President Joe Biden has urged Congress to work with him to “finish the job” of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he delivered a State of the Union address aimed at reassuring a country that is overwhelmed by pessimism and fraught political divisions.
In his 73-minute speech, Biden sought to portray a nation dramatically improved from the one he took charge of two years ago: from a reeling economy to one prosperous with new jobs; from a crippled, pandemic-weary nation to one that has now reopened, and a democracy that has survived its biggest test since the Civil War.
“Folks, the story of America is a story of progress and resilience. Of always moving forward. Of never, ever, giving up. It’s a story unique among all nations. We’re the only country that has emerged from every crisis we’ve ever entered stronger than when we got into it. We’re not finished yet by any stretch of the imagination.”
President Joe Biden
As Biden, 80, prepares for a likely reelection bid, he sought to prove that his stewardship has delivered results both at home and abroad.
Biden emphasized record job creation during his tenure as the country has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and pointed to areas of bipartisan progress in his first two years in office, including on states’ vital infrastructure projects and high-tech manufacturing.
Also, the President declared, “To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together and find consensus on important thing in this Congress as well.”
“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere. That’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class and unite the country.”
President Joe Biden
“We’ve been sent here to finish the job!” Biden declared.
However, the challenges for Biden are many; economic uncertainty, war in Ukraine, growing tensions with China and more.
Signs of past trauma at the Capitol were unavoidable. A large fence encircled the complex, and lawmakers and those in attendance faced tighter-than-usual security.
From the start, the heightened partisan divisions were clear. Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, jumped to applause as Biden began his speech. New Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, though he had greeted the President warmly when he entered the chamber, stayed in his seat.
The President said that he was committed to working constructively with China, but cautioned, “Make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did.”
Following the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis last month, Biden also challenged lawmakers to pass long-stalled reforms to policing. He said, “Do something.”
Biden drew bipartisan applause when he praised most law enforcement officers as “good, decent, honorable people” but added that “when police officers or police departments violate the public’s trust, they must be held accountable.”
Sanders Delivers Republican Response
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who gained a national profile as former President Donald Trump’s Press Secretary, delivered the Republican response to Biden’s speech.
Sanders focused much of her remarks on social issues, including race in business and education and alleged big-tech censorship of conservatives.
“While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day. Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Governor
“The choice is between normal and crazy,” Sanders added.
The White House and legislators from both parties invited guests designed to drive home political messages with their presence in the House chamber.
The mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, who was severely beaten by police officers in Memphis and later died, were among those seated with first lady Jill Biden.
Other Biden guests included the rock star/humanitarian Bono and 26-year-old Brandon Tsay, who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California shooting.
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