Biden Blunders His Way Through Abortion Award

Joe Biden standing in a wood-paneled chamber in a dark suit — Photo: Sodel Vladyslav / Shutterstock

Joe Biden went home to Claymont, Delaware, and picked up an award from the nation’s biggest abortion provider.

Quick Take

Biden accepted the 2026 Sonia Schorr Sloan Service Award from Planned Parenthood of Delaware on September 24 at a sold-out gala.
Jill Biden presented the award to her husband during the Chocolate & Champagne fundraiser in his hometown.
Biden told the crowd it’s “no time to give up” and urged Democrats to vote in the midterms.
Critics point out Planned Parenthood performs hundreds of thousands of abortions each year, making the honor a lightning rod.

A Hometown Gala Turns Into A Political Rally

The event unfolded at the Waterfall banquet hall off Philadelphia Pike, part of Planned Parenthood of Delaware’s 22nd Annual Chocolate & Champagne Gala. Tickets were sold out. Biden, 83, took the stage in the same county where he once served on the New Castle County Council, decades before he ever ran for president.

The award itself carries deep personal history for Biden. It’s named after Sonia Schorr Sloan, a longtime friend who backed him all the way back to his 1972 Senate campaign announcement. Planned Parenthood of Delaware confirmed back in August that Biden would receive the honor, months before the gala actually happened.

Jill Biden Hands Her Husband The Trophy

Jill Biden did the honors, presenting the service award directly to her husband in front of the crowd. Local coverage described Biden’s “fighting spirit” returning as he delivered what reporters called a rousing speech, telling attendees this is “no time to give up”. He reportedly credited his career, in part, to the network of support Sloan and organizations like Planned Parenthood built around him over fifty years.

Biden didn’t stop at nostalgia. He used the platform to push Democrats toward the ballot box, framing the current political moment in stark terms. One report described him warning of “dark days” ahead while still urging supporters to stay hopeful and engaged. It’s a familiar Biden move: personal story wrapped around a get-out-the-vote pitch, delivered to a room already primed to cheer.

Why This Award Draws Fire From The Right

Conservative outlets wasted no time framing the moment as more than a hometown thank-you. Breitbart called Planned Parenthood an “abortion giant” and noted the organization performs hundreds of thousands of abortions annually, arguing Biden’s acceptance amounts to celebrating that record. LifeNews went further, tying the award directly to Biden’s record of supporting taxpayer funding tied to the organization.

This isn’t the first time Biden’s relationship with Planned Parenthood has drawn scrutiny. Critics have previously flagged his decision, while still president, to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, the organization’s former president. Supporters see decades of consistent advocacy for reproductive rights. Critics see a pattern of elevating an organization whose core business runs directly against pro-life values held by millions of Americans.

‘Faithful Catholic’: Biden receives award from nation’s leading abortion provider Planned Parenthood https://t.co/m8BjargWuv via @BIZPACReview

Jesus Wept

— DocNancy (@KeepTexasRed77) September 27, 2026

The gap between how outlets covered this event tells its own story. Delaware Online treated it as local news: a hometown son honored for decades of friendship and public service. National conservative commentary treated it as a symbol of what’s wrong with Democratic priorities. Both descriptions rest on the same facts. The award happened, Jill Biden presented it, and Biden used the moment to rally his party ahead of the midterms.

What Comes Next For Biden’s Public Role

Biden remains a private citizen now, but appearances like this show he’s not stepping back from public life or from Democratic politics. Whether he continues doing high-profile events for organizations like Planned Parenthood likely depends on his health and how much the party wants him front and center heading into future elections. For now, the Claymont gala adds one more chapter to a decades-long relationship between Biden and the abortion-rights movement.