Former President Joe Biden delivered a sharp critique of his successor, President Donald Trump, accusing him of taking a ‘wrecking ball’ to American democracy during a speech at the Ben Nelson Gala in Omaha, Nebraska, on November 7, 2025. Biden’s remarks, his first overtly political address since leaving office, framed Trump’s actions as a direct assault on democratic norms and institutions, while also tying the criticism to broader political and social issues.
Speaking to a room of supporters at the Nebraska Democratic Party event, Biden used vivid imagery to underscore his points, referencing Trump’s actual demolition of the White House East Wing to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. He described this as a ‘perfect symbol’ of a presidency that has targeted not just the ‘people’s house’ but the Constitution, the rule of law, and democracy itself. The former president expressed disbelief at the extent of the damage, noting he had anticipated Trump’s disruptive approach but was caught off guard by its literal and metaphorical intensity.
Biden also mocked Trump’s repeated claims that the country is experiencing a ‘golden age’ under his leadership. He dismissed these assertions by pointing to the gilded decorations in the Oval Office, quipping that the ‘only gold is the stuff he’s hanging on the mantle.’ This sarcastic rebuttal highlighted a broader theme of Biden’s speech: contrasting Trump’s self-congratulatory rhetoric with what he portrayed as a reality of democratic erosion and policy failures that harm ordinary Americans.
At times, Biden addressed Trump directly, stating that his behavior ’embarrasses us as a nation’ and accusing him of prioritizing the interests of wealthy allies over the public. Emphasizing that the president should serve all citizens, Biden declared, ‘You work for us, Mr. President. We don’t work for you. You work for us, not just billionaires and millionaires,’ adding with emotion, ‘I’m angry.’ This personal tone underscored the high stakes he sees in Trump’s governance and its impact on national integrity.
The speech took a poignant turn as Biden discussed his recent prostate cancer diagnosis, just weeks after completing radiation therapy. He expressed gratitude for medical advances and health care professionals, then pivoted to criticize Trump and Republicans for cutting government funding and making health care more expensive. This segment connected his personal experience to the ongoing political stalemate, noting that the country is in the longest government shutdown in history, centered on disputes over Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire.
Biden also celebrated Democratic victories in recent elections, including Zohran Mamdani’s win as New York City mayor and gubernatorial successes in Virginia and New Jersey, exclaiming, ‘The Democratic party is back!’ He interpreted these results as a message from the American people rejecting Trump’s policies, arguing that the wins demonstrate a public desire for leaders who uphold democratic values rather than undermine them.
Throughout the address, Biden stressed the fragility of democracy, urging supporters to ‘put in the work’ to defend it. He warned that ‘democracy is not a given’ and that nothing about it is guaranteed, even in America, emphasizing the need to elect officials who will stand up for democratic principles. This call to action resonated with themes from his previous campaigns, framing the current political climate as a critical juncture requiring vigilance and collective effort.
In closing, Biden expressed confidence in the nation’s resilience, asserting that ‘no one, not even the president, can destroy our democracy if we stand together and fight for it.’ His speech blended personal reflection with political urgency, positioning the 2025 moment as a pivotal one for American democracy and setting the stage for ongoing debates over governance, health care, and electoral accountability in the Trump era.
