Joe Biden made a forceful State of the Union address on Thursday, criticising former president Donald Trump over the January 6 insurrection, vowing to stand up to Vladimir Putin, urging Israel to play its part in the delivery of aid to Gaza, backing reproductive freedom and taking on rightwing antagonist Marjorie Taylor Greene on immigration.
Here are some key takeaways from the speech.
He who shall not be named
Biden opened the speech with fiery denunciations of the rioters who stormed the Capitol on 6 January 2021, then singled out Republicans in the chamber and Trump. But he refused to utter Trump’s name, saying that “my predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan 6.”
He wrapped that into a larger theme that democracy is threatened like no time since the civil war, signalling a clear line of attack he will use against Trump.
He also criticised “my predecessor” for his assertion that Russian president Vladimir Putin could “do whatever the hell he wants” with respect to Nato allies. “I think it’s outrageous, it’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable,” Biden said. “My message to President Putin, who I’ve known for a long time, is simple: we will not walk away. I will not bow down.”
Speaking with a vigour that his supporters have said has been lacking, he set up a contrast between his internationalist view of the world and the more isolationist leanings of Donald Trump.
Biden v Marjorie Taylor Greene
One of the most striking moments of the night took place when Biden addressed the topic of immigration – which polls show is a major weakness for the president going into the election against Trump.
As he spoke, the president was heckled by far-right Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. She demanded he say the name of Laken Riley, who is suspected to have been killed by an undocumented migrant.
Biden, who usually wants nothing to do with Greene, took her up on the offer. Here’s what happened:
In unscripted moment, Biden holds up Laken Riley button that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) gave him, using it as an opportunity to again call for the bipartisan border bill:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 8, 2024
“How many thousands of people being killed by illegals? … Get this bill done. We need to act now.” pic.twitter.com/lkOzRF1Gd8
The age old question
When asked about his age and how it affects his ability to be president, Biden’s stock answer is: watch me.
On Thursday night, he delivered what a lot of his own supporters had found wanting. It was a high-energy, forceful speech, and at times he taunted Republicans with ad-libs. When they heckled his support for bipartisan border security legislation, Biden said, “Look at the facts, I know you know how to read”.
Biden leaned into his age, mentioning he was born during the second world war, but defended his vision for the country as fresh. “You can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back.”
Biden stumbled over a few words, and in the Republican response, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama called him “dithering and diminished” but it was a more vigorous performance than other speeches where his remarks can be meandering or hard to hear.
Israel ‘must do its part’
Biden announced plans for the US military to help establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza, an effort that the administration claims should significantly boost the flow of aid into the besieged territory.
But at the same time he said Israel “must also do its part” to alleviate suffering even as the IDF seeks to eliminate Hamas. “To the leadership of Israel I say this,” he said, “Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.”
The unveiling of the plan was perhaps the most substantive element of his address that touched on the war. It allowed Biden to demonstrate that he’s taking action in the face of anger and defiance from some Democrats over his strong support for Israel, even as the Palestinian death toll mounts.
Abortion on the ballot
The president said efforts to restrict abortion were an “assault on freedom”, and he derided the supreme court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade, with members of that court seated just feet away.
He also welcomed Kate Cox, a Dallas mother whose foetus had a fatal condition that put her own health at risk. She had to leave the state in order to get an abortion. “My God, what freedoms will you take away next?” Biden said.
Through much of his career, Biden has not emphasised abortion rights. In his speech, he showed how much he believes that issue could be key to a second term.
Middle class Joe
Biden outlined an economic vision that went big and small. He touted a post-pandemic economic recovery that didn’t sacrifice job creation in order to tame inflation. With housing prices still high, he proposed a tax credit that would reduce mortgage costs.
He also hammered Republicans for tax policies that favour the wealthy. “Check the numbers. Folks at home, does anybody really think the tax code is fair?”
Biden said there should be a minimum tax rate of 25% on billionaires, saying “no billionaire should pay a lower federal tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker or a nurse.”
The president talked about cracking down on junk fees or hidden charges that can chip away at Americans’ budgets. He also criticised snack companies for “shrinkflation,” or getting less product for the same price.
“You get charged the same amount and you got about 10% fewer Snickers in it.”
With Associated Press
