Ukraine, Middle East, migration: In his speech, Biden spoke about the major election campaign issues and assured that he would continue to stand up to Russia. But again and again – without mentioning his name – it was about his predecessor Trump.
US President Joe Biden used his annual State of the Union address to call on Congress to release aid for Ukraine and to appeal to the Israeli government in view of the dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Democrat repeatedly distanced himself from his predecessor and likely challenger Donald Trump on a wide variety of domestic and foreign policy issues. Although he didn’t mention the Republican by name, he left no doubt who he was referring to.
Biden explicitly condemned his statements about NATO. “Well, my predecessor, a former Republican president, said to Putin, quote, ‘Do whatever you want,'” Biden said, adding, “I think that’s outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable.” Trump recently made it clear during a campaign appearance that he would not provide American support to NATO allies with low defense spending in the event of a Russian attack.
“We have to stand up to Putin,” emphasized Biden in front of both chambers of parliament. He assured that he would “not give in” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “My message to President Putin, whom I have known for a long time, is simple: we will not run away,” he said. “If anyone in this room thinks Putin is going to go after Ukraine, that’s wrong. I assure you he won’t.”
Biden is again calling on Congress to release further US aid to the country attacked by Russia. “Ukraine can stop Putin. If we stand by Ukraine and supply the weapons,” said the 81-year-old. Ukraine is not asking for US soldiers and he will not send any, he emphasized. He accused the Republicans of wanting the USA to abandon its leading role in the world.
Appeal to Israel
With a view to the war in the Middle East, Biden confirmed that the US is planning a temporary port for aid deliveries to Gaza. He denounced the dramatic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, promised further help to the people there and called on Israel’s leadership to better protect civilians. “More than 30,000 Palestinians were killed, most of whom were not affiliated with Hamas,” he said. Children have become orphans, people have lost their homes and been displaced. Many are without food, water and medicine. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Biden urgently appealed to the Israeli leadership to make its contribution to the humanitarian care of the Palestinian civilian population: “Israel must allow more aid deliveries to Gaza and ensure that humanitarian aid workers do not get caught in the crossfire,” warned the Democrat. “Humanitarian aid must not be secondary or used as a bargaining chip. Protecting and rescuing innocent people must take priority.” Biden further repeated his call for an immediate six-week ceasefire.
The US President also emphasized that Israel had the right to attack the terrorist militia Hamas in response to their brutal attack on October 7th. The Palestinian organization, which has been classified as a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, can “end this conflict today” by releasing the hostages kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, Biden said.
“I will not separate families”
In terms of domestic policy, the US President made it clear that he would not follow the policies of his predecessor when it came to the important issue of migration. “I will not separate families,” he said. He will not ban people from entering the country because of their faith.
Just a week after taking office, Trump imposed entry bans on people from several predominantly Muslim countries, sparking outrage around the world. The Republican also had families who had come to the USA illegally taken into custody for the entire duration of their asylum or immigration process. Referring to a recent statement by Trump, Biden continued: “I will not demonize immigrants and say they are poison in the blood of our country.”
Call to defend democracy
Biden also called for people to defend democracy in the USA with all their might. “The threat to democracy must be repelled,” he said. “My predecessor and some of you here are trying to bury the truth about January 6th,” he said, referring to Trump and the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters took over the parliament building in the capital Washington stormed.
The insurgents who came to Washington to stop the peaceful transfer of power and reverse the will of the people were not patriots. The conspiracy to overturn the election result posed “the greatest threat to democracy since the American Civil War,” Biden said. But America was strong and democracy prevailed.
He also obviously made reference to Trump elsewhere. “My life has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy,” Biden said. He is committed to a future “based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. Respecting everyone. Giving everyone a fair chance. Not giving hate a safe haven. Some people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge and retribution. That’s not me.”
Biden’s biggest burden in the current presidential election campaign is his age, and he also spoke about that. “Throughout my career, I’ve been told time and time again that I’m too young and too old. Whether young or old, I’ve always known what lasts,” he said. It is America’s idea that everyone is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout life. “We’ve never fully lived up to this idea, but we’ve never moved away from it either. And I’m not going to move away from it now.”
optimism Economic policy
Biden expressed optimism that the people of the United States would soon feel the results of his economic policies. “It takes time, but the American people are starting to feel it,” he said. “Wages continue to rise and inflation continues to decline.” Instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, the United States was now exporting American products and creating American jobs at home.
His goal is for the middle class to prosper. Because if the middle class was doing well, the rich would still be doing very well. It is important that unions become stronger.
Minister of Education in a secret place
While almost the entire cabinet was present in Congress, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona had to stay away from the US President’s speech. The 48-year-old was not in the audience to ensure that the government remained able to act in the event of an accident or attack. According to tradition, the chosen cabinet member is housed in a secret location and is supposed to take over the reins of government in the event of a disaster. The principle is called “Designated Survivor”.
Claudia Sarre, ARD Washington, tagesschau, March 8, 2024 7:01 a.m