This was published 2 years ago
Joe Biden is delivering his State of the Union address.
The president’s car, known as The Beast, made its way from the White House to the US Capitol building. It’s about a 10-minute drive on a busy day – but much less when you’re in a presidential motorcade.
The Secret Service reportedly used an alternative route to avoid the pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked the streets of Washington.
You can watch Biden’s address here.
US President Joe Biden had three things he had to achieve in his final State of the Union address before this year’s presidential election.
First, he had to assuage concerns that he is too old and unfit for another term.
Second, he had to convince a sceptical nation of what he’s achieved over the past three years and lay out a vision for another four.
And third, he had to draw a contrast with Donald Trump and make their looming rematch a referendum on the former president, when elections are often referendums on the incumbent.
To that end, the 81-year-old president did a convincing enough job, delivering a loud and fiery address warning that basic freedoms are under attack, both domestically and overseas.
You can read more of Farrah’s analysis of Biden’s performance here.
Through most of the speech, the 81-year-old president’s delivery was energetic and forceful enough to exceed even some Democrats’ expectations. He spoke for over an hour.
“Trump and the Republicans have spent months going after Biden’s energy and stamina and in front of the whole country, Biden giving them an absolute and well-deserved scolding,” said Democratic strategist Eric Koch.
The hashtag “yelling” trended on X, the former Twitter, in postings about his speech, and his slight cough seemed to become more persistent toward the end of his delivery.
“In my career, I’ve been told I was too young,” he said, to laughter, adding “and I’ve been told I’m too old.”
What was the verdict from those watching Biden’s address?
Carle Hurse, for the New York Times says: That was an aggressive ending by Biden as he took on the age issue and tried to turn it to his advantage. Republicans hoping for a major stumble will be disappointed, though he did misspeak a few times. Democrats will be encouraged by this performance.
Journalist Jake Tapper on CNN says: His presentation, his annunciation isn’t as clear as it once was, a decade or two ago, his mind did seem fairly sharp, he ad-libbed a response from a pretty harsh moment to some heckling about the tragic murder of Laken Riley, he got the name wrong, he called her Lincoln Riley, but as a general note he condemned his murder which is something people are talking about.
Dana Bash, political journalist for CNN says: “He certainly met the moment that members of his party, those who are really upset and worried about this coming election year and frankly what would happen if he didn’t win another term … they wanted him to be a fighter and boy … did he deliver. There’s some criticism from some Republicans that it was too political and the retort already is ‘compared to what?’“.
Michael Shear and Shane Goldmacher in the New York Times say: Biden came into Thursday’s speech determined to use the high-profile moment to beat back accusations that he is too old for a second term. He delivered feisty remarks at a near-shout in an effort to show energy and vitality. He sparred with Republicans in the chamber several times, diverting from his prepared remarks to ad-lib his retorts. And as he neared the end of his speech, the president joked about his age.
John King, CNN’s chief national correspondent: “This is the 36th of these for me, State of the Union or presidential addresses … I’ve never heard one so political, never heard one that is such a campaign speech. But what are Republicans saying about Joe Biden? He is weak and he is weakening America, and he doesn’t have the vitality and vigor to be the president of the United States. He came up hitting on Ukraine, standing up to Russia, be strong Republicans, don’t be weak .. then went right after January 6 … and he did it all with fight. He came out punching and came out swinging right from the beginning”.
Senator Katie Britt from Alabama has delivered the Republicans’ formal response to Biden’s speech, delivering her response from her kitchen table.
She’s used the setting to enforce one of her main points, that Biden is a threat to American families.
“The true, unvarnished State of our Union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting. Our country can do better,” she says.
“President Biden’s border crisis is a disgrace. It’s despicable. And it’s almost entirely preventable.”
She’s claimed that “life is getting more and more dangerous” across the US.
After the House was adjourned and the lights dimmed, Biden remained chatting with politicians.
But now, almost 30 minutes after his speech concluded, he has left. Did he want to prove wrong those who had questioned his ability to stay up after 9pm?
Biden is due to head to Philadelphia tomorrow for a campaign event.
Biden is taking his time to leave the Chamber, going around and shaking hands with anyone who wants to congratulate the president.
So what was in that address in terms of foreign policy? Not much we didn’t already expect.
He told Putin he would not walk away from Ukraine and took a swipe at Republicans who are blocking more aid. He said the US must stand up to Putin and that “history is watching”.
“If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk, Europe at risk, the free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm,” he said.
As we get to the end of his address, Biden is not running away from questions about his age.
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while,” he says.
“And when you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever before. I know the American story.”
But he says throughout his career he’s been told he’s “too young, and I’m too old” and he’s taken another swipe at Trump on his way out.
Biden has addressed the leadership of Israel, saying that “humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip”.
He reiterated the only resolution to the conflict was a two-state solution.
“There is no other path that guarantees Israel’s security and democracy,” he says.
“There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live with peace and dignity.”
Biden says he wants to take on domestic violence before turning his attention to gun control and acknowledging Jasmine Cazares, who is sitting with first lady Jill Biden, and whose nine-year-old sister was killed with 21 others at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
He said that after visiting Uvalde, he “heard their message, and so should everyone in this chamber – do something”.
“I did do something by establishing the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House that Vice President Harris is leading.
Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA [National Rifle Association] he’s proud he did nothing on guns when he was president.
“After another school shooting in Iowa, he said we should just ‘get over it’. I say we must stop it.”
He says that now he must “beat the NRA again” and is “demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines”.
That will be almost impossible for the president, with the Republicans controlling the House.
Biden appears to have gone off script again, although it looks pre-planned, to respond to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s repeated demands that he say the name of Laken Riley, the woman killed by an undocumented immigrant.
Responding to her jeers, the president reaches for a button that Taylor Greene had been handing out that read: “Say Her Name: Laken Riley”.
In saying her name, however, Biden appears to have stumbled over Laken, while expressing his condolences to her parents, telling them he knows what it is like to lose a child.
He also says the word “illegal” when referencing her killer, a phrase not supported by immigration advocates or many in his party.