Former U.S. President Joe Biden spoke at the National Bar Association’s 100th Annual Awards Gala in Chicago, addressing the nation’s civil rights legacy and current challenges. Despite ongoing scrutiny about his health, Biden emphasized the importance of a strong judiciary and described this moment as one that forces Americans to face difficult truths.
“Many of you have fought to uphold this country’s highest ideals,” Biden said. “Not since the 1960s has this struggle been so critical to our national identity, with marginalized groups facing unprecedented attacks.”
The National Bar Association, founded in 1925, is the largest and oldest network of Black legal professionals in the U.S. Biden highlighted the contributions of Black lawyers to civil rights and warned against efforts to “erase history, equality, and justice itself.”
He criticized policies that separate immigrant families, saying, “We see politicians taking pleasure in tearing legally present immigrants from their loved ones, dragging them away from the only home they’ve known. We must confront these harsh realities.”
Biden also condemned law firms that have yielded to political pressure rather than upholding justice, referencing firms targeted by the Trump administration. Some have faced financial penalties, while federal judges have considered forming their own security forces due to increasing threats.
This speech follows other recent appearances where Biden has criticized former President Donald Trump. In June, he indirectly rebuked Trump’s policies during a Juneteenth event in Texas. Earlier this month, at a human resources conference, Biden mentioned working on a memoir about his presidency while managing his prostate cancer diagnosis.
The book, reflecting on his four years in office, may address concerns about his health that overshadowed his final years and led to his decision not to seek re-election. Though he praised Vice President Kamala Harris in his speech, he did not mention stepping aside during the election.
Since leaving office, Biden has denied allegations that his aides concealed his declining health from the public. While not directly addressing these claims in his speech, he noted his historic political milestones—being the youngest senator ever elected and the oldest president.
Republicans have amplified these concerns, investigating whether Biden was fully in control during key clemency decisions at the end of his term. In a recent interview, Biden insisted he personally authorized every pardon and called Republican accusations about staff misuse of the autopen “lies.”Hours before Biden spoke, Mike Donilon, one of the president’s senior advisers and longest-serving aides, gave a private interview to the House Oversight Committee. The Republican-led panel is investigating concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness. Earlier on Wednesday, Steve Ricchetti, another top adviser to the president, also testified before the committee.
