President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech Thursday night into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution” and jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad.
He referenced the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and called for the threat to democracy to be countered.
“My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that,” Biden said. “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”
“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy,” Biden said. “A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me.”
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Biden touts legislative accomplishments, calls out Republicans who voted against them
The president showcased his accomplishments on infrastructure and manufacturing.
Taking a victory lap in selling his legislative accomplishments, such as one that bolsters manufacturing of computer chips nationwide, Biden veered from his prepared script to take a dig at Republicans who voted against such policies but are eager to take credit for them back home.
“If any of you don’t want that money in your districts,” Biden said, “just let me know.”
Biden says Trump trying to ‘bury the truth’ on Jan. 6
Early in his address, after urging support for Ukraine, President Biden pivoted to threats at home, referencing the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election.
“My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that,” Biden said. “This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Biden urges more aid for Ukraine
President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
“Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself,” Biden said during his State of the Union address.
The president issued an emphatic call for lawmakers to pass sorely needed defense assistance for Ukraine. Acute ammunition shortages have allowed Russia to retake the offensive in the 2-year-old war.
The GOP-controlled House has refused to act on a Senate-passed version of the aid legislation, insisting on new stiffer measures to limit migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, after former President Donald Trump used his influence to help sink a bipartisan compromise that would have done just that.
Education secretary is ‘designated survivor’
The “designated survivor” for Thursday’s State of the Union address is Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
By custom at least one Cabinet member does not attend the speech, in order to preserve the Constitutional line of succession in the event of a catastrophe.
Cardona is a former public school teacher who went on to become Connecticut’s education chief before joining the Biden Administration.
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Democratic Women’s Caucus in white
Dozens of women were seen dressed in white at President Joe Biden’s third State of the Union address Thursday night.
“For tonight’s State of the Union address, we’re in white and wearing ‘Fighting for Reproductive Freedom’ pins,” the Democratic Women’s Caucus posted on social media Thursday.
The group attended the event with a clear message: “we won’t stop fighting until all women can access the health care they need to control their own lives and futures.”
Among those seen wearing white are Reps. Norma Torma Torres, Linda Sanchez and Nanette D. Barragán.
Congressional Dads Caucus members are wearing ‘building block’ pins
The Congressional Dads Caucus announced its 33 members will be displaying the toy-like pin as a way to show commitment to working families across the U.S.
“Tonight, Dads Caucus members are wearing a building block pin to show our commitment to policies that build families up, like the expanded Child Tax Credit, affordable child care and paid leave,” the caucus said on Twitter.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) created the Congressional Dads Caucus in 2023.
Former GOP Rep. George Santos, who was expelled, is attending tonight’s speech
Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was expelled from the House last year, was seen at the Capitol with lawmakers ahead of Biden’s speech. It is his first time on Capitol Hill since his expulsion, NBC News reports.
Biden expected to highlight climate accomplishments and challenges
The president will deliver a message on climate change that is not just “doom and despair,” a top White House official said ahead of tonight’s speech, NBC News reported.
“The president sees climate change for the challenge that it is,” said White House climate policy adviser Ali Zaidi. “We’re investing in resilience and adaptation and we’re getting after the root cause.”
Which presidents gave the longest and shortest State of the Union addresses?
Former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan gave two of the shortest SOTU address that each lasted just over 40 minutes. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, on average, delivered longer SOTU addresses than other presidents.
Biden unveiled his “unity agenda” during his first SOTU address on March 1, 2022, and it lasted one hour, one minute and 50 seconds. Biden delivered his second address last year on Feb. 7, which ran for one hour and thirteen minutes.
Take a look at the top 10 longest and shortest SOTU addresses given by U.S. presidents within the last 60 years here.
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Why some lawmakers will be wearing yellow ribbons tonight
Family members of several Americans still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza are expected to attend the State of the Union after being invited by a group of lawmakers. The 17 relatives of the hostages have sent a letter to all members of Congress asking them and their staffers to wear a yellow lapel ribbon or a “Bring them home” dog tag necklace as a sign of solidarity for those still working to bring their loved ones home.
Biden expected to announce plan for middle class tax cuts and lower deficits
Biden aides say he’ll announce an expanded plan to raise corporate taxes and use the proceeds to trim budget deficits and cut taxes for the middle class.
In a preview of Biden’s remarks, aides including Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council, said the president would contrast his proposals with Republican plans to extend former President Donald Trump’s expiring tax breaks and further slash corporate tax rates.
Under Biden’s proposal, corporations would no longer be able to deduct the expense of employee pay above $1 million, which could raise $270 billion over 10 years. He also wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, among other measures. And, as Biden has previously proposed, major companies would be charged a minimum tax rate so that they could not avoid the IRS through accounting maneuvers, deductions and specialized tax breaks. Read more about the preview of his proposal here.
Biden to announce plans for a temporary aid port on Gaza’s coast amid ongoing Israel-Hamas war
Biden is expected to announce plans to add a port in Gaza that will be used by the U.S. and partners to get aid into the region, NBC News reported.
Once built, the port will “provide the capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day,” a senior administration official said.
The U.S. plans to coordinate with Israel, the United Nations and various nongovernmental organizations about getting humanitarian aid into Gaza through the port, but the administration official made clear that the operation will not involve U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza. Read more from NBC News here.
Advocates hope for action after Biden’s calls for protecting Social Security and Medicare in last year’s speech
Biden used his State of the Union last year as an opportunity to get both Republicans and Democrats to not make any cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
“So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right?” Biden said, which was met with cheers. “We’ve got unanimity.”
Yet as both Social Security and Medicare face insolvency dates within the next decade, leaders on both sides of the aisle are hoping for action. More from CNBC on possible legislative action to protect these programs here.
Who’s on tonight’s guest list?
Biden and Democratic lawmakers invited several health care providers and women whose lives have been impacted by stricter abortion laws in states with Republican-controlled legislatures following the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling that stripped away constitutional protections for abortion.
First lady Jill Biden also invited union leaders, a gun control advocate, and others that she and her husband have met as they traveled the country promoting his agenda.
The full guest list can be found here.
North Texans will attend the State of the Union in support of Kate Cox, the local woman who was unable to get an abortion in Texas. NBC 5’s Larry Collins has the details.
Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama is delivering the GOP response
Freshman Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the youngest female senator, will deliver the Republican response to Biden’s speech.
Britt, 42, is the first woman elected to the Senate from Alabama. In a joint statement with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Britt said that “it’s time for the next generation to step up.”
“The Republican Party is the party of hardworking parents and families, and I’m looking forward to putting this critical perspective front and center,” Britt said.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered last year’s response to Biden’s State of the Union.
How to watch tonight’s State of the Union
The speech starts at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. You can watch live on all of the major network and cable television stations, including on NBC, MSNBC, NBC News Now, NBC’s online streaming network Peacock and in the streaming player above.
Find more on how to watch and what to watch for here and check back here for live updates.
Associated Press, NBC News and Staff reports
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