By It might be one of the biggest fibs that Joe Biden has ever told in a career of stretching the truth. In a rare public appearance, former President Joe Biden addressed the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) convention on July 2, 2025, offering reflections on his life after leaving office and his continued engagement with global and domestic affairs.
Speaking in a Q&A session with SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr., Biden described how, despite stepping back from the public spotlight, he remains in frequent contact with world leaders and American political figures. According to Biden, these conversations are primarily private and advisory, with many reaching out to seek his perspective on current events, including the evolving political environment under President Donald Trump.
Biden indicated that his role is not to re-enter the political arena directly but to offer counsel grounded in his decades of experience, writes Fox News.
“I’m getting calls. I’m not going to go into it, I can’t, from a number of European leaders asking me to get engaged,” Biden said. “I’m not, but I’m giving advice. Because things are different.”
“How can you just walk away?” Biden added. “You don’t see me out there publicly doing a lot of this. But I’m also dealing with a lot of Democrats and Republican colleagues, all of them, wanting to talk, not because they think I have the answer, just to bounce things off me. I’m seeing a lot of officeholders… I’m not looking for them. They asked to see me, I see them.”
Biden also revealed that he was working on a memoir since “every president is expected to write a memoir.” He described himself as “working like hell” to write a 500-page book that his publisher wants out by “March of this year.”
Since leaving the White House in January, Biden has kept a relatively low profile, with only a handful of public appearances. His April speech marked his first major post-presidency engagement, followed by a limited media presence in May that drew mixed reactions within his own party. Nevertheless, Biden signaled that he remains active behind the scenes, continuing conversations with political leaders across the aisle as part of his quieter but ongoing involvement in public life.
Since leaving office, 82-year-old former President Joe Biden has largely stayed out of the spotlight, making only a few public appearances and issuing occasional written statements. His most notable post-presidency comment came during a speech in San Diego, where he warned that many of his accomplishments are being rapidly reversed. He also revealed that he continues to advise international leaders privately, particularly on NATO and global affairs.
The National Review noted Biden’s concern over the erosion of his legacy, particularly in foreign policy. While Biden emphasized his role in strengthening NATO, recent developments—especially Trump-era pressure tactics—have resulted in a significant increase in European defense spending, with NATO allies committing to spend up to 5% of GDP by 2035. Critics argue that while Biden relied on diplomatic consensus, Trump achieved tangible outcomes by demanding more from allies.
Meanwhile, under President Trump, the U.S. has seen a crackdown on illegal immigration, renewed military actions against threats abroad, falling inflation, and rebounding stock markets. While not without setbacks, Trump’s presidency has, in many ways, unraveled Biden’s policies. The piece concludes with criticism of Biden’s diminished capacity and fading political influence, highlighted by reports of confusion and disengagement during his final years in office.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Biden answered, “Being a good father.” He did not explain if he meant giving his son, Hunter, a pardon for over a decade’s worth of alleged criminal behavior.
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