New York: In his farewell speech delivered from his Oval office on Wednesday, outgoing US President Joe Biden warned against “oligarchy taking shape in America” and a “dangerous concentration of power” among a very few ultra wealthy people. He claims such developments threaten the country’s democracy.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
“The very idea of America is that everyone is entitled to a fair shot. Going as far as your hard work and talents can take you. We can never lose that essential truth,” he added. The leader also emphasized that he was concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers to our country as well. He made this remark while remembering the words of former President Dwight Eisenhowers, who had also warned of the military-industrial complex when he left the White House in 1961.
“Americans are buried under avalanche of misinformation”
The leader claimed that the Americans were being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation. This has led to the abuse of power, he added. “The free press is crumbling, editors are disappearing. 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 to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power,” he urged.
Bats for change in law to ensure US prez aren’t immune from crimes
He also called for a constitutional amendment to ensure that US presidents were not immune from crimes committed during their term in the office.
Joe Biden: No president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office pic.twitter.com/cKnbj9raQP
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) January 16, 2025
“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president, no president, is immune from crimes he or she commits while in office. The president’s power is not unlimited. It’s not absolute. And it shouldn’t be,” he added.
‘AI can spawn threats’
The outgoing President also warned against Artificial Intelligence (AI) having the potential to ‘spawn new threats’ unless appropriate safeguards were taken up.
“AI is the most consequential technology of our time, perhaps of all time. Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society, for humanity. AI even has the potential to help us answer my call to end cancer as we know it. But unless safeguards are in place, AI could spawn new threats to our rights, our way of life, to our privacy, how we work and how we protect our nation,” he warned.
He concluded the speech by urging Americans to stand guard and keep the faith.
