In last message as president, Biden warns about “disinformation” and “concentration of power” in the US

In his last message as president, Biden warns of a “concentration of power in the hands of a few rich people” and an “avalanche of misinformation” that “is burying” Americans.

In his farewell speech as president, Joe Biden warned that “we have a concentration of power in the hands of a few rich people” and that an oligarchy is taking shape in the United States.

He called on Americans to be alert to “ultra-billionaire interests” that could undermine the country's progress on equality and underscored the risks of an era of large-scale, “unscrupulous” industrialization.

“I am equally concerned about the possible emergence of a technological-industrial complex that could also pose real dangers to our country,” he said, in words that echoed President Dwight Eisenhower's farewell speech in 1961. Eisenhower, who was closing eight years As president, he had warned of the dangers of a “military-industrial complex” gaining power in the United States.

“Today, there is an oligarchy of extreme wealth, power and influence forming in the United States that really threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and our freedom and a fair chance for everyone to get ahead,” he said.

From the Oval Office of the White House, days before the end of his four-year term, Biden also said that “Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, allowing the abuse of power.”

“The free press is crumbling. The pillars are disappearing. Social networks are giving up data verification,” said Biden, who also referred to artificial intelligence, which, he assured, “can represent threats to privacy,” to unless it has more controls.

Be alert

In his message, which lasted about 17 minutes, he also stated that “powerful forces want to exert their uncontrolled influence” to thwart the climate crisis.

The president also warned of advocating for a “presidency without brakes,” which is why he called on the American people to be vigilant to keep safe the rights of freedom of expression, opinion and civil liberties achieved in centuries of history “in this great project.” ” of more than 200 years of democracy.

He called on Americans to bravely confront abuses of power, reinforcing rights and freedoms. “We all deserve to be treated with equality and justice,” he said.

Facing the world

At the beginning of his message, he highlighted the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, the economic achievements of his government and wished success to Donald Trump's new administration.

He urged “to continue advancing with the leadership of the United States, which has no parallel in the world” due to the creative capabilities of its people in constant advancement.

The outgoing president highlighted that the United States' bets are still valid and gave as an example the cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the joint work with Ukraine, which “remains free.”

In internal matters

He said that “he is very proud” of what he has achieved for the American people, leaving them with a solid economy with nearly 17 million new jobs created during his administration.

Also of the infrastructure renewal plan as a bet of his administration that passed with bipartisan support to renew streets, bridges, schools nationwide and highlighted that the United States has now positioned itself as a logistics center in the production of semiconductors, “creating thousands of jobs.”

He took the opportunity to highlight his management's efforts to lower the price of generic medications, which has benefited “millions of older adults” covered by Medicare insurance.

He said that the achievements of his mandate They will take a while to see with the work from the White House carried out in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It will take time to feel the impact of everything we have done together, but the seeds are planted and will grow and flourish for decades to come,” he said.

The president, with a political career spanning 50 years, wrote a letter before his final address to the nation, highlighting his achievements and calling on Americans to build on his progress.

Biden, 82, will conclude his one-term government on January 20. That day Trump will assume the presidency.