Biden appears confused at National Bar Association gala as he slurs during speech and lashes out at Trump

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Former President Joe Biden looked disoriented and frail during a rare public appearance at the National Bar Association’s 100th annual gala at the Hyatt in Chicago on Thursday, July 31.

The 82-year-old, who recently disclosed that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, had to be escorted to his seat and appeared to struggle with his speech.

His remarks, directed at an audience of Black lawyers and judges, included criticism of the Donald Trump administration and forceful rhetoric on civil rights.

Joe Biden struggles through speech at public event

Joe Biden’s appearance sparked concern as he seemed visibly unsteady and slurred his words while addressing the room. He shouted suddenly at one point: “All men and women are created equal! And deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives!”

The former president also fumbled through parts of his speech, and observers noted his diminished physical condition. 

His presence at the event marked one of his first public outings since revealing the severity of his health condition.

During his address, Biden directed sharp criticism at President Donald Trump’s administration while reflecting on his own presidency’s achievements in the area of civil rights.

“Not since those tumultuous days in 1960s has this fight been so existential to who we are as a nation, with marginalized groups so dramatically under attack,” he said.

“My friends, we need to face the hard truth of this administration, and that it has been to ease all the gains we’ve made in my administration,” Biden continued. “To erase history rather than making it. To erase fairness, equality, to erase justice itself. And that’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.”

Joe Biden’s live appearance at gala raises concerns amid ongoing questions about his health 

Thursday night’s centennial celebration of the National Bar Association brought together many of the nation’s most prominent Black legal minds and public officials.

Among the most notable attendees were Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, and Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, a rising figure in the Democratic Party known for her legal acumen and fiery congressional appearances. They were joined by a host of Black judges, civil rights attorneys, and lawmakers, all gathered to mark the historic milestone of the NBA’s founding in 1925.

Their presence underscored the significance of the moment, especially amid heightened scrutiny of legal and racial justice issues in today’s political climate.

The audience had anticipated a speech reflecting on Joe Biden’s relationship with the Black community and his administration’s civil rights record. However, as the former president took the stage, appearing physically frail and mentally unfocused, attention shifted from the event’s historical importance to growing concern over his condition.

Prior to the gala, Biden had made few public appearances, favoring controlled settings or pre-recorded messages. His decision to speak live at such a high-profile event was seen by some as an attempt to reassure both the public and Democratic Party loyalists of his stamina and resolve.

Yet Biden’s faltering delivery, marked by slurred speech, sudden outbursts, and visible confusion, only deepened existing worries about his physical and mental state.