Biden argues 'oligarchy,' social media are threats to democracy in farewell address
President Joe Biden's farewell address on Wednesday came with a series of warnings for the future of the country, including a rising “oligarchy taking shape” that he said threatens American democracy.
President Joe Biden's farewell address Wednesday came with a series of warnings for the future of the country, among them that a rising “oligarchy taking shape” threatens American democracy.
"Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead," Biden said.
Biden’s comments, delivered from the Oval Office, seemed clearly aimed at billionaire Elon Musk, who has been at the side of President-elect Donald Trump since his election win, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Biden recalled former President Dwight Eisenhower's warning against a "military-industrial complex" in which he used his 1961 farewell address to caution against "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power."
"Six decades later, I'm equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex," Biden said. "It could pose real dangers for our country as well."
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