In his first public appearance since leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden raised eyebrows and triggered backlash after using the term “colored kids” while reminiscing about his childhood in Wilmington, Delaware. Speaking at the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference in Chicago, the 82-year-old former president reflected on seeing segregated schools in his youth—comments that quickly drew criticism for their outdated and racially insensitive language.
Biden recounted watching Black students walk to schools separated by race, saying the moment shaped his awareness of racial injustice. But it wasn’t the content of the story that caught attention—it was the language he used to tell it. Critics called the remark a throwback to a bygone era and questioned how a former president could still use such terminology in 2025.
While Biden did not directly reference President Trump, much of his speech was focused on defending Social Security, a key issue he attempted to campaign on during his presidency. He accused Republicans of seeking to gut the program and warned of efforts to dismantle what he called a “sacred promise.” At one point, Biden joked about claims of 300-year-old recipients drawing benefits, a line that drew confused reactions from the audience.
The speech was also marred by a shaky start, as loud music over the public address system drowned out Biden’s opening remarks. While he eventually found his rhythm, the appearance was filled with moments that raised fresh concerns about the former president’s verbal discipline and mental sharpness.
Despite his effort to rally support around government benefits and take swipes at the current administration’s reform efforts, Biden’s controversial phrasing overshadowed the message. Online reaction was swift, with many pointing out that if any conservative figure had used such language, the media firestorm would be relentless.
Biden’s defenders tried to frame the remark as a relic of his generation, but that explanation did little to calm criticism from both sides of the political aisle. As one commentator put it, “This wasn’t a gaffe—it was a reminder of how out of touch the Democratic Party’s old guard really is.”
For a former president trying to stay relevant in the national conversation, Biden’s return to the spotlight may have done more harm than good. Rather than presenting a forward-looking vision or a compelling counterpoint to current leadership, he served up a moment that left many questioning whether his political instincts have finally faded for good.