Biden takes on Trump in feisty speech
81-year-old leader works to quell voter concerns on his age and performance
Many had feared — or expected — Joe Biden would stumble as he addressed Congress in his final State of the Union address before the November election. Instead, the oldest-ever president of the United States came out swinging.
The 81-year-old delivered a defiant argument for a second term on Thursday night, lacing into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution” and jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad.
With jokes, retorts to hecklers, soaring rhetoric and some of his customary mangled phrases, Biden defied critics.
Each stammer, slip of the tongue or confused look by Biden tends to be intensely scrutinized in the US as he runs for reelection, with Republicans painting each error as evidence that he cannot govern.
But on Thursday, Biden reveled in the political moment, firing multiple broadsides at Trump without ever mentioning him by name — 13 times in all — raising his voice repeatedly as he worked to quell voter concerns about his age and job performance, while sharpening the contrast with his all-but-certain November rival.
For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Biden goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration and taxes, invited call-andresponse banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to relish the fight. The scrappy tone from Biden was a sharp break from his often humdrum daily appearances.
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while,” Biden deadpanned. “And when you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever before.”
With most major Biden blunders absent, the Republicans — many of them Trump loyalists — remained in their seats and mostly held their tongues.
The State of the Union address is the marquee night on the White House calendar, offering presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the House chamber and tens of millions of viewers at home — almost certain to be Biden’s largest audience of the year. Biden knew he would be watched not just for his message, but for whether he could deliver it with vigor and command.
Aides said Biden was aiming to prove his doubters wrong by flashing his combative side and trying to needle Republicans over positions he believes are out of step with the country.
Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, including funding to bolster manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but nonetheless take credit for them back home.
“If any of you don’t want that money in your districts, just let me know,” Biden said.
Response in real time
Trump, 77, responded to the speech in real time on his Truth Social platform, sending a steady stream of messages defending himself and blasting Biden for what he said “may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made. It was an Embarrassment to our Country!
“He looks so angry when he’s talking, which is a trait of people who know they are ‘losing it’,” Trump wrote. “The anger and shouting is not helpful to bringing our Country back together!”
This year, Biden faced heightened emotions, particularly among his base supporters, over his staunch backing for Israel’s conflict against Hamas in Gaza. Biden had initially hoped a short-term cease-fire would be in place by the speech to allow for the release of more hostages and surge sorely-needed aid into the territory.
“Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire,” Biden said, delivering a warning that Israel should not use aid as a “bargaining chip” with Hamas, even as he reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks by the militant group.
Immigration was another flashpoint during the night.
“Send me the border bill now!” Biden bellowed about a measure that passed the Senate, but was not taken up in the House.
Biden also accused Trump and Republicans of trying to rewrite history about the Jan 6, 2021, Capitol riot by the former president’s supporters seeking to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory.
“My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan 6. I will not do that,” Biden said, a signal that he will emphasize the issue during his reelection campaign.
“You can’t love your country only when you win.”