Former President Joe Biden delivered a rare post-presidency speech in South Carolina, during which he joked about his 83 years of age and defended his record on border control during his term.
“I’m getting pretty old,” Biden told the crowd after pausing to cough. “Forty times two, plus a lot more.”
The event was held to mark the sixth anniversary of his victory in the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary—a critical turning point that helped his campaign regain momentum at the time.
In the speech, Biden asserted that illegal border crossings were lower when he left office than when he was inaugurated.
“Despite what you read, despite COVID causing migration to skyrocket globally, on the day I left office, the number of people crossing the border into the U.S. was lower than the day I entered the White House. That’s a fact,” he said.
According to figures cited in the article, an average of about 2.4 million migrants entered the U.S. annually during his term, most crossing illegally. Within the first three months of his term, border crossings exceeded the highest levels ever recorded under the previous administration of President Trump.
Biden also claimed to have “handed over the world’s strongest economy to President Trump” at the time he left office.
On social media, many criticized his remarks. Some suggested he was confused about the facts, while others called the statements dishonest.
The speech took place after Biden withdrew from the 2024 race following a controversial debate with President Trump, amid concerns within the Democratic Party about his candidacy.
