Joe Biden has felt an urge to increase his public activities. However, numerous prominent Democrats nationwide—including some who previously served as senior advisors and remain close allies, expressing regret as they say it—strongly wish the former president would embrace a low-profile retirement.
Yet, in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden entered one of the most contentious political debates ignited by President Donald Trump. His first significant public address since leaving office centered on defending Social Security, coinciding with a nationwide day of action by many Democrats concerned about potential cuts to the program, featuring planned protests across the country.
This represents a peculiar position for an individual who led the free world just under 100 days prior, and for those attempting to navigate their relationship with a man for whom they hold affection but also partly hold responsible for their current political circumstances.
When asked by CNN if they had heard from the former president since January 20, one long-standing supporter and donor simply replied: “No. Thank God.”
While President Trump continues to criticize him almost daily from the White House or Air Force One—a frequency that surprises Biden’s inner circle—Biden’s own sphere has significantly contracted since departing the Oval Office three months ago.
Only a handful of Biden’s most dedicated aides remained with him, primarily those who were the last advocates for him continuing his presidential campaign. He has spent most of his time at his Delaware residence, returning to a Washington office approximately once a week, frequently traveling via his preferred Amtrak. While occasionally seen around Wilmington, his public appearances have been scarce, limited to events like a Model United Nations conference in New York, a St. Patrick’s Day brunch in Delaware, and accepting a lifetime achievement award from the IBEW in Washington this month.
Associates describe this phase as a time for “reconnecting, rebuilding and reflecting”—engaging with grandchildren, reconnecting with old friends, catching up on missed movies and books, and simply spending more daily time with his wife beyond just dinner. He even attended the Broadway premiere of the latest “Othello” in formal attire, meeting the cast backstage where star Denzel Washington noted the honor of his presence.
He has been formulating ideas for a book, anticipating signing a publishing deal shortly. He has also engaged in deep discussions with some released Israeli hostages and the families of others still held.
On Sunday afternoon, Biden contacted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to offer condolences and support following an attack on the governor’s residence hours after a Passover seder was held there. That same evening, Biden attended a seder himself as a guest of Delaware’s new governor, Matt Meyer.
Governor Meyer introduced Biden to the gathering of about 50 community leaders and family members, emphasizing “what a friend of Delaware Joe is, and what a friend of the Jewish people Joe is.” He lightheartedly remarked that the former president had likely spent more time in synagogues than he had.
Although Biden did not lead the service, Meyer recounted that in his brief remarks, Biden spoke movingly about Passover “as a day for a hope for a brighter future.”
To the surprise of several loyal donors who told CNN they anticipated hearing from him, Biden has not yet initiated fundraising for his presidential library. He and his team have been outlining a potential focus for his foundation centered on promoting and safeguarding his legacy, but they are still finalizing a mission statement and appointing a board of directors.
Several Democratic officials who backed Biden for years informed CNN that their interactions with him have been minimal, if any. Others expressed astonishment at how completely he seems to have withdrawn from public view.
“I haven’t heard of one person who has communicated with him,” stated one Democratic member of Congress who had maintained regular contact with Biden over the years.
Officially, Biden and his close advisors have remained silent regarding the unfavorable accounts emerging from the numerous books being published about the 2024 election. Unofficially, their reaction has been less composed, particularly concerning former chief of staff Ron Klain’s on-record comments to author Chris Whipple questioning Biden’s mental acuity. Family members and close aides reacted strongly in a series of calls, although Klain, in a statement to CNN, asserted the published remarks were “framed to distort my meaning.”
According to sources familiar with the situation, Klain made several attempts to contact Biden and apologize.
“Joe Biden is going to thrive in that very wise, senior statesman role of ‘How do you help navigate?’ And I think people do want him engaged and involved,” one individual close to Biden shared with CNN. “We’re not hearing ‘Stay away.’ We’re hearing the opposite. But it’s not going to look like it did before — they’re not running for anything.”
Beginning to Voice Opposition to Trump
A staunch believer in institutional norms, Biden intentionally waited through most of Trump’s initial 100 days before speaking out. He then accepted the invitation to the Tuesday meeting of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD)—a relatively new organization primarily composed of lawyers assisting Social Security beneficiaries, co-chaired by former Republican Senator Roy Blunt and former Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.
Martin O’Malley, who served as Social Security Administration commissioner under Biden and introduced him at the event, told CNN on Monday that given Biden’s extensive history of discussing the dignity of work and strengthening the program, this appearance is an appropriate way for him to re-enter public discourse.
O’Malley expressed hope that Biden might inspire others, including the other living former presidents, to voice concerns about Trump’s proposed policies.
“One of the stabilizing influences in the history of our republic has been the voices of former presidents,” remarked O’Malley, a former governor of Maryland and mayor of Baltimore. “President Biden’s administration racked up a lot of important progress for the people of our country. I don’t believe that as a party we did the best job we could have in telling that story. But there’s no time like the present.”
Biden’s return to public criticism is relatively swift for a former president; eight years ago, when Barack Obama made his first public appearances in the April following Trump’s inauguration, his sole remark about his successor was a subtle joke.
However, Biden had already begun expressing criticism earlier this month, though it largely went unnoticed.
During his speech at the IBEW conference on April 4, which was closed to the press due to concerns about provoking Trump, union International President Kenneth Cooper awarded Biden an honorary membership certificate, praising him for having “led with his heart and soul.”
At the podium, Biden reflected on his long-standing ties with organized labor, including being the first sitting president to join a picket line, which he did in 2023.
The speech wasn’t solely focused on positive reminiscences.
Two days after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs caused global market turmoil and subsequent policy reversals, Biden addressed approximately 1,000 attendees at the Washington Hilton, discussing his own economic achievements and stating, “That economy is being squandered — utterly, needlessly squandered.”
“You know, folks, I spent the last two years of my presidency hearing the press and the pundits talking about how I was about to send the country into a recession. Remember that? It was relentless,” Biden said, according to an individual present. “Well, guess what? It never happened. We did not have a recession when I was president. But, do you want to know what we did have? We had the strongest economy in the world.”
During his presidency, Biden often expressed frustration that he didn’t receive sufficient recognition for the economic strength under his leadership. This sentiment persists now that he is out of office.
“I’ll say it again: On the day I left office, America had the strongest economy in the world. That’s a fact. It’s not just my view. It’s the consensus view among economists and financial publications around the world,” Biden stated. “And now, what’s happening?”
An IBEW member present later described the former president’s speech on Facebook as “very feisty.”
Prospects for a More Modest Library
Late in Biden’s term, his advisors discussed potential strategies for maintaining his public presence after leaving office. These discussions didn’t progress much beyond suggesting he might create an account on BlueSky, the social media platform seen as a more liberal alternative to Elon Musk’s X.
He has not created such an account.
While most recent presidents utilized part of their lame-duck period to plan libraries and foundations, Biden—who historically lacked strong ties with major donors—only finalized the paperwork for his foundation in December, just weeks before his term ended.
No one anticipated Biden would aim for something comparable to the extensive campus Obama is developing (estimated upwards of $2 billion), which includes a community fitness center and a Chicago public library branch. However, he faces intersecting challenges that will complicate raising even a small portion of that amount. Many dedicated donors felt overlooked during his presidency, finding it difficult to secure basic acknowledgments like invitations to White House holiday events—even before attributing Trump’s return partly to him. Despite a formal thank-you dinner for key supporters held at the White House post-election, several donors expressed to CNN feelings of bitterness and reluctance to contribute financially.
Among potential donors, some worry that contributing to Biden could make them targets for retaliation by Trump.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, the entertainment executive who was instrumental in early fundraising for Obama and later played a key advisory role in Biden’s withdrawn reelection bid before their relationship soured, did not reply to CNN’s inquiry about his potential support for Biden now.
Furthermore, time constraints exist: at 82, Biden is already the oldest president to have left office. This implies less time for fundraising and suggests a foundation likely designed for a 10-to-15-year post-presidency, unlike the 50-year outlook planned for Bill Clinton’s or Obama’s foundations.
“He’s trying to listen and connect with people, and then organize on how he stays engaged across the board,” explained one person involved in the foundation’s planning. “That’s what we’ve been trying to do.”
Biden and his team have consulted with the Kennedy and Clinton families and their staff, and have sought advice from Obama’s team regarding how digital archives might change traditional presidential library and museum models. Three primary location options are being considered: establishing a site in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania; repurposing the center initiated at the University of Delaware post-vice presidency; or expanding upon his existing affiliation with the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Although some alumni from the Biden administration have reached out, several former high-ranking aides informed CNN they have not heard from the former president—or his current small team—in months.
For many, the disappointment surrounding the conclusion of Biden’s presidency has evolved into bitterness and resigned frustration. The suspicion that their accomplishments might not be commemorated as significantly as they could have been, due to his challenging final year in office, has left them disheartened.
“It’s crushing,” one former senior aide conveyed to CNN.
However, Rufus Gifford, a deputy campaign manager for Biden in 2020 and finance chair for his 2024 campaign, who has strong connections with donors, suggests that increased public speaking by the former president could actually motivate the relatively small pool of major donors capable of funding libraries, who continually ask Biden’s team for a concrete plan.
“There is less anger at Joe Biden right now than there is nostalgia, given what we are up against,” Gifford stated. “The skepticism will quickly wane as he talks in a more gloves-off manner.”
Exploring a Political Path Forward
Thus far, Biden’s sole notable political meeting during his post-presidency has been with the new Democratic National Committee Chair, Ken Martin.
When asked about the role he envisions for the former president within the Democratic party moving forward and how Biden could best contribute to rebuilding the party, Martin offered no specific details.
Through a spokesperson, Martin issued a statement: “No Democratic president has invested more in the party’s infrastructure than Joe Biden, and I’m deeply grateful for the president’s service not only to our nation, but his ongoing commitment to the party.”
Sources familiar with the situation, however, indicate that a DNC fundraising email sent on March 31 and signed by Biden was among the most successful of the year, reactivating tens of thousands of donors.
“I think with every passing day, people miss him more and more. He’s for sure a net positive,” O’Malley commented.
“You can agree or disagree with Joe Biden’s policies and politics, but this is a man who cares deeply for our country and has personally sacrificed so much for our country,” said Governor Meyer. “The degree to which he’s seen as a divisive figure now, to us in Delaware, is kind of strange. He’s always been one to bring us together.”