WASHINGTON: United States President Joe Biden launched a fierce attack on his “dangerous” rival in November’s presidential election, Donald Trump, in his State of the Union address on Thursday (March 7), warning that US democracy was “under attack”.
At the start of his dramatic speech, Biden said he wanted to “wake up Congress and warn the American people” of this danger.
“Since President Lincoln and the Civil War, freedom and democracy have never been under attack at home as they are today,” said President Biden, quoted by AFP.
“What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and abroad.”
Later when he brought up Trump, he said the Republican was “bowing down” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He vowed to get support from the Democratic Party: “I will not bow down.”
Even so, Biden never mentioned Trump by name, instead repeatedly referring to Trump as “my predecessor, the former president of the Republican Party.”
The annual presidential address is a unique opportunity for Biden to deliver his re-election message before his closest political allies and foes – and a national TV audience.
US media reported that the speech, which lasted more than an hour, was also a major test of his abilities, at the age of 81 and making history as the oldest US president.
Congressional Republicans often mock Biden, but Biden always responds with jokes poking fun at his opponents, from plans to cut billionaires’ taxes to refusing to take climate change seriously.
Biden arrived at the Capitol building, packed with members of Congress, Supreme Court justices and government leaders, to cheers from his supporters and chants of “four more years.”
But in a sign of the many challenges Biden faces – including from left-wing Democrats – protesters opposed to his support for Israel’s war on Hamas tried to block his motorcade from the White House to Congress.
Trump, 77, has a narrow lead over Biden in opinion polls. However, he faces multiple criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat and refusal to return a box of classified documents after reluctantly leaving the White House.
WAR IN GAZA
Regarding the Israel-Hamas war, the President announced that he had ordered the US military to establish a port on the Gaza coast to provide more aid to the Palestinians, reflecting acute political pressure from many in his own party.
His remarks on the war have sparked outrage among the left and the Arab-American community, angered by Biden’s strong support for Israel’s efforts to destroy Hamas.
Ahead of his speech, Trump accused Biden of committing “terrible destruction” during his three years in office, focusing on the record number of migrants crossing the Mexican border.
However, in his speech, Biden sought to turn the tables on Republicans on the issue, calling them out for refusing to pass bills that would significantly increase controls.
“We can fight to fix the border or we can fix it,” he said in response to a jibe from right-wing Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“I’m ready to fix it. Send me a border bill now.”
Overall, according to CNN, some Democrats in Congress praised Biden’s State of the Union address, while others praised Biden that he could have gone further.
They also feel relieved because tonight’s speech proves that the president still has the strength to win the US election next November.
