India, April 16 -- Former US President Joe Biden returned made a public appearance after months on Tuesday night, delivering a pointed rebuke of Donald Trump's handling of Social Security, calling it "breathtaking" but not in a positive way.

Speaking at a disability advocacy conference in Chicago, the 82-year-old Democrat accused Donald Trump of inflicting deep damage on a critical safety net relied upon by more than 70 million Americans.

"In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It's kind of breathtaking," Biden told the audience of roughly 200 at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled.

"They've taken a hatchet to the Social Security...