Joe Biden is using his State of the Union speech in the 2024 presidential election year to launch a frontal attack on Donald Trump. He mocks the Republicans. His age must be used for jokes.
He accepted the fight. US President Joe Biden turned his third State of the Union address into an aggressive campaign speech garnished with his own successes. The 81-year-old was caustic towards the Republicans and deviated from the manuscript several times in order to take on them. His opponent wasn’t there, but he was omnipresent: Donald Trump. Biden talked about Ukraine and Russia, the war in Israel, abortion rights, the economic situation, immigration – and joked about his own age.
Biden’s appearance heralds an eight-month presidential campaign. The position of strength with which he delivered his State of the Union address a year ago is a thing of the past. The poll numbers are bad, his coalition of voters doubts him, and he will have to deal with Trump again. Among other things, this led the Republicans to block new aid to Ukraine. In this speech, Biden had to show that he has the grit to lead another, long election campaign in addition to his official duties, despite his age. He confused himself and mumbled several times, but mostly caught himself and was quick-witted at the same time.
Fully occupied: Congress in Washington.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Support for aid to Ukraine is dwindling among US voters. Nevertheless, Biden begins with a lot of pathos promising full support in the defensive war against Russia. In broad historical lines he emphasizes the importance of the moment. “Peace and democracy are in danger at home and overseas at the same time.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is marching in Europe. In their own country on January 6, 2021, insurgents stormed the Capitol and no longer threatened democracy like they have since the US Civil War.
“My predecessor,” as he will exclusively call Trump, said to Putin during his time in office: Do whatever the hell you want, thereby bowing to the Russian. “This is dangerous, outrageous and unacceptable,” blusters Biden. “My message to Putin is: We will not bow. I will not bow.” These announcements received widespread applause from Democrats. The fact is: Trump and the Republicans are blocking further aid to Kiev, one of the reasons why Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of ammunition. Biden warns with regard to January 6, 2021: The Republicans tried to glorify the attempted coup. “My predecessor and some here want to bury the truth,” accuses Biden. “It’s time to bury the lies.”
Union fist in greeting
Biden then visibly proudly rattles off economic data. Almost 15 million jobs were created in three years, a record; Unemployment is at its lowest level in half a century, and the differences in prosperity between different ethnic groups are the lowest in 20 years. In addition, more people have health insurance than ever before. “It takes time, but the Americans are starting to feel it,” he says, almost contritely.
No matter how good the numbers look, in surveys only about a third of Americans support his economic policies. Purchasing power has fallen in recent years. So far, people don’t really trust the current upswing. Biden’s government and the Federal Reserve Bank are still wrestling with inflation. The Fed’s interest rates have pushed inflation back down to below four percent. But real estate loans are still expensive, which is driving up rental prices.
But Biden emphasizes the positive consequences of his economic policy, which has attracted 650 billion in investments, as well as the infrastructure package, which enables 46,000 construction projects. “Some people voted against it, but they’re cheering on the money that’s coming in,” he grins mischievously at the Republicans. “If you don’t want it, just let me know!” Biden talks about a car factory that he saved with the help of the large auto union United Auto Workers. Union leader Shawn Fain in the audience stand raises his fist in salute.
In any case, Biden emphasized throughout his appearance that he was fighting for the workers. That he had “finally won” against the pharmaceutical companies because public health insurance for older people was now allowed to negotiate insulin and other prices; he wants to increase the minimum tax for corporations and a tax on the rich because this would allow him to finance more comprehensive social policy; and and and.
Biden attacks, provokes and jokes
On the other hand, he portrays Trump as a friend of the wealthy and greedy companies. Biden provokes in the direction of Republicans in the room, complaining about the mountain of debt that Trump has accumulated “like no president in history”, because of his two trillion US dollar tax cuts, which are mainly benefited the rich (“the one percent”). “No one should pay less taxes than a teacher, a nurse or a garbage collector.” Even left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders stands up to applaud.
Biden continues to tease. The President reports on the border security funding package to reduce the historically high number of immigrants. Democrats had negotiated it with the Republicans in Congress – but they blocked it because Trump urged them to do so by telephone for electoral reasons. Republicans intervene. “Oh, you don’t like the law that conservatives say is a good law?” Biden asks mockingly in her direction: “That doesn’t exist, crazy!” He attacks Trump again. “I will not say, like my predecessor, that immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country.”
Towards the end, Biden addresses the war in Israel. The terrorist attack on October 7th was the worst day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. On the Palestinian side, more than 30,000 people died, most of them civilians. Innocent people need to be protected, he says. He announces the temporary landing stage for relief supplies and emphasizes: “No boots on the ground” – no US soldiers will go ashore.
One of the biggest problems for Biden in this election campaign will be his age. Six out of ten Americans believe that the president is no longer mentally fit for his office. Biden is now going on the offensive. “I may not look like it, but I’ve been around for a while,” jokes Biden at the podium, looking back on his career to date. When you get to your age, you see things more clearly than ever. “You are only as old as your ideas,” he says; Hatred and revenge are the oldest. “You can’t run America with ancient ideas.” A clear allusion to Trump. Biden, on the other hand, says he has an idea for the future, alludes to, among other things, general abortion rights – and paints a US version of blooming landscapes.
Biden has drawn the campaign lines: He is not backing down from his Ukraine position. Trump is his clear antagonist, controlling the Republicans in Congress. Accordingly, he attacked his predecessor on all possible fronts; also declared the Republicans the fight for the votes of the workers. Biden was particularly confident of victory because of the female population: they would not allow their rights to be taken away and they make up half of the electorate. You and the other half still have eight months to decide.