Former President Joe Biden, in his first major public address since leaving office, delivered a deeply personal and politically charged speech in Chicago on Tuesday, weaving together policy advocacy and a poignant childhood memory that shaped his lifelong views on justice and equality.

Speaking before a gathering of disability advocates at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference, Biden, 82, focused primarily on defending Social Security, calling it a “sacred promise” and sharply criticizing the Trump administration’s approach to the program. Yet, it was a moment of reflection on his early years in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that brought a rare note of vulnerability and candor to the address.

A Childhood Memory of Segregation

Biden recounted a formative experience from his youth, recalling the day he first became aware of racial segregation. “I was only in fourth grade,” he said, describing how, after his family moved from Scranton to Wilmington, Delaware, he noticed a bus carrying African American children—then referred to as “colored kids”—who were not allowed to attend the same public schools as white students. “Learning that Black children were not allowed to attend public school with white students sparked my sense of outrage as a kid,” Biden told the audience, his voice tinged with emotion.

He explained that this early encounter with injustice left a lasting impression, fueling his commitment to dignity and fairness—values that would later become central to his legislative agenda. “That moment made me realize what dignity and justice really mean,” Biden said, linking the memory to his decades-long advocacy for civil rights and social programs.

A Divided Nation and the Fight for Social Security

Pivoting from personal history to present-day politics, Biden warned that the nation “can’t go on like this as a divided nation,” lamenting the deepening fractures in American society. He accused the Trump administration of “taking a hatchet” to Social Security, arguing that recent budget cuts and staff reductions have jeopardized the program for millions of Americans.

Biden did not mention Donald Trump by name, instead referring to him as “this guy,” but his rebuke was unmistakable. He mocked claims of widespread Social Security fraud and criticized Republican efforts to “cut and gut” benefits for retirees. “Who the hell do they think they are?” he exclaimed, before quickly softening his tone.

A Legacy of Empathy and Advocacy

Throughout the 30-minute speech, Biden’s remarks were marked by a blend of humor, frustration, and earnestness. He drew a direct line from his childhood awakening to the values that have guided his public service, emphasizing the importance of empathy and inclusion. “I’ve been in this for a long time, and it’s never been this fractured,” he said, urging Americans to find common ground and protect the most vulnerable among them.

Biden’s speech, his first major public appearance since leaving the White House, signaled a return to the national stage and a renewed commitment to the issues that have defined his career. By sharing a vivid memory from his past, he sought to remind the country that the fight for dignity and justice is both personal and ongoing.