Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday was a crucial moment in his presidency as he gears up for his re-election campaign and faces Republicans controlling one chamber of Congress for the first time. In his speech, the President spoke about several important issues, both domestic and foreign, and tried to address the concerns of the American people. Here are five key takeaways from his address:
1.America first, foreign policy last: In his speech, Biden barely touched
upon the foreign policy issues such as China’s surveillance balloon and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, he focused on domestic concerns, reflecting the American people’s preference for home-grown issues. Biden acknowledged the criticality of foreign policy only by mentioning that if China threatens the US, the country will act to protect its sovereignty.
2. Economy still dominates: According to public opinion surveys, the economy is the most pressing concern for Americans, and they believe that the country is still struggling. Biden used his speech to change this perception and try to boost his chances of re-election. He spoke about record-low unemployment, declining inflation and energy prices, and how his legislative accomplishments would help improve the nation’s industrial base. He also cast his eyes towards the future and called for new legislation to boost the economy.
3. Biden tried to reach out to Republicans: For Biden to pass new legislation and “finish the job” in this politically charged environment, he needs the support of Republicans. The Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, was seated behind Biden during the speech and served as a barometer of the President’s attempts to convince Republicans to work with him. Biden boasted about the bipartisan accomplishments of the last two years, hoping to change the Republican naysayers’ perception and offer a vision of what the 80-year-old president has in store.
4. Biden also picked a fight: During his speech, Biden was firm on his stance on raising the debt limit and did not show any sign of blinking. He referenced the Republican demands to link a debt-limit increase to spending cuts, pointing out that no president added more to the national debt than his predecessor, Donald Trump. Republicans responded to this with derision, and when Biden tried to link the Republican demands to conservative proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare, Republicans howled in anger.
5. Emotional moments with invited guests: The State of the Union speech is also an opportunity for the President to call attention to the emotional issues that the country faces. Biden spoke emotionally about the need for police reform and new gun-control legislation, pointing to the parents of Tyre Nichols and a hero from the Monterey Park mass shooting in the gallery to drive home his points.
In conclusion, Biden’s State of the Union speech was a balancing act between trying to play nice with Republicans, picking a fight on critical issues, and addressing the concerns of the American people. With a deeply divided Congress, it remains to be seen how much of what the President proposed will become law.