Former President Joe Biden made a stirring address at a Nebraska Democratic gala, declaring that his party has resurged following recent election victories and paying tribute to his late son, Beau, by reflecting, “He should have been the president, not me.”
Biden pointed to Democratic wins in states including Virginia, New Jersey and New York City as proof of renewed momentum, telling attendees the result signals “a message to Trump and to his crowd.” He criticized the ongoing government shutdown, arguing the failure to fund programs is exacerbating hunger and instability across America.
Drawing on his personal family journey—Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 after serving in Iraq—Biden linked the devastation of illness to national policy. “Cancer hits every family,” he said. “It hit my family hard.” He accused the Trump administration and Republicans of prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy while under-funding research and safety nets.
In the speech, he called on Republicans to “get the damn government open” and invoked the shutdown’s human toll: unpaid federal workers, freezes on benefits, and delayed medical and veteran services. Biden emphasized that when he left office, there had been no shutdowns, positioning the current stalemate as a leadership failure.
Throughout the remarks, the former president framed the moment as a turning point for Democrats—pointing to the party’s future, not past. The gala appearance underscored his role as elder statesman in the party and set the tone for upcoming policy debates and the 2026 election cycle.