Joe Biden has described the current political climate in the United States as “dark days” under Donald Trump’s administration, while calling on Americans to stay hopeful and engaged in shaping the nation’s future. Speaking in Boston after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, the former president urged citizens not to “check out” amid political division and rising authoritarian tendencies.
Biden, 82, made his first public appearance since completing radiation therapy for prostate cancer. He reflected on the country’s founding ideals, emphasizing the importance of preserving democracy through balance among the presidency, Congress, and the judiciary. “America has always been a beacon for the most powerful idea in history — that we are stronger than any dictator,” he said.
Condemning Trump’s expansion of executive power and attacks on free speech, Biden praised individuals who continue to defend democratic values — from federal workers resigning in protest to comedians and universities standing against censorship. “Friends, I can’t sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days,” he admitted, before expressing confidence that the nation would “find its compass again” and “emerge stronger, wiser, and more resilient.”
Biden concluded by acknowledging the ongoing struggle between “peril and possibility” that has defined America’s journey for over two centuries, urging citizens to “get back up” and continue fighting for the country’s democratic spirit.
