January 15, 2025politicalfarewell addressoligarchytech industrial complexdemocracypolitical
Biden delivers farewell address warning of tech industrial complex and oligarchy
President Biden delivers a prime-time farewell address from the Oval Office, warning Americans of the dangers of "an oligarchy of extreme wealth, power, and influence" that he says now "literally threaten[s] our entire democracy." Biden specifically criticizes the concentration of power in tech and social media companies, warning of "a tech industrial complex", echoing President Eisenhower's 1961 warning about the military-industrial complex. Biden also warns against disinformation and the abandonment of a free press. He does not mention Trump by name but criticizes the "abuse of power" he fears is coming.