his reelection bid after his disastrous debate performance against Trump and made way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the fall.
Just 39% of Americans had a favorable opinion of Biden in January, according to a Gallup poll taken shortly after Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s inauguration.
Views of the Democratic former president were essentially unchanged from a Gallup poll taken shortly after the November election. They broadly track with the steadily low favorability ratings that Biden experienced throughout the second half of his presidential term.
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Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Will Weisset and Linley Sanders contributed to this report.