As Joe Biden’s presidency limps to its final days, he graced the nation with a farewell speech from the comfort of the Resolute Desk, and, unsurprisingly, it was anything but inspiring. What should have been a moment of reflection on leadership and national unity quickly devolved into a disjointed rant about social media “fact-checking.” Instead of focusing on accomplishments or offering a unifying vision, Biden seemed more preoccupied with algorithms and moderation policies, as though he were angling for a gig at one of Big Tech’s PR firms. It was less a statesmanlike farewell and more a tech conference gone off the rails.
Traditionally, farewell speeches are meant to evoke a sense of patriotism and shared purpose, a chance for outgoing presidents to leave the nation with some parting wisdom. Biden, however, veered straight into Orwellian territory, decrying “disinformation” in a manner that would make an authoritarian blush. His insistence on government involvement in policing speech sounded more like the playbook of a dictatorship than a democracy. While he pontificated on the importance of “truth,” he also read stage directions off his teleprompter—a reminder that perhaps some disinformation campaigns begin right at the podium.
Not content with just lecturing on speech, Biden pivoted to politicizing natural disasters, blaming everything from hurricanes to wildfires on climate change. The tragic Hurricane Helene, for example, was trotted out as a rallying cry for green spending, despite the fact that hurricanes have been battering the Gulf Coast for centuries. As for California’s wildfires, he conveniently ignored the state’s arson problems and mismanagement of resources, instead blaming global warming as the ultimate scapegoat. It’s a clever way to dodge responsibility for failed policies, but it’s not fooling anyone paying attention.
Then came the predictable spiel about “threats to democracy,” a staple of Biden’s speeches. This time, his target seemed to be Elon Musk, who dared to support Donald Trump and promote free speech. Biden conveniently overlooked his recent move to award George Soros a Presidential Medal of Freedom—because apparently, billionaires who fund Democratic causes are heroes, while those who dissent are villains. His approach to “unity” seems to involve vilifying half the country while propping up allies with deep pockets. It’s a curious definition of democracy, to say the least.
And, of course, there was the obligatory comedy of errors. True to form, Biden managed to fumble yet another teleprompter moment, reading “end of quote” aloud for all to hear. It was a fitting end to a presidency marked by gaffes, confusion, and lackluster leadership. As Biden prepares to exit stage left, his legacy seems destined for the “worst president” rankings, potentially dethroning Jimmy Carter as the poster child for ineffective governance. If nothing else, Biden’s farewell speech provided one final moment of unintentional entertainment, a parting gift to a nation ready to turn the page.
🚨 JUST IN: Joe Biden LAMBASTS social media platforms for removing state-funded “fact checkers” and moving to a Community Notes model
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 16, 2025
Biden is just ticked that WE THE PEOPLE are the media now, and he was FINALLY exposed for threatening platforms to censor content he didn’t like.… pic.twitter.com/lVMk67NHR0
