Joe Biden vowed to fight for “democracy and freedom” in the US and around the world in a fiery, unabashedly political speech to Congress in which he took on Donald Trump and Republican critics to make his case for re-election.
Delivering his final State of the Union address before November’s election, the US president did not mention Trump by name but repeatedly attacked his “predecessor” for being too lenient towards Russia, blocking a bipartisan deal to curb immigration, and paving the way for strict abortion curbs across the country.
Biden also laid out his plans for a second term, including populist measures such as higher taxes on big companies and the wealthy, and vows to drive down house prices and cut drug costs, while hailing the US as the most envied economy in the world.
The delivery of the speech, which was being closely watched following criticism that Biden is too old to serve a second term, was punchy and loud, lasted more than an hour, and included several feisty off-the-cuff interactions with Republican lawmakers.
At the outset, Biden said freedom and democracy were “under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time” — and called on Congress to “stand up” to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president and approve more funding for Kyiv.
“If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not,” Biden said.
He cited former Republican president Ronald Reagan’s tough approach to the Soviet Union at the end of the cold war — and compared it to Trump’s suggestion that Russia be allowed to do “whatever the hell they want” to Nato allies that do not spend enough on defence.
“It’s outrageous. It’s dangerous. It’s unacceptable,” Biden said of Trump’s stance.
Biden also tried to channel anger at restrictions on reproductive rights imposed in many conservative-leaning states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that overturned a decades-old precedent protecting abortion rights nationally. The president pledged to enact legislation on the federal level to protect women’s right to end a pregnancy.
“If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose I promise you: I will restore Roe vs Wade as the law of the land again,” he said.
With the White House race now under way, Thursday’s speech marked a high-stakes moment for Biden, who faces low approval ratings, a backlash against inflation and immigration, and questions about his physical and mental fitness.
Biden is also navigating anger on the left of the Democratic party at his support for Israel’s war with Gaza. Protesters calling for a ceasefire demonstrated outside the Capitol building as he arrived to give his speech on Thursday.
“We’ve been working nonstop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks,” he said. “Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the cross fire.”
He reiterated his stance that only a two-state solution would guarantee Israel’s security and democracy and that “Palestinians can live with peace and dignity”.
The president is also presiding over a booming economy and strong labour market, following a string of legislative accomplishments designed to boost domestic manufacturing.
In his speech, Biden touted an “American comeback” that he believes has not been sufficiently told throughout the country. “America is rising. We have the best economy in the world,” he said.
The remarks to Congress come two days after Biden and Trump secured big victories in their parties’ presidential primary contests, all but ensuring a rematch this November of their 2020 election.
As Biden walked through the chamber to deliver his speech he was greeted with cheers and chants of “four more years” by Democratic lawmakers, but was also confronted by Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican congresswoman and Trump ally, who was wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
Greene challenged Biden to say the name of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia who was killed last month, allegedly by an immigrant — making her death a rallying cry for Republicans.
Unexpectedly, Biden mentioned Riley’s murder, but also blamed Republicans for derailing a bipartisan bill to curb immigration at the Southern border, and said he would approach the crisis differently than Trump had.
“I will not demonise immigrants . . . I will not separate families. I will not ban people from America because of their faith,” he said.
Republicans’ response to Biden’s speech was delivered by Alabama Senator Katie Britt from her kitchen, and previewed some of the party’s electoral attack lines on the president, including criticism of his stewardship of the economy and “diminished” leadership.
“Right now, our commander-in-chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader. America deserves leaders who recognise that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defence are the cornerstones of a great nation,” she said.
On social media, Trump criticised Biden for his occasional coughs. “That may be the angriest, least compassionate and worst State of the Union speech ever made,” he wrote. “It was an embarrassment to our country.”
Also Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celebrity News
