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Agencies

US President Joe Biden’s address to Congress foreshadowed his 2024 stump speech, if as expected he runs for a second term – but at times it was almost drowned out by the Republican heckling.
A spirited Biden on Tuesday highlighted accomplishments on infrastructure, climate and consumer protections in his first two years in the White House.
But an equally spirited Republican side interrupted him over entitlement spending, the border and other issues, putting the tensions in a divided government on live television.
Here are six main takeaways from Biden’s speech to the joint session:
Floor fight
Biden lured Republicans into a messy shouting match, when he said the Republican Party was calling for cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and others yelled “Liar!” while some booed and waved their fingers at the president when he said they wanted the cuts to the popular programmes as a demand of raising the debt ceiling. Speaker Kevin McCarthy appeared to shush his colleagues at points when they shouted.
“As we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now,” Biden said. “We got unanimity!” Republicans stood and applauded.
US will act on China
Biden vowed he would not hesitate to defend US interests against China after he ordered the downing of a suspected surveillance balloon - but kept the door open to cooperation.
“I’m committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world,” Biden said.
“But make no mistake about it - as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did,” he said to applause.
Biden said that “winning the competition” with China should unite Americans.
“I will make no apologies that we are investing to make America stronger - investing in American innovation, in industries that will define the future that China intends to be dominating.
But Biden steered clear of hawkish language as he mentioned by name his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, whom he met at length in November in Indonesia.
Biden said he told Xi that “we seek competition, not conflict”.


Clean energy confession
Biden touted his clean-energy initiatives, warning that climate change poses an “existential threat” to the US. But he drew laughter from Republicans when he conceded that “we are going to need oil for at least another decade” as the country transitions to other energy sources.
That demonstrates the difficulty Democrats face as they seek to promote alternative energy sources, while acknowledging the reality that fossil fuels will remain a key source of energy, perhaps for more than a decade.
Populist pitch for 2024
Biden couched the accomplishments of his first two years in populist terms. He spent the first 20 minutes touting efforts to lower unemployment, bring back American manufacturing, and fix the nation’s infrastructure – nodding to laws Republicans helped him pass to achieve those goals.
He also attacked pharmaceutical and oil companies, and called for higher taxes on billionaires and stock buy-backs. He also called for antitrust legislation to crack down on big tech companies.
Taken together, the remarks formed the beginnings of a stump speech as Biden gears up to launch his expected re-election bid. His refrain of “Finish the job!” smacked of a campaign slogan.

Immigration scale-back
Biden urged lawmakers to pass a pared-down package of changes to immigration law, as his administration continues to grapple with historic numbers of migrants crossing the southern US border.
He called on Congress to approve more funding for officers and equipment to “secure the border” and a citizenship path for undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, known as Dreamers, as well as farm workers, essential workers and migrants on temporary status.
This also elicited shouts from Republicans who yelled at Biden to “secure the border” and “it’s your fault,” when Biden mentioned fentanyl coming across the border.
Biden’s narrower proposal is an acknowledgement of the divided nature of Congress, where Republicans oppose the president’s policies, saying they have encouraged migrants to cross into the US.
‘Crotchety’ or ‘metaphysical’
The millions of viewers who tuned in to US news channels to watch the speech were treated to vastly different commentary.
On conservative Fox News, commentator Sean Hannity rhetorically asked viewers whether they trusted Biden “to protect our country” and volunteered that “the answer is obvious” that “what you saw tonight was a weak, crotchety old man”.
On liberal MSNBC, anchor Rachel Maddow ran a highlight reel of the president’s remarks and invited Senator Chris Murphy on to offer his evaluation.
Murphy, a Democratic ally of the president, called the speech “the best the president has ever been” and touted Biden’s “metaphysical connection” to the viewing public.
Bloomberg, Agence France-Presse, Reuters


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US Politics

Key highlights from Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington. Photo: AP

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and others yelled ‘Liar!’ while some booed and waved their fingers at the president. Photo: Reuters

US navy divers search for Chinese ‘spy balloon’ debris as Biden faces pressure to retaliate

A jet flies by a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it floats off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, on February 4. Photo: Reuters

The Chinese balloon is lying in 15m (50 feet) of water and scattered over an 11km (7-mile) area off Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (pictured). Photo: AP

Republicans attack Biden for waiting to shoot down Chinese balloon

The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

US President Joe Biden. Photo: AFP

Joe Biden meets top Republican Kevin McCarthy on US debt ceiling, but no deal reached

US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy responds to a question from the media following a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

US President Joe Biden looks toward House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (left) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (centre) during a meeting with congressional leaders at the White House in November 2022. Photo: Reuters

FBI searches Joe Biden’s holiday home, no classified documents found

US President Joe Biden. File photo: AP

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk on Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, in November 2021. Photo: AFP

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US President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union speech on Tuesday
It was an address that could serve as a blueprint for Biden’s 2024 re-election bid


Here are some takeaways from US President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, an address that could serve as a blueprint for his 2024 re-election bid.


Joe Biden

US presidential election 2024

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.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}US President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union speech on Tuesday It was an address that could serve as a blueprint for Biden’s 2024 re-election bid

US President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union speech on Tuesday

It was an address that could serve as a blueprint for Biden’s 2024 re-election bid