Joe Biden launches his campaign during the State of the Union address

At the Capitol on Thursday evening, the president set the tone of his State of the Union speech very quickly by targeting his Republican rival Donald Trump, without ever mentioning his name.

For 68 minutes, in a lively and offensive tone, as if to respond to criticism and persistent concerns about his age, Joe Biden scolded the Republicans for their policies, and invited his Democratic colleagues to dialogue with him on economic issues, taxes and health care.

Joe Biden quickly returned to the threats facing the country, evoking the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump seeking to overturn the 2020 election, and calling for countering the threat to democracy .

Donald Trump accused of “submit” to Vladimir Putin

“My predecessor, a former Republican president, told Putin: “Do what you want.” I quote him. A former president actually said that, submitting to a Russian leader. I think it’s scandalous. This is dangerous, and it is unacceptable! “, launched the president, while urging Congress to support Ukraine to “stop Putin“, while crucial aid for kyiv is still blocked by the Republican opposition.

“Freedom and democracy are under attack at home and abroad at the same time” Joe Biden said as he called on Congress to support Ukraine’s efforts to defend against the Russian invasion.

The president appealed to lawmakers to pass badly needed defense aid to Ukraine. Severe ammunition shortages allowed Russia to resume the offensive.

“My predecessor – and some of you here – seek to bury the truth about January 6 – I won’t” Mr. Biden said. “It’s time to tell the truth and bury the lies. Here is a simple truth. You can’t love your country only when you win“.

“My life has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy“, Joe Biden said. “A future based on the fundamental values ​​that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. Respect everyone. Give everyone a fair chance. Do not give shelter to hatred. Today, others my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, vengeance and retribution. It is not me“.

Messages about his age

The 81-year-old president was closely watched, not only for his message, but also for his ability to deliver it with vigor and mastery.

White House aides indicated that Joe Biden wanted to prove his detractors wrong by showing his combative side and trying to pin Republicans on positions he considers out of step with the country, particularly regarding access to abortion, but also tax policy and health care. This is part of the efforts he has made since the start of his campaign to clarify, even in his official speeches, the choice of voters who will show up at the polls this fall.

The State of the Union address is a marquee night on the White House calendar, giving presidents a direct line to a captive audience of lawmakers and dignitaries in the chamber and tens of millions of television viewers at home . However, this evening lost its luster with the drop in the number of viewers.

Mr. Biden engaged in a raucous exchange with lawmakers questioning whether the tax code was fair and whether billionaires and corporations needed “$2 trillion in additional tax relief“, as he criticized the Republicans.

The central themes of abortion and immigration

One of the most controversial moments of his speech came during his remarks on immigration, when Joe Biden denounced conservative groups’ support for bipartisan border legislation that Republicans rejected last month .

While Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, decked out in pro-Trump accessories, scolded Biden, the president brandished a white badge that the Georgia Republican congresswoman had given him earlier, bearing the name Laken Riley, who, according to authorities, was killed by a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally in September 2022.

Joe Biden called Laken Riley “innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal”. He expressed his condolences to his family.

Biden has painted an optimistic future for the country as the massive pieces of legislation he signed into law during his first two years in office are implemented. But he also had to warn that the progress he sees at home and abroad is fragile — and particularly vulnerable if Trump returns to the White House.

Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key part of the speech, especially in light of a controversial Alabama Supreme Court decision that upended access to in vitro fertilization treatments in the state.

Joe Biden also castigated the cancellation of the federal abortion guarantee and promised to “restore” this protection if Americans elect a Congress favorable to “right to choose“.

Seeking a ceasefire in Gaza

This year, Joe Biden has faced powerful shocks – particularly among his supporters – because of his unwavering support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The White House had initially hoped a short-term ceasefire would be in place by the speech. He criticizes Hamas for not yet having accepted an agreement negotiated by the United States and its allies.

Many Democrats and Republicans wore pins and stickers honoring Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza. Meanwhile, several House progressives wore Palestinian keffiyehs, the black and white checkered scarves that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Biden’s motorcade took a circuitous route to the Capitol, as hundreds of pro-ceasefire protesters attempted to disrupt his path from the White House.

“I am working hard to achieve an immediate ceasefire of at least six weeks“, which would allow the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, the president said. Joe Biden also announced that he had ordered the American army to establish a temporary port on the coast of Gaza in order to increase the flow aid to the besieged territory.

After the speech, Biden was scheduled to go on a weekend of campaign travel, holding events in Pennsylvania on Friday and Georgia on Saturday. Donald Trump will also campaign in Georgia that day.