President Joe Biden capped five decades in politics in a final address from
the Oval Office on Wednesday evening.
In his valedictory address, Biden began by taking credit for the hostage deal
signed hours earlier between Israel and Hamas. Over the course of the roughly
18-minute address, Biden touted his record on climate, health care, job
creation, and foreign policy. He also took veiled shots at President-elect
Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others.
Unmentioned throughout his address were several major flashpoints of his
term, such as the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the
pardoning of his son, Hunter.
�After 50 years at the center of all of this, I know that believing in the
idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society:
the presidency, the congress, the courts, a free and independent press,�
Biden said.
The president�s address was largely seen to be his last attempt at
characterizing his legacy for posterity. The address avoided obvious
questions regarding his record, such as Trump�s role in securing the hostage
deal, the disintegration of peace in the Middle East and Europe, and the
impact artificial shutdowns during the pandemic had on job creation.
Biden also delivered warnings of what he characterized as dangerous trends in
the United States: the rise of an American �oligarchy,� climate change, and
disinformation.
In what appeared to be a veiled shot at Trump and his allies, including Elon
Musk, Biden warned of a �dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a
few ultra wealthy people.� He also appeared to blame North Carolina hurricane
damage and California wildfires on the dangers of climate change.
He called for a crackdown on social media for the spread of �misinformation�
and �disinformation.�
�I�m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex
that could impose real dangers for our country, as well. Americans are being
buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the
abuse of power,� Biden said.
�Social media is giving up on fact checking. The truth is smothered by lies
told for power and for profit. We must hold the social platforms
accountable,� he added.
Biden�s threat toward social media platforms comes after Meta CEO Mark
Zuckerberg announced earlier this month that Facebook was severing ties with
third-party fact-checking groups and moving to an X-style system with
community notes on Facebook. While announcing the change, Zuckerberg said
that restrictions on speech on Facebook had grown too censorious.
Biden also called for other reforms, such as an 18-year term limit on Supreme
Court justices and legislation against so-called �dark money� groups. He also
called for an amendment to the Constitution to �make clear that no president,
no president is immune from crimes he or she commits while in office.�
https://youtu.be/gMwqdDzGdx8-- Let's go Brandon!
BYE-DEN: President Caps Five Decades In Politics In Final Oval Office Address