Former President Joe Biden returned to South Carolina on February 27, 2026, delivering an impassioned address at the Columbia Museum of Art that sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s policies and leadership 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 fundraising event. The occasion marked 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 launched into critiques of Trump’s recent State of the Union address, which lasted a record one hour and 47 minutes on Tuesday night, February 24. Referring to the lengthy speech, Biden joked to laughter: “Is he still talking?”
The mood then turned serious as Biden spoke about what he described as the “dark days” confronting the nation. He condemned Trump for failing to acknowledge the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by immigration agents in Minnesota during the State of the Union speech.
“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. The former president also accused Trump of trying to suppress voter turnout ahead of the midterms, warning that Trump knows he cannot win fairly and will instead seek to restrict voting access.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat whose endorsement was pivotal to Biden’s 2020 primary resurgence, introduced him. The two shared a warm embrace before Biden took the stage at the Columbia museum.
Biden defended his time in office, emphasizing job creation and declining crime rates during his presidency. He highlighted the creation of 2.2 million jobs in his final year, 2024, contrasting it with what he said were only 185,000 jobs in Trump’s first year back in office.
Addressing immigration—an issue central to Trump’s return to the White House—Biden countered criticism by asserting that border crossings were lower when he left office than when he took over from Trump in 2021, despite record global migration fueled by COVID-19.
The event was a notable moment for Biden, who has kept a low profile since leaving Washington. He revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. In October, his office announced he was undergoing radiation and hormone therapy as part of a new treatment phase.
Biden’s trip to South Carolina also drew interest. He flew commercial from Reagan National Airport, where fog delays caused him to wait alongside other passengers. Supporters greeted him warmly, though one woman confronted him about the conflict in Gaza. He later vacationed with family on Kiawah Island near Charleston.
Behind the scenes, Biden has stayed engaged in Democratic politics. He has spoken by phone with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, met with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for more than an hour 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 aimed to highlight in his remarks.
South Carolina holds deep meaning for Biden beyond his 2020 primary win. The state became like a second home after Delaware, where he often vacationed with his family. As a senator, he formed close ties with South Carolina’s longtime senators, Republican Strom Thurmond and Democrat Fritz Hollings, and delivered eulogies for both.
During his presidency, Biden raised South Carolina’s profile within Democratic politics, successfully advocating for it to become the first primary state in the party’s nominating calendar. He also appointed Jaime Harrison, an Orangeburg native, to lead the Democratic National Committee.
Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, defended the state’s ongoing significance in choosing Democratic nominees. The national party is currently reviewing its primary schedule, a process that could reduce South Carolina’s role.
Biden ended his speech 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.
