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| Main image, U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address during a joint-meeting of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on February 07, 2023. Inset, an image of Donald Trump. The former president gave a "play by play" of the address on his Truth Social page. GETTY IMAGES |
President Joe Biden delivered a fiery State of the Union address on Thursday, taking repeated swipes at Donald Trump and covering the broad themes of his re-election campaign. In a speech that lasted more than an hour, Mr Biden used the term "my predecessor" to refer to Mr Trump 13 times. He accused his likely election opponent of "bowing down" to Russia and criticised him over the Capitol riot. Mr Biden also covered immigration, abortion, the economy and Gaza.
Aiming at Trump
Unsurprisingly, many of his barbs were aimed at Mr Trump, given he is almost sure to be his opponent in November's general election. "My predecessor failed the most basic duty any president owes the American people - the duty to care," he said about Mr Trump's handling of the Covid pandemic. Mr Trump, meanwhile, promised to react in real-time to the speech on his Truth Social platform. "Biden is on the run from his record and lying like crazy to try to escape accountability for the horrific devastation he and his party have created," he wrote.
Mr Biden's aggressive approach on Thursday may have been born, at least partly out of necessity. At 81, he is the oldest president in US history and has been beset by questions about his age and mental acuity. His approval ratings are the lowest of any modern president seeking re-election. Even when Mr Biden addressed his age, he did so with a jab at Mr Trump, who 77 is only a few years younger than him.
A stumble on immigration
When the topic turned to immigration, a subject of political vulnerability for the president, he was once again ready to engage. Mr Biden called for Republicans to support the bipartisan immigration legislation passed by the Senate. He accused Mr Trump of "playing politics" by opposing the bill for electoral gain.
A sales pitch for November
When Mr Biden wasn't throwing haymakers at his opponent, he sought to highlight what he characterised as a record of accomplishment during his first term and outline a sales pitch for his re-election. Figures on the American economy have been trending up for months now. Mr Biden nodded at this split, calling the US economic revival "the greatest story never told". However, whether the president's words will be enough to change minds remains to be seen.
It was a speech geared toward the American middle class - the voters of moderate means who make up the bulk of the electorate.
Walking the line in Gaza
Mr Biden opened his speech with a call for military aid to Ukraine, but the bulk of his discussion of foreign policy came towards the end when he turned his attention to the Middle East. Mr Biden said his administration was working towards a ceasefire that would last "at least six weeks," he detailed a new plan - announced earlier in the day - for the US to construct a temporary seaport in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to enter by ship. Mr Biden's speech, because it was delivered without few significant stumbles or gaffes, is a hurdle cleared for the president - and its content could serve as a guide to how his campaign plans to sell the American public on another four years of Democratic governance.
