Shawn Thew/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
In his annual State of the Union tackle Thursday, President Biden highlighted key achievements of his first time period in workplace and made the case that voters ought to give him a second.
The tackle comes as Biden heads into normal election season, and days after former President Donald Trump turned the final main candidate within the Republican presidential main.
The State of the Union is among the largest tv audiences the president can have all 12 months. Listed here are six standout moments you might need missed.
Biden requires assist for Ukraine
Biden opened his remarks by saying that “that is no peculiar second.” He drew parallels to President Franklin Roosevelt’s State of the Union tackle in January 1941, as World Struggle II was raging in Europe, and “freedom and democracy had been beneath assault.”
Biden mentioned it’s vital for the U.S. to face by Ukraine in its struggle towards Russia, greater than two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. And he urged Congress to cross a bipartisan invoice to offer support to Ukraine, which is at the moment idling within the Republican-controlled Home of Representatives.
A highlight on reproductive rights, and a pledge to enshrine Roe
Biden did not say the phrase “abortion” as soon as throughout his remarks. However reproductive rights had been a spotlight of the speech.
Certainly one of his company was Kate Cox, a Texas girl who was compelled to journey out of state for an abortion when her fetus was recognized with a genetic situation that’s nearly at all times deadly. One other was Latorya Beasley, an Alabama girl whose IVF remedies had been paused after the state’s Supreme Courtroom dominated that frozen embryos are legally kids.
He pledged to enshrine the protections of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Courtroom resolution that established the precise to an abortion earlier than it was overturned in 2022, in federal regulation, “if Individuals ship me a Congress that helps the precise to decide on.”
Biden and Republicans spar over the border
Biden additionally known as on Congress to revive a bipartisan deal that will have paired overseas help with border safety measures. That deal fell aside after Trump and Home Republicans got here out towards it.
Later within the speech, Biden received right into a back-and-forth with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene about Laken Riley, a College of Georgia pupil who was killed final month. An undocumented Venezuelan immigrant has been arrested in connection together with her dying.
Within the change, Biden mentioned Riley had been “killed by an unlawful,” which drew criticism from progressives.
As a proud immigrant, I am extraordinarily disenchanted to listen to President Biden use the phrase “unlawful.”
— Congressman Chuy GarcÃa (@RepChuyGarcia) March 8, 2024
Rep. Joaquin Castro is just not joyful about Biden parroting MTG in saying Laken Riley was “killed by an unlawful.”
“I feel it is harmful rhetoric. And I feel that the President is getting dangerous recommendation from his advisors and speech writers,” he tells @sejalg_
— Matthew Choi (@matthewichoi) March 8, 2024
No human being is prohibited.
— Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (@repdeliaramirez) March 8, 2024
Biden revives name for assault weapons ban, with Uvalde woman in attendance
Biden known as for a slate of gun reforms, together with an assault weapons ban and common background checks, throughout his remarks.
He did so with Jazmin Cazares, whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was killed throughout a mass taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, sitting in his field.
Empathy for Gazans however not a everlasting ceasefire
Precisely 5 months after the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults, Israel’s counteroffensive has killed greater than 30,000 Palestinians. Biden expressed empathy for the rising civilian dying toll, and known as on Israel to do extra to permit support into Gaza. However he stopped wanting calling for a everlasting ceasefire, which some congressional Democrats and voters have been pushing for.
Biden additionally introduced the U.S. navy will set up a brand new momentary pier on the Mediterranean coast of Gaza to assist ship meals, water, drugs and different support to the territory.
Biden addresses considerations over his age
Voters of each events have voiced considerations in regards to the president’s age. Tonight, he acknowledged these considerations with a wink and a nod, saying, “I do know it might not appear to be it, however I have been round some time.”
He continued: “Whenever you get to be my age sure issues grow to be clearer than ever. … My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy future primarily based on core values which have outlined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everybody, to present everybody a good shot, to present hate no protected harbor.”