In a rare and forceful public address, former President Joe Biden has delivered a stark warning that his successor, Donald Trump, will attempt to "steal" the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking at the Columbia Museum of Art in South Carolina on 27 February 2026, where he was honoured for his lifetime achievement in politics, Biden asserted that the United States is currently experiencing "dark days" and emphasised the critical importance of voter participation.
Biden's Dire Warning on Election Integrity
Reprising a familiar line from his successful 2020 presidential campaign, Biden told the assembled crowd that "the battle for the soul of this nation is one that's never really over." He directly criticised Trump's plans to introduce potentially prohibitive voting requirements ahead of the midterms, framing them as deliberate barriers designed to suppress turnout.
"Here's the good news," Biden continued. "In America, the power still belongs to the people for now. And the way to show the power is vote, show up and vote. And folks, when we do that, that's bad news for Donald Trump, and he knows it."
Accusations of Deliberate Voter Suppression
The former president elaborated further, stating: "That's why he's trying to pull out more and more barriers – put them up. He's trying to steal the election, because he knows he can't win your vote, so he's going to do everything he can to prevent you from wanting to vote." This speech was delivered just hours before the Trump administration launched military attacks against Iran, adding to the tense political atmosphere.
Broader Criticisms of the Trump Administration
Biden, now 83 years old, has largely remained out of the public eye since leaving office and undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer. During his address, he did not discuss his personal health but instead focused on criticising Trump's recent State of the Union address and the administration's immigration crackdown.
He specifically referenced the January incident in Minneapolis where federal agents killed US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, noting that Trump "doesn't mention Renee Good, Alex Pretti … [or] offer even a word of solace to their families." Biden also pointed out that Trump failed to "offer a word of support, even recognition" to the victims of disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his speech.
Political Context and Public Opinion
Biden's speech comes at a time when Trump's approval ratings have reached historic lows. Earlier in February, an Associated Press-Norc Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 61% of Americans disapprove of his performance. A more recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll indicated that most US adults believe Trump is moving the country in the wrong direction.
This political landscape follows Biden's own withdrawal from the 2024 re-election campaign after a disastrous debate performance in June of that year. He had endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris as his successor, but Trump ultimately defeated her later in the year to secure his return to the White House.
The Significance of Biden's Return to the Public Stage
Biden's decision to speak out represents a significant re-entry into the political fray, highlighting his ongoing concerns about democratic norms and election integrity. His warnings about potential election manipulation reflect broader anxieties within the American political system regarding voting rights and fair electoral processes.
The former president's message underscores a deepening partisan divide as the nation approaches another crucial electoral test, with his call to action focusing squarely on mobilising voters to counteract what he perceives as systemic threats to democracy.
