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President Joe Biden will be vacating the White House after serving four years along with his decades of public service, some of which has garnered its fair share of criticism. In his outgoing address, President Joe Biden warned of an oligarchy taking form in Washington and framed the changing landscape of content moderation in social media as a danger to democracy.
In the 17-minute farewell address, President Joe Biden was stern in his delivery as he thanked the American people before taking aim at the formation of what Biden feels is an influential core of Big Tech leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk inserting themselves in opposition of democracy.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
President Biden didn’t explicitly name Zuckerberg or Musk by name but it is little secret that the pair’s recently affirmed proximity to President-elect Donald Trump is questionable considering the influence the pair wield in both wealth and across social media. Further, Meta, helmed by Zuckerberg, is adopting a new policy that does away with content moderation and instead will adopt the community notes feature from X.
Further in the address, Biden suggested that Supreme Court justices serve an 18-year term limit instead of the lifetime appointments of today. He also made slight mention of Trump’s 34-county felony convictions although he won’t face any time.
President Joe Biden’s farewell address can be viewed below.
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Photo: Getty
More performers have been confirmed for Donald Trump‘s fast-approaching inauguration ceremony, including Kid Rock, Jason Aldean and more, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
The publications reported Wednesday (Jan. 15) that the two musicians — both of whom have been outspoken in their support of the president elect throughout his political career — will join a lineup of performances spread out across inauguration weekend Jan. 18-20, which will also see Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, Parker McCollum and Gavin DeGraw taking the stage at different points. Previously confirmed performers include Carrie Underwood, the Rascal Flatts and Village People.
According to THR, Kid Rock, the “Achy Breaky Heart” country star, Greenwood and the “Y.M.C.A” group will be among the first acts to perform this weekend, with all four marked down for the Make America Great Again Victory Rally at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., Sunday (Jan. 19). Liberty University’s Praise Choir is also scheduled for the event, at which Trump is expected to deliver remarks.
The following day will see the twice-impeached mogul-turned-politician officially stepping back into power at his swearing-in ceremony at the United States Capitol, where the “Before He Cheats” vocalist will perform “America the Beautiful.” The national anthem will be performed by opera singer Christopher Macchio, while Greenwood will return to perform his rendition of “God Bless the USA.”
Later on Monday (Jan. 20), Rascal Flatts will perform at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, as will McCollum. Aldean and Village People — as well as a “suprise musical guest,” per THR — are slated for the Liberty Inaugural Ball on the same day, while DeGraw is booked for that evening’s Starlight Ball.
The weekend’s festivities will close out Tuesday (Jan. 21) with a National Prayer Service.
Trump’s first presidential inauguration in 2017 featured performances from America’s Got Talent alum Jackie Evancho and the Radio City Rockettes. Four years later, Jennifer Lopez sang “America the Beautiful” and “This Land Is Your Land” at President Joe Biden’s 2021 swearing-in ceremony.
As the performers for 2025’s ceremony have been confirmed over the past week, a few of them have felt the need to explain their decisions to contribute their talents to the celebration for Trump, who in May was convicted of 34 felonies in his hush money case. “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement Jan. 13. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
In their performance announcement the same day, the Village People members wrote, “We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics.”
“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost,” the group added at the time. “Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
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Source: JIM WATSON / Getty / Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama wants no part of the sh*t show, aka Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, and social media doesn’t blame her for saying nah to the moment.
Spotted on Raw Story, Michelle Obama will not be joining her husband, Barack Obama, at the Trump inauguration, her office announced without giving a reason.
A statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama announced that “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. “Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration.”
The announcement sparked immediate reactions from both sides. Those who supported our Forever First Lady applauded her on social media for not being in attendance.
Many brought up the apparent tension between Obama and Donald Trump, who said violent things about Ms. Obama during the 2024 presidential campaign.
“Michelle Obama is doing the right thing! In 2025.. who cares about the optics. Standing on principles should be commended. The people concerned about her not attending should be more critical and laser focused on the incoming felon assuming the presidency,” one post on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
“I love Michelle Obama forever,” MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid proudly said on BlueSky.
Singer Ricky Davila said on X, “Forever First Lady Michelle Obama will be skipping the dictator coronation on January 20th. Good, she seems to be the only one who clearly understands the assignment.”
X Reminds MAGA Folks Mad At Michelle Obama That Donald Trump Skipped Biden’s Inauguration
Those on the right are BIG MAD that Ms. Obama isn’t going to Trump’s inauguration, but they were quickly reminded that Orange Mussolini didn’t even bother to show up to President Biden’s because he was so bitter America fired him in 2020.
trump skipped biden inauguration why we flipping out that michelle obama doing the same.. pic.twitter.com/dJJXLK8ejt
— maniyah renae (@crzy4kamala) January 14, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Welp.
We understand if you won’t be tuning in to see Trump lie as he takes the oath of office.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Michelle Obama’s energy is what we’re on for the next 4 years
2. Required watching
3. Black women are fed up
5. EXACTLY
10. NO SIR
Donald Trump will officially be re-inaugurated as President on Jan. 20, and Rascal Flatts have joined the list of performers during inauguration weekend. The country group will be performing at the Commander in Chief Ball, where active duty military members will be attending, a source confirms to Billboard. Trump is scheduled to attend and speak […]
Whoopi Goldberg is sticking up for Carrie Underwood after the singer came under fire for accepting the invitation to perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. While speaking to her The View cohosts Tuesday (Jan. 14), the Sister Act star acknowledged that though she personally doesn’t align with the president-elect’s policies, the American Idol alum has […]
After Carrie Underwood made headlines Monday (Jan. 13) for announcing she would play at Donald Trump’s inauguration, a former RuPaul’s Drag Race star decided to mock the country star online. In a post to her Instagram Stories on Monday evening, Drag Race season 14 contestant Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté shared a recent post from the […]
Village People have joined the presidential inaugural activities for Donald Trump.
The group took to Facebook on Monday (Jan. 13) to announce that they have “accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump’s campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump.”
They continued, “We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”
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The statement concluded, “Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
See the post here.
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According to The Hill, the group will perform at Trump’s “victory rally” at Capital One Arena in Washington, and at the Liberty Inaugural Ball.
“Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.” were popular song choices at Trump campaign rallies during his 2020 and 2024 campaign rallies.
In December, Village People’s Victor Willis doubled down on why he chose to let the president-elect play “Y.M.C.A.” at rallies and events, saying he “didn’t have the heart” to block the usage — despite originally asking Trump to stop in 2020 — upon realizing that the politician seemed to “genuinely like” and was “having a lot of fun” with “Y.M.C.A.” Plus, as Willis noted, the dance tune has only “benefited greatly” in terms of chart placements and sales since the twice-impeached former POTUS incorporated it into his campaign.
Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Carrie Underwood will be performing at the presidential inauguration ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.. The eight-time Grammy winner will perform “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by The Armed Forces Chorus and the The United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
She shared to Billboard via a statement, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Carrie Underwood is set to perform during Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Billboard has confirmed. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The eight-time Grammy winner will perform “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by The Armed Forces […]
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January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was attacked by a mob of largely white domestic terrorists operating under the orders of Donald Trump as part of his “Stop The Steal” movement. On the fourth anniversary of the heinous attack on democracy, many on X are remembering the January 6 insurrection just as Trump is gearing up for a second term in the White House.
The events of January 6 were an example of how unchecked power in the White House could be dangerous, and how the lack of checks and balances might essentially doom our democracy. Under Trump’s guidance and fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories from the darkest corners of the Web, the mob of Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol under the veil of misguided justice in the name of their leader.
The group, sparked by politically motivated bloodlust, was sent to attack Vice President Mike Pence for failing to block the confirmation and there were clear intentions to harm any elected official who was a perceived enemy of Trump. This mob felt ordained to carry out Trump’s justice as wayward vigilantes fighting under a false flag.
Given the level of meddling Trump engaged in on the state level regarding losing votes over what he thought would be shoo-ins for his reelection, the weaponizing of his base to enact a coup of sorts should have had its day in court before winning the election last fall. Even members of Trump’s party sought a path where the president-elect would face the facts of his actions.
However, procedural delays, political hand-wringing, and an unprecedented move by the United States Supreme Court empowered Trump and will most likely allow him and the January 6 insurrectionists to sidestep justice unscathed. The embers of hope that Trump would have his day in court were effectively snuffed out after Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith filed to have felony charges against Trump dropped.
The election interference matter Trump has been accused of was marred by the typical tug-of-war of politics, with Trump supporters stating that the DOJ was on a “witch hunt” and a true denial of any sort of accountability from Trump. It is sobering that Donald Trump yet avoided penalties for his actions yet again, and the populace at large is bracing for another four years under Trump’s reign.
On X, formerly Twitter, many are remembering the January 6 insurrection attack, and the reactions are centered on the truth of what happened, not centering on any political side.
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Photo: Getty
Bono is expressing his gratitude after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The legendary U2 frontman was among 19 individuals to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the White House on Saturday (Jan. 4).
“Thank you President Biden. Frontmen don’t do humble, but today I was,” Bono wrote on U2’s Instagram account after receiving the medal. “Rock n roll gave me my freedom… and with it the privilege to work alongside those who’ve had to fight so much harder for theirs. And I want to give it up for my band mates – Edge, Adam, and Larry – without whom I would never have found my voice.”
Along with receiving the honor, Bono wrote an essay for The Atlantic, titled “The Gorgeous, Unglamorous Work of Freedom,” exploring the link between music and the quest for freedom.
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“Freedom is a word that turns up with embarrassing frequency in rock-and-roll songs,” Bono began the op-ed, citing Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” as an example.
“The reason I am climbing on this slippery soapbox called ‘freedom’ today is that I’m being given a presidential medal by that name—an honor I’m receiving mainly for the work of others, among them my bandmates and our fellow activists—and it’s got me thinking again about the subject,” the Irish rocker continued. “When we rock stars talk about freedom, we more often mean libertinism than liberation, but growing up in the Ireland of the 1960s, the latter had its place too. We were mad for freedoms we didn’t have: political freedom, religious freedom, and (most definitely) sexual freedom.”
In honoring Bono, the White House highlighted the singer as a “pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty,” noting his role in uniting politicians from opposing parties to create the U.S. PEPFAR AIDS program. He is also the co-founder of advocacy organizations ONE and (RED).
Other Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients this year included Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, soccer icon Lionel Messi, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, George Soros, designer Ralph Lauren, chef José Andrés and conservationist Jane Goodall.
“President Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else,” the White House wrote in a statement. “These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”
Watch Bono receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in a video here.