Biden's Final Alert: Democracy at Risk from Oligarchy, Tech

As President Biden prepares to hand over the Oval Office, his farewell speech sparked the same divisive tremors that have marked American politics in recent years. Biden’s farewell address issued a warning that “an oligarchy is taking shape” to threaten American democracy. Biden also noted that serving as president has been "the highest honor of my life," © Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A Half Century of Service

Joe Biden was the U.S. Senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009 and later served as Vice President under President Obama for two terms. He became President on November 3, 2020. Biden decided not to run for re-election in 2024, and his presidency faced numerous challenges, leaving a lasting impact on the nation. © Daniel Sato/Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Presidential Legacy: Jobs, Business, and Economic Battles

Sworn into office as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, Joe Biden has worked to improve the US economy and curb inflation while faced with the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and wars in Ukraine and Israel-Hamas.

According to Whitehouse.gov, during his time in office, Biden has focused on small businesses, building a fairer tax system, protecting American workers, and promoting increased housing.

In July, at the end of a failed bid for a second term, Biden wrote, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while I have intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” © Jennifer Corbett/Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Echoing Eisenhower's Industrial Complex Warning

During his farewell address, delivered from the Oval Office, Biden offered a series of warnings and expressed concern for the country, recalling President Dwight Eisenhower's warning against a "military-industrial complex" in which he used his 1961 farewell address to caution against "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power."

Biden stated, "Six decades later, I'm equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex," Biden said. "It could pose real dangers for our country as well." © Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Social Media, AI: Dual Impact on America's Future

President Biden criticized social media platforms for neglecting fact-checking, stating, "The truth is smothered by lies told for power and profit," referencing Meta’s end of its fact-checking program.

He also warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, calling it "the most consequential technology of our time," and noting its profound possibilities and risks for the economy, security, and society. © Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last Call to Action: 'Stand Guard' Over Democracy'

Biden's last day has been marked by welcome news of the end of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which he highlighted in the farewell speech, noting that the incoming Trump administration would oversee much of the resolution moving forward.

In a letter published on Wednesday, Biden said, "I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake. The very nature of who we are was at stake. And that’s still the case."

Concluding his address, Biden said: "I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it's your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith." © Jordyn Noennig / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images