Directly targeting Musk? Biden's farewell speech: America "is forming an oligarchy with extreme wealth, power, and influence"
In his farewell speech, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that America is forming an oligarchy with extreme wealth and power concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, threatening democracy and fair opportunity. He called for tax reform to ensure billionaires pay taxes and to limit political donations and stock trading by members of Congress. He reviewed his achievements during his term and ended the speech on an optimistic note, urging the public to remain vigilant. Polls show that the public is dissatisfied with the work of the Biden administration and Congress
According to Xinhua International, the outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a farewell speech in the Oval Office on the evening of the 15th, stating that America "is forming an oligarchy with extreme wealth, power, and influence."
"I want to remind this country of some things that deeply concern me, namely that power is dangerously concentrated in the hands of a very few super-rich individuals." Biden said, "Today, America is forming an oligarchy with extreme wealth, power, and influence, which actually threatens our entire democracy, basic rights and freedoms, and the fair opportunity for everyone to succeed."
Biden also stated that a large amount of false and misleading information is overwhelming the American public, which fuels the abuse of power. He warned that the concentration of technology and the rise of the tech-industrial complex could also pose dangers to the United States.
Biden said that America must reform the tax code to ensure billionaires pay their fair share of taxes. He called for the elimination of "dark money" hidden behind campaign donations, the implementation of term limits for Supreme Court justices, and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress while in office. Additionally, he stated that the Constitution should be amended to clearly stipulate that any president who commits a crime while in office cannot escape accountability.
Image source: Visual China
According to International Online, during the speech, Biden also listed some achievements during his presidency, including lowering prescription drug prices for seniors, passing gun safety laws, and helping veterans access healthcare. CNN described Biden as having "boasted" about his foreign policy achievements and emphasized how he "strengthened NATO."
In reflecting on these "political legacies and government achievements," Biden expressed hope that these accomplishments would continue to be carried forward in the coming years. He said, "We need time to feel the full impact of our collective efforts."
CNN reported that Biden ended the speech on an optimistic note, stating that he has "served the public for 50 years," and still urged Americans to "remain vigilant."
A Gallup poll conducted in December last year showed that the American public disapproved of the Biden administration and Congress's performance, held negative views on the economy, and felt dissatisfied with the direction of the country. The survey indicated that only 39% of the public approved of Biden's administration, while only 17% approved of Congress's work.
According to CCTV News, Biden wrote an open letter before the speech, mentioning his performance on a series of issues during his four-year term, including the economy, infrastructure, competition in the semiconductor industry, gun violence, and climate change.
U.S. media reported that this was one of Biden's last speeches as president, and on the same day, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement. Notably, according to Xinhua News Agency, Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages on the 15th Another "battle" has ignited between current U.S. President Joseph Biden and incoming President Donald Trump, both claiming credit for the ceasefire agreement.
On the 15th, Biden stated at the White House that the content of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas aligns with the ceasefire framework he released in May 2024, "drafted and negotiated by my team, which will basically be implemented by the next government, so I told my team to maintain complete information flow with the next government."
As soon as the news of the ceasefire agreement broke, Trump immediately took credit on social media: "This great ceasefire agreement could only have been reached after our historic victory last November."
Trump's team claimed that the Biden administration had failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza until Trump and his newly appointed Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff stepped in to accomplish this goal.
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