Former President Joe Biden delivered an emotional and urgent message to Americans, warning that the nation is facing what he called “dark days” under President Donald Trump’s leadership. Speaking at a packed event in Boston on Sunday night, Biden used his acceptance speech at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award, to remind Americans of the stakes and the importance of standing up for democracy.
It was one of Biden’s first major public appearances since completing a difficult round of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, which his office described as aggressive and having spread to his bones. Despite looking thinner and moving slower than before, he spoke with passion and conviction, drawing frequent applause from the audience.
“Friends, I can’t sugarcoat any of this. These are dark days,” Biden said in a calm but firm voice. “But I also believe, as I always have, that America has never backed down from a challenge. We’ve come out of every crisis stronger than before.”
He reminded the crowd that the country has faced wars, economic collapses, and political division before, and yet, every time, it found its way back through courage and unity. “I still believe we will emerge, as we always have — stronger, wiser, more resilient, and more just — so long as we keep the faith and remember who we are as Americans,” he said, drawing a standing ovation.
The former president then shifted his tone from reflective to determined. “This is no time to give up,” he urged. “It’s time to get up. Get up now. It’s time to get reengaged. It’s time to act. It’s time to fight like hell.” His call to action echoed throughout the hall as attendees responded with cheers.
Biden’s remarks were both political and deeply personal. Having stepped away from the White House after one term, he acknowledged that many Americans had been disappointed by the direction the country had taken under Trump’s return to power. He told the audience that silence and inaction were not options in the face of what he described as a threat to the country’s democratic values.
Those close to Biden say that, even after his cancer diagnosis, his desire to serve and speak out for what he believes is right has not faded. His aides confirmed earlier this year that his prostate cancer had been given a Gleason score of 9 — one of the most aggressive levels — but that he had responded well to treatment and remains focused on advocacy work and mentoring young political leaders.
Biden’s speech also carried a sense of gratitude. He thanked his family, the medical team who treated him, and his supporters who continued to believe in him. “Every time life knocks you down, you have two choices — stay down or get up. America has always chosen to get up,” he said. “That’s what makes us who we are.”
The former president ended his speech on a hopeful note, encouraging Americans to remember the nation’s shared values of freedom, justice, and compassion. “We’ve been through worse. We can do this again,” he said. “But it starts with each of us — with our hearts, our votes, and our willingness to fight for what’s right.”
His appearance drew a long standing ovation as the crowd chanted his name. Despite the health challenges he has faced, Biden’s speech reminded many of the fiery and empathetic leader who often spoke about the “soul of America.” Even out of office, his words carried a tone of resilience — a reminder that, in his view, the struggle for democracy never truly ends.
