In his first public appearance since revealing his cancer diagnosis, former President Joe Biden reportedly offered a sobering reflection on the state of American politics, lamenting what he described as a troubling level of bitterness and division.
Speaking at a Memorial Day ceremony in Delaware, Biden was both candid and composed as he addressed the crowd.
“Our politics have become so divided and so bitter,” he said. “All the years I’ve been doing this, I never thought we’d get to this point. But we are.”
Biden, 82, appeared in strong spirits despite undergoing treatment for what may be terminal prostate cancer.
He told attendees that he was on a six-week course of medication and assured them that the illness had not spread, emphasizing his optimism about the treatment’s outcome in spite of many troubling indicators.
During his remarks, he drew a contrast between the unity demonstrated by the military and the rancor currently dominating the political landscape. “Our troops don’t wear uniforms that say ‘Democrat’ or ‘Republican,’” he said. “They say ‘American.’ That’s who we are.”
The former president also reaffirmed his belief in the founding ideals of the United States, highlighting equality and democratic values as the core of the nation’s identity.
He urged Americans to honor the sacrifices of fallen soldiers by striving to protect those ideals and to work toward greater unity.
Those close to Biden have suggested that the former president has grown increasingly restless since leaving office, frustrated by what he sees as the failure of almost all of his policies.
His appearance on Memorial Day may signal a desire to re-engage with the public.
Though he did not mention current political figures by name, the undertone of Biden’s remarks was unmistakable — a call to reject tribalism and to recover a shared sense of civic responsibility.
Biden did not mention any of the number of scandals that plauged his presidency, including the coverup of his mental feebleness in the months leading up to the 20204 election.
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