US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to remain vigilant against the rise of a “dangerous” oligarchy under Donald Trump.
Speaking in a primetime address from the Oval Office on Wednesday, the 82-year-old, who steps down next week after a single term, warned about the growing influence of an ultra-wealthy “tech industrial complex.”
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that threatens our entire democracy,” the 82-year-old Democrat said.
“That’s a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people.”
Biden also lashed out at social media firms, with X owner and the world’s richest man Elon Musk set to play a key role in Trump’s incoming administration and Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg courting the Republican.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power,” said Biden.
Biden also warned of the dangers of AI, saying that America must take the “lead” over China on the transformative technology, and said that “powerful forces” threatened his climate achievements.
Signing off Trump returns for a second term on January 20, Biden told Americans: “Now it’s your turn to stand guard.”
Biden’s speech took a dark turn after he began by touting his legacy on the economy, healthcare, climate and tackling the gun violence that plagues the United States.
America’s oldest ever president has spent much of his final months in office trying to burnish his reputation before he is replaced by the bitter political rival he defeated in the 2020 election — a result Trump still disputes.
Biden’s efforts got a boost earlier Wednesday when Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal Biden said he’d ordered his administration to cooperate with Trump’s team to reach an accord.
