A Call to Democratic Resistance
In a speech loaded with symbolism and political urgency, former US President Joe Biden referred to the current moment as “dark days” for the nation, urging citizens to remain optimistic and not disengage in the face of what he described as systematic attacks on fundamental freedoms and tests of the limits of presidential power by Donald Trump’s administration.
Biden, 82, made these statements during his first public appearance after completing radiotherapy treatment to combat aggressive prostate cancer. The former president addressed an audience in Boston upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, a propitious setting to reflect on the state of American democracy.
Institutional Architecture Under Pressure
In his analysis of the current situation, Biden emphasized that the United States system of government depends critically on three fundamental pillars: a presidency with limited powers, an operational Congress and an autonomous judiciary. This approach takes on special relevance in the context of the second-longest federal shutdown in history, a situation that Trump has used, according to Biden, to exercise unprecedented control over government machinery.
“Friends, I cannot sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days,” the former president expressed frankly. However, he projected confidence in the country’s resilience, predicting that the United States will “find our true direction again” and emerge “stronger, wiser and more resilient” as long as faith in its founding principles is maintained.
Examples of Citizen and Institutional Resistance
Biden’s speech included explicit recognition of those who maintain their position against the policies of the current administration. He cited cases of federal employees who have resigned in protest, universities who have been the target of government criticism and comedians who continue to exercise freedom of expression aware of the professional risk they face.
“Late night hosts continue to shine a light on freedom of expression knowing that their careers are at stake,” he noted, highlighting the courage of those who defend this fundamental right. He also recognized elected Republican officials who have voted for or openly opposed measures by the Trump administration, demonstrating that the principle of partisan loyalty has limits when it comes to defending institutions.
Biden stressed that “America is not a fairy tale,” but rather the result of 250 years of “an existential struggle between danger and possibility.” This historical reflection framed his final message, a direct call to action for citizens to “rise again” in defense of democratic values.
Political and Health Context
The speech comes at a significant moment in Biden’s political and personal career. The Democrat left the White House in January after a single term, later abandoning his re-election bid after facing pressure stemming from his debate performance against Trump and concerns about his age, health and mental fitness. Vice President Kamala Harris then launched her candidacy, but was defeated by Trump in the November elections.
In the field of health, in May 2025 Biden’s post-presidential office announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer with bone metastasis. Specialists classify the aggressiveness of these cancers using the Gleason score, which ranges from six to ten. Carcinomas with scores of eight, nine and ten exhibit the most aggressive behavior, and Biden’s office confirmed that their specific score was 9, contextualizing the seriousness of their treatment and the relevance of their public reappearance.
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