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July 31, 2025

Biden accuses Trump of trying to "dismantle the Constitution"

CivicSense

Former president warns Black legal leaders that constitutional democracy is under attack

Biden delivered a 22-minute speech at the National Bar Association's 100th annual convention gala in Chicago on July 31, 2025.

He accused the Trump administration of "doing its best to dismantle the Constitution" with help from a compliant Congress and Supreme Court.

Biden warned "these are dark days" and called the current moment "existential" for marginalized communities.

The speech broke 150 years of tradition where former presidents avoid publicly attacking their successors.

Biden appointed more Black women federal judges than all previous presidents combined, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Biden disclosed in May 2025 he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Rep. Jasmine CrockettJasmine Crockett attended the gala.

๐Ÿ“œConstitutional LawโœŠCivil Rightsโš–๏ธJustice

People, bills, and sources

Joe Biden

Former President of the United States

Donald Trump

Donald Trump

President of the United States

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Supreme Court Justice

Jasmine Crockett

Jasmine Crockett

U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Kwame Raoul

Illinois Attorney General

John G. Roberts

John G. Roberts

Chief Justice of the United States

What you can do

1

Contact your senators at 202-224-3121 when judicial nominees are considered to ensure qualifications and constitutional commitment.

2

Monitor judicial appointments through Alliance for Justice at afj.org.

3

Support organizations defending constitutional governance including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund at naacpldf.org.

4

Join local bar associations advocating for judicial independence.

5

Track Supreme Court cases affecting voting rights and civil liberties at supremecourt.gov.

6

Follow National Bar Association advocacy at nationalbar.org.