Former President Joe Biden returned to South Carolina on February 27, delivering an impassioned address at the Columbia Museum of Art that sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s leadership and policies while energizing Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The 83-year-old Biden, giving his first public remarks since leaving office in January 2025, spoke for about 20 minutes at a South Carolina Democratic Party fundraiser. The event honored the sixth anniversary of his crucial 2020 primary win in the state—a victory that revived his presidential bid and helped propel him to the White House.
Biden quickly took aim at Trump’s recent State of the Union address, which lasted a record 1 hour and 47 minutes Tuesday night. Referring to its length, Biden joked to audience laughter: “Is he still talking?”
The mood soon turned more serious as Biden described what he called the “dark days” facing the nation. He criticized Trump for failing to acknowledge during the address the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by immigration agents in Minnesota.
“He doesn’t mention Renee Good, Alex Pretti, who were killed in Minnesota by ICE—offer even a word of solace to their families,” Biden said. He further accused Trump of trying to suppress voter participation ahead of the midterms, arguing that Trump knows he cannot win honestly and will instead erect voting obstacles.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat whose endorsement was critical to Biden’s 2020 comeback, introduced him. The two shared a warm embrace before Biden took the podium at the museum in Columbia.
Biden defended his time in office, emphasizing job creation and reduced crime rates. He noted that 2.2 million jobs were added in his final year as president in 2024, contrasting that with what he said were only 185,000 jobs created during Trump’s first year back in office.
Addressing immigration—an issue central to Trump’s return to power—Biden rejected the criticism leveled at him. He said border crossings were lower when he left office than when he assumed the presidency from Trump in 2021, despite global migration surges driven by COVID-19.
The appearance marked a notable moment for Biden, who has remained mostly out of public view since leaving Washington. He disclosed in May that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his bone. In October, his office said he was undergoing radiation and hormone therapy as part of a new treatment stage.
Biden’s travel to South Carolina also attracted attention. He flew commercial from Reagan National Airport on Friday, where fog delays kept him waiting with other passengers. Supporters greeted him warmly, though one woman confronted him about child deaths in Gaza. He later spent vacation time with family on Kiawah Island near Charleston.
Behind closed doors, Biden has continued to engage in Democratic politics. He has spoken by phone with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, held a lengthy meeting with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his Washington office, and called Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger before her response to Trump’s State of the Union.
According to an NBC News poll, 60% of respondents somewhat or strongly disapproved of Trump’s handling of border security and immigration—a weakness Biden sought to highlight during his speech.
Biden’s late decision to withdraw from the 2024 race remains a point of friction within the Democratic Party. His exit on July 21 left Vice President Kamala Harris just 107 days to present her case to voters, amid concerns about Biden’s age and discussions about cognitive decline.
South Carolina holds deep meaning for Biden beyond his 2020 primary victory. The state served as a second home after Delaware, with frequent family vacations there. As a senator, he formed close ties with longtime South Carolina senators Strom Thurmond, a Republican, and Fritz Hollings, a Democrat, and delivered eulogies for both.
During his presidency, Biden increased South Carolina’s influence within Democratic politics, successfully advocating for the state to become the first primary on the party calendar. He also appointed Jaime Harrison of Orangeburg to lead the Democratic National Committee.
Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, defended the state’s continued major role in choosing Democratic nominees. The national party is now reviewing its primary schedule, which could reduce South Carolina’s sway.
Biden ended his remarks by urging Democrats to keep resisting what he described as Trump’s attacks on democratic norms. “The battle for the soul of this nation is one that’s never really over,” he told the audience.
