On a crisp Sunday evening in Boston, former President Joe Biden stood before a crowd at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, his voice steady but somber. The occasion was both celebratory and grave: Biden, age 82, was receiving the Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award, but the mood was shaped by what he called America’s “dark days.” For the first time since completing a tough round of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Biden addressed the nation, urging Americans not to lose hope despite what he described as mounting threats to democracy and free speech under President Donald Trump.
“Friends, I can’t sugar coat any of this. These are dark days,” Biden declared, pausing as the audience leaned in. According to The Economic Times, his words were a rallying call, not just a lament. He pressed listeners to “get back up,” reminding them of the resilience that has long defined the American spirit.
Biden’s speech came at a tense moment for the country. The federal government was embroiled in its second-longest shutdown on record, a standoff that had paralyzed Washington and left millions uncertain about the future. Biden accused Trump of using the funding lapses as an opportunity to flex new command over the government, testing the limits of executive power. “America depends on a presidency with limited power, a functioning Congress, and an autonomous judiciary,” Biden insisted, underscoring the checks and balances he believes are essential to the nation’s survival.
He painted a picture of a country at a crossroads, referencing the 250-year “push and pull, an existential struggle between peril and possibility” that has shaped its history. “America is not a fairy tale,” he said, a line that seemed to speak to both the myth and the reality of the nation’s journey.
Throughout his remarks, Biden was careful to highlight not just problems, but also acts of courage. He cited federal employees who had resigned in protest against the Trump administration, universities and comedians who had been targeted for speaking out, and late-night hosts who, in his words, “continue to shine a light on free speech knowing their careers are on the line.” According to The Economic Times, these examples were meant to show that resistance and hope persist even in the most challenging times.
Biden also acknowledged those on the other side of the aisle. He praised Republican officials who had voted against or openly criticized the Trump administration, suggesting that defending democratic norms transcends party lines. “The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than any dictator,” Biden said, echoing his belief in the enduring strength of American democracy.
His remarks were especially poignant given his recent health struggles. In May 2025, Biden’s office had announced that he was battling prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. The diagnosis came with a daunting Gleason score of 9—a measure that signals a particularly aggressive cancer. Despite the gravity of his condition, Biden’s appearance in Boston was marked by a sense of determination. “We will find our true compass again and emerge as we always have—stronger, wiser, and more resilient, more just, so long as we keep the faith,” he told the crowd, as reported by The Economic Times.
This public appearance was Biden’s first since completing radiation therapy, and it came after a period of profound personal and political transition. Having left office in January 2025 after a single term, Biden had dropped his bid for reelection following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump. Concerns about his age, health, and mental fitness had mounted, prompting calls within his own party for new leadership. Vice President Kamala Harris quickly launched her own campaign, but ultimately lost to Trump in the November 2024 election.
Yet, even in political defeat and personal illness, Biden’s message was one of perseverance. He urged Americans not to “check out” or give in to cynicism, warning that the nation’s foundational ideas were being tested as never before. “Since its founding, America served as a beacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in the history of the world,” Biden said. “The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than a dictator.”
His speech resonated with many in the audience, some of whom had watched the country’s political climate grow more polarized and combative in recent years. The federal shutdown, which had stretched on with no end in sight, was more than a bureaucratic inconvenience—it was, in Biden’s view, a symptom of deeper dysfunction. He accused Trump of exploiting the situation to expand executive power, a move that he argued threatened the delicate balance of American governance.
But Biden’s focus was not solely on the actions of the current administration. He made a point of celebrating those who had stood up for democratic values, even at personal or professional risk. Federal employees resigning in protest, universities and comedians targeted for their views, and late-night hosts defending free speech all served as examples of what he called “standing your ground.”
“The late night hosts continue to shine a light on free speech knowing their careers are on the line,” Biden said, acknowledging the risks faced by those who dare to speak out. He also gave credit to Republican officials who had broken ranks to oppose Trump, emphasizing that the fight for democracy isn’t limited to one party or ideology.
In reflecting on the nation’s history, Biden reminded listeners that America has always faced moments of peril. “For 250 years, it’s been a constant push and pull, an existential struggle between peril and possibility,” he reflected, urging the country to draw strength from its past as it navigates an uncertain future.
As the evening drew to a close, Biden’s final words were a call to action: “Get back up.” It was a simple phrase, but one that carried the weight of both personal and national struggle. For a leader who had recently faced his own mortality, and for a country grappling with deep divisions, the message was clear—resilience, faith, and the courage to stand up for core values are what will carry America through its darkest days.
In the end, Biden’s address was not just a reflection on a single moment in time, but a reminder of the enduring challenges—and the enduring hope—that define the American experiment.
