Former President Joe Biden offered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump at the National Bar Association’s 100th annual banquet in Chicago on Thursday night. Biden saw Trump’s administration as a direct threat to civil rights and the advancements made by disenfranchised populations.
“This fight has never been so existential to who we are as a nation, with marginalized groups so dramatically under attack, since those turbulent days in the 1960s,” Biden stated before to accepting the C. Francis Stradford Award, which is named after a co-founder of the illustrious Black legal association.
He went on to say, “My friends, we must confront the harsh reality of this administration, which has been to undermine all the progress we have made during my administration.” to not create history, but to delete it. to eradicate justice itself, as well as equality and fairness. It’s not hyperbole, either. That is a fact.
“People, in all our lives, the life of our nation, there are moments so stark that they divide all that came before from everything that followed moments that force us to confront hard truths about ourselves, our institutions, and democracy itself,” Biden said, raising his voice to highlight the stakes.
He went on to say, “I think we are at such a moment in American history.” Every ruthless executive outreach, every restriction on fundamental liberties, and every deterioration of long-standing, established precedent all reflect this.
Noting that his administration has nominated more Black women to the U.S. courts of appeals than all previous presidents combined, Biden emphasized his record on judicial appointments.
He called for more opposition to the Trump administration, especially from the courts.
Courts, judges, the law, and the Constitution are all important. He remarked, “I believe that many Americans are beginning to realize that under the pressure under now with this guy as president.”
Additionally, Biden accused the Supreme Court and Congress of supporting regressive policies. All too frequently, they are doing it with the support of a Congress that is merely watching from the sidelines, made possible by the country’s highest court. My gosh, the decisions they’ve made.
Biden accused him of trying his hardest to undermine the Constitution. You’re all here for the same reason that I left that esteemed law company years ago to visit the defender’s office, even if these are gloomy times. It’s because we have to fight for the future without apology since it truly depends on us.
Even though he didn’t make any significant mistakes, Biden tripped and slurred parts of his words. His self-deprecating quip, “When I was elected, I had the dubious distinction of being the youngest senator in American history and the oldest president in American history,” helped to lighten the atmosphere at one point. Twice turning 40 is a nightmare.
Representative Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas; Attorney General Keith Ellison of Minnesota; Attorney General Aaron Ford of Nevada; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the Supreme Court; MSNBC commentator Joy-Ann Reid; and Attorney General Letitia James of New York were among the notable speakers at the dinner.
Wiley Adams, president of the National Bar Association, commended Biden in a statement, saying: President Biden’s leadership and life demonstrate an unshakeable dedication to the rule of law and the promise of justice for all.
Adams continued, “Having the 46th President of the United States join us in honoring the transformative power of the law and the enduring fight to protect our democracy is not only historic, but also deeply meaningful.”
Biden’s comments were made two months after his son, Hunter Biden, consented to voluntary disbarment due to drug usage and firearms law infractions.
Additionally, his visit came as his son was receiving more media attention. In a lengthy interview from Delaware earlier in July, Hunter Biden attacked Democratic leaders, including David Axelrod, and President Trump. He also talked about his previous addiction to crack cocaine.
A gun registered to Hunter Biden was found in a dumpster close to the A.I. duPont school in Greenville, Delaware, in a previous legal issue that took place in the same region. The firearm was discovered and disposed of there by Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden, who later dated Hunter.
The pistol was discovered by a man named Edward Banner, who was looking through the dumpster for bottles to redeem. Banner went on to testify in the case.
Hunter Biden swore he was not using controlled narcotics when he registered the pistol, a claim that resulted in a criminal case and his subsequent disbarment in Washington, D.C.
Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia issued an order suspending his legal license in June 2024. In order to avoid a court hearing, Hunter had previously submitted a sealed affidavit in April consenting to disbarment.
Additionally, Biden’s statement came after veteran assistant Michael Donilon testified before the House Oversight Committee investigators earlier that day. According to a person who spoke to Fox News Digital, Donilon said he might have gotten up to $8 million if Biden had won reelection in 2024.
In response to questions regarding Biden’s mental state, Donilon stated in his testimony that while all presidents age during their four years in office, President Biden also continued to develop as a leader by overcoming some of the most challenging obstacles any president has ever encountered.
With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and over 66,000 members, the National Bar Association was founded in Iowa when the American Bar Association did not admit Black professionals. Its members support civil rights, diversity in the legal profession, and greater access to justice.
Biden’s attendance at its centennial dinner, the group stressed, highlights his continued work to uphold the rule of law, protect the right to vote, and assist historically underserved communities.
