USA: Biden at State of the Union speech like a campaigner

USA
Biden at State of the Union like a campaigner

US President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address. Behind him, Vice President Kamala Harris applauds, next to him sits Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House. photo

© Jacquelyn Martin/AP POOL/dpa

He stretches out his hand to the Republicans – and at the same time he shows them off: That was the motto of US President Biden in his State of the Union address. Was that already the application for 2024?

In his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden attacked the Republicans and at the same time called on his political opponents to work together for the good of the country. “I think the people sent us a clear message: fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflicts for the sake of conflicts won’t get us anywhere,” the Democrat said on Tuesday evening (local time) before the two chambers of Congress in Washington .

There is no reason not to find a common denominator on important issues. The 80-year-old was combative and challenged his opponents. The self-confident speech seemed like the start of the election campaign for a second term as US President.

Biden focused primarily on issues that are likely to be burning issues for many Americans: the economy, inflation, the job market. He made it clear that he wanted to continue to rely on the “Made in America” ​​principle, despite fears from Germany and other EU countries that the US economy would be shielded. Foreign policy played almost no role in the speech. However, after the launch of a Chinese surveillance balloon allegedly used for espionage purposes, Biden issued a warning to Beijing: “If China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country, and we have done so.”

Republicans often rely on the blockade

It was Biden’s first State of the Union address to a congress where his Democrats no longer have a majority in both houses. Republicans won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections. Last year, Biden’s speech was overshadowed by the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This time, too, the democrat promised long-term support to Kyiv. However, the topic took up less space than in the previous year.

The new majorities make it even more difficult for Biden’s government to implement legislative projects. Parts of both parties are hateful towards each other, hardliners among the Republicans rely on blockade and rule out cooperation with the Democrats. Biden began his speech with a dig at the new Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy: “I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you.”

Biden: No cuts in social programs

According to the Washington Post, Biden presented himself as an “elder statesman” who was able to work across party lines. At the same time he appeared as a “crafty politician with firm convictions”. After a “shaky start”, Biden’s speech gained momentum, wrote the “New York Times”. “In fact, he used the biggest stage of his presidency as an opportunity to sell his vision, his record and his agenda for the 2024 election.”

In his speech, Biden managed to provoke his political opponents – especially when it came to social security and health insurance. His claim that some Republicans wanted to phase out benefits popular with many older Americans drew angry heckling. Right-wing Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled, calling Biden a “liar.” The President appeared to be enjoying the moment, declaring, “We all seem to agree, then let’s all stand up for seniors and show them we don’t want to cut Social Security and health insurance.”

On the important issue of the debt ceiling, the President took a tough swipe at Republicans, with some reluctant to raise it. In the US, Congress defines a debt ceiling and uses it to determine how much money the state can borrow. If this limit is not raised soon, the USA could default – with incalculable consequences for the global economy. “Some of my Republican friends want to hold the economy hostage — unless I agree with their economic plans,” Biden said. However, cuts in social programs cannot be made with him.

Trump attacks Biden on Truth Social

So far, Biden has not publicly declared his candidacy for a second term — just a general intention. The President had promised a final decision for the beginning of this year. However, the Democrats are burdened with an affair involving the discovery of secret documents from earlier years of government in his private rooms – a special investigator is investigating the case. So far, only his predecessor Donald Trump has officially declared his candidacy for the Republicans. The 76-year-old commented on the speech live and did not spare criticism of Biden and the Democrats.

The Republican response to Biden’s speech came from Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump’s former government spokeswoman. “President Biden’s weakness endangers our nation and the world,” said the 40-year-old, who is now governor of the state of Arkansas – and the youngest governor ever in the United States. Biden, in turn, is the oldest president in US history.

dpa

source site-3