2024-03-08 02:57:38
US President Joe Biden began his annual State of the Union address by calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin over his war in Ukraine. He also came out swinging at presidential challenger Donald Trump, without naming him, for “bowing down” to Putin.
Biden speaking before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, opened his remarks with a direct criticism of Trump for comments inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade other Nato nations if they did not spend more on defence.
“Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, quote, ‘Do whatever you want,'” Biden said. “I think it’s outrageous, it’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable.”
Biden, who has been pushing Congress to provide additional funding to Ukraine for its war with Russia, also had a message for Putin.
“If the United States walks away it will put Ukraine at risk…My message to President Putin who I’ve known for a long time is simple; we will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down.”
ON ABORTION RIGHTS
During his last State of the Union address, Biden hit out at the US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning abortion protections, and vowed to codify the former precedent into law, if re-elected.
“If the American people send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again,” he said.
The Democrats and Biden’s cabinet secretaries stood and applauded at that line.
Without naming Trump, the Democrat blamed him for the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, claiming that his likely 2024 opponent “brags about it.”
Biden said those who brag about overturning abortion protections “have no clue about the power of women”. Directly addressing his remarks to the Supreme Court judges who were in the room, he said, “With all due respect, justices, women are not without âæ electoral or political power.”
ON JAN 6 INSURRECTION
Biden wasted no time referencing the January 6 Capitol riots. He criticised some attendees for their election denialism and defence of the rioters, stating, “The insurrectionists were not patriots.”
On top of their attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power and overturn the will of the people, Biden called out Trump and his allies for attempting to conceal the truth about January 6.
“Our predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that… This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here’s the simple truth: you can’t love your country only when you win,” said Biden.
ON IMMIGRATION REFORMS
Biden knocked Republicans over immigration reform, particularly after the party thwarted a bipartisan compromise linking stricter border policies with aid to Ukraine and Israel.
Immigration and migrant surges have emerged as significant political focal points for Biden as he advocates for another term. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, has been lambasting him on the campaign trail for his stance on the hot-button issue.
Hitting out at Trump with his own words, Biden said, “I will not demonize immigrants, saying they ‘poison the blood of our country’. I will not separate families or ban people from America because of their faith. Unlike my predecessor, I know who we are as Americans.”
ON HIS AGE
Biden, 81, openly acknowledged his advanced age as he wrapped up his State of the Union address, remarking, “I’ve been told I’m too old.”
Addressing concerns about being the oldest US President to hold office and run for re-election, he said, “Whether young or old âæ I’ve always known what endures. I’ve known our north star, the very idea of Americans, that we’re all created equal, deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We’ve never fully lived up to that idea. We’ve never walked away from it either. And I won’t walk away from it now.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
