President Joe Biden used the final State of the Union address of his first term to drag Donald Trump—without using his name once.
In numerous different ways, Biden delivered a well-tailored speech to a packed Senate chamber and millions of Americans to touch on the dangers his “predecessor” could bring if elected again.
For 68 minutes, the president laced the GOP presidential front-runner for presenting “resentment, revenge and retribution” and jeopardizing American freedoms. “A president, my predecessor, failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American people—the duty to care,” Biden said.
“I think that’s unforgivable.”
Biden quoted the former president on relations with Russia, reproductive rights, border control, and the infamous Jan. 6 insurrection. “Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, ‘Do whatever the hell you want,’” Biden said, met with boos. “That’s a quote.”
Touching on the Capitol Hill attack, he accused Trump and GOP leaders in the crowd of covering up the truth about that day. Biden also pointed the finger at Trump for overturning Roe v. Wade, but acknowledged he had help.
With most of the Supreme Court justices in the room, Biden looked directly at them, addressing the issue of abortion. “With all due respect, Justices, women are not without electoral or political power. You’re about to realize just how much.”
Commentators called his address “the most partisan State of the Union address they could remember” and “sharp.” In closing, he summoned the courage to plead to elected officials the importance of working together. Quotes like “we can fight about fixing the border or we can just fix” were met with large amounts of applause but the crowd of supporters exploded once he said, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
After Biden’s address, the world prepared for the scheduled Republican response. This year, the GOP showcased the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate—Katie Britt of Alabama. Sitting in her home kitchen, Britt attempted to paint a picture that “the American dream has turned into a nightmare.”
“The true unvarnished state of our union begins and ends with this. Our families are hurting,” she said dramatically.
“Our country can do better.”
Biden’s supporters hope his fiery pleas will help his poll numbers climb heading into the 2024 presidential election. Sixty-two percent of viewers, according to
CNN, feel the policies had a positive reaction to Biden’s address.RELATED CONTENT: What To Expect From Biden’s Final State of the Union Address Before The November 2024 Election