Biden tears into Trump, GOP in State of the Union address
U.S. President goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration, taxes and more; he also linked Trump’s praise for those who overran the Capitol with antidemocratic threats abroad
U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a defiant argument for a second term in his State of the Union speech on Thursday night, lacing into GOP frontrunner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution” and for jeopardising freedom at home and abroad.
Revelling in the political moment, Mr. Biden fired multiple broadsides at “my predecessor” without ever mentioning Mr. Trump 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 allbutcertain November rival.
The scrappy tone from Mr. Biden was a sharp break from his often humdrum daily appearances and was intended to banish doubts about whether the 81yearold President, the country’s oldest ever, is still up to the job.
For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Mr. Biden goaded Republicans over their policies on immigration, taxes and more, invited callandresponse banter with fellow Democrats and seemed to relish the fight.
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while,” Mr. Biden said. “And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before.”
The President linked Mr. Trump’s praise for those who overran the Capitol in an attempt to subvert the 2020 election with antidemocratic threats abroad.
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 millions of viewers at home.