President Biden's Dynamic State of the Union Sets Tone & Tenor of 2024 Election
In his annual State of the Union address, President Joe Biden delivered a message marked by assertive confidence and commanding strength, intertwined with tones of stern warning and prudent caution, while weaving a narrative of hope and optimism in the enduring idea that is the United States of America.
Confronting a range of pivotal issues from domestic to international concerns, President Biden demonstrated passion and vigor, especially when discussing the defense of democracy both abroad, in the context of Ukraine and Putin's aggression, and at home, with pointed references to the events of January 6th and his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. He emphasized his commitment to not backing down or bowing to foreign adversaries and drew a clear distinction between his administration’s actions and those of his predecessor - without ever mentioning Trump by name.
Worth noting: ‘Fair’ and ‘My Predecessor’ were tied for the most-used terms/words at 13 times throughout the speech.
Without a doubt, President Biden's speech was a campaign pitch to America. He initiated his address with a resolute pledge to NATO, highlighted by the recognition of Sweden's official admission to the alliance. This was underscored by his gesture of welcoming the Prime Minister of Sweden as a distinguished guest to the address. His endorsement of NATO pivoted into a staunch defense of Ukraine and a direct condemnation of his predecessor’s isolationist comments on related foreign policy matters. The speech also covered Biden’s focus on tackling inflation, job creation, and a call to guarantee reproductive rights nationwide.
Biden directly challenged Congress to rise to the occasion and send key legislation to his desk for approval, and gave a notable, potentially historic, condemnation of the Supreme Court in light of several recent unpopular rulings, primarily the Dobbs decision that continues to threaten women’s access to healthcare services across the nation. His speech was often punctuated by outbursts from GOP members which Biden adeptly navigated with a blend of substantive responses and moments of dismissive humor. Nearly a dozen GOP members left the speech early, citing their lack of interest in attending a campaign speech.
The speech served as a platform for President Biden to lay out his administration's accomplishments and future plans in areas such as infrastructure, clean energy investment, and healthcare. On domestic policy, he proposed a range of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of American families, highlighting economic recovery, corporate greed, wage growth, and job creation while acknowledging the impact of inflation.
Biden was clear and confident in his delivery – he also spoke quickly and loudly. While he seized the opportunity to champion his successes and priorities in front of a national audience, it is important to ensure accuracy of everything highlighted by the President. FactCheck.org put together a helpful overview of some stretched facts or matters missing context.
Among additional guests invited by President Biden were the inaugural individual born through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in the U.S., a woman from Texas compelled to exit her state for an urgent abortion, and a young teen mourning the loss of her younger sister in the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting. House Speaker Mike Johnson was accompanied by a woman grieving the carjacking-related murder of her husband in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Stefanik of New York included a border patrol agent as one of her guests. The lived experiences of these invitees spotlight the pivotal issues likely to sway the upcoming November election in several key swing states among a critical few hundred thousand voters, underscoring Biden's strategic focus on engaging this influential group with his address.
Responses from members of Congress varied, with Democrats largely showing support and Republicans offering a mixture of agreement and dissent, particularly around issues like immigration policy and border security. Senator Lankford of Oklahoma, the lead Republican negotiator of the failed border deal, was picked up on camera saying, “that’s true,” in agreement with Biden while Republicans booed the President’s criticism of their rejection of the compromise. On his left flank, Biden received a very cold shoulder from the progressive ‘Squad,’ a protest of his handling of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Initial polling suggested a generally favorable response to Biden's address among viewers, with an uptick in optimism about the country's direction. However, it's important to note that State of the Union addresses rarely have a lasting impact on presidential approval ratings or election outcomes.
Senator Katie Britt of Alabama gave the Republican response to President Biden’s speech. Her selection was clearly a strategic decision crafted to juxtapose the president's age and experience with a younger, conservative perspective, although her delivery, setting — her kitchen, and ‘Midnight in America’ theme — received mixed reactions particularly within Republican circles. With critiques to the overly theatrical delivery to the setting of the speech in the Alabama senator’s kitchen, the response drew jokes and parodies rapidly.
The GOP response aimed to counter Biden's narrative by painting a picture of an America in decline under his leadership. Senator Britt accused the Biden administration of being out of touch and failing to secure the border, manage the economy, or ensure public safety. One standout portion of her speech was a detailed description of sexual violence committed against a woman by trafficked by the cartels. She also discussed the recent tragedy that resulted in the loss of an innocent life, Laken Riley, at the hands of an illegal immigrant. Her graphic and distressing depiction, and her comments on Biden's failures at the border, led many to point out the inconsistency in her backing of the presumptive Republican nominee for president. Donald Trump, of course, was recently held responsible by a jury for sexual abuse following multiple allegations of rape and had directed Republican senators, including her, to reject a conservative bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing border security.
This is the third consecutive year that the GOP has selected a woman to give the response. It is worth noting that Britt is among the top contenders for the position of former former President Trump’s vice presidential candidate. Trump lauded Britt’s speech on Truth Social, writing, “Katie Britt was a GREAT contrast to an Angry, and obviously very Disturbed, ‘President.’”
Though the State of the Union is not an event with a reputation known for extraordinary flair and spectacle, numerous members of Congress took advantage of the nationwide audience and freely roaming CSPAN cameras to make statements and send messages. Examples of this include blue and yellow scarves, as well as black and white keffiyehs, for solidarity with Ukraine and Gaza, respectively; stickers with ‘153’ written in a nod to Israeli hostages held by Hamas; Democratic Women’s Caucus members dressed in all white to push for reproductive freedom; Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wearing Trump 2020 hat and a ‘Say Her Name: Laken Riley’ shirt; and Congressman Troy Nehls of Texas who wore a shirt with President Trump’s mugshot, paired with an American flag bow tie. Of course, we cannot cover congressional flair and spectacle without acknowledging the return of George Santos, who announced his intent to run for Congress again in the middle of the speech.
A single speech does not win an election, nor does it ‘course correct’ a campaign in trouble facing hardships in the polls. But both the address and the GOP response have set the stage for a vigorous debate as the 2024 general election approaches, with both parties seeking to shape the narrative around leadership, policy success, and the vision for America's future.
Many Americans remain dissatisfied with their personal situations and the president's leadership. This dissatisfaction is partly due to Biden's perceived lack of the vital presidential trait of projecting strength, exacerbated by his slowed physical demeanor. Consequently, his approval ratings have stagnated around 38% over the past year. Though none of these potential shortcomings were on display during the State of the Union, it is going to require President Biden’s time and energy on the campaign trail to reverse the preconceived notions of voters.
