A strong but brief warning to China after a Chinese balloon flew over US soil – “as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect the country. We have done that”; a welcome to the Ukrainian ambassador and a commitment to peace; nor any reference to the earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria. In his second State of the Union address, Joe Biden chose to focus on domestic US politics, emphasizing the economy and challenging Republicans to take his side to “finish the job” — even as the response on the other side was jeering and head shaking. and cries of “liar”. At the age of 80, the oldest president in American history was unflinching, not even hesitating to escape the script to counter the hostile voices in the public. A show of political strength, launching a new challenge: to those who do not believe that he can be the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
“If it wasn’t launching a re-election campaign, it was about as close as a State of the Union speech can get,” the president wrote. The Washington Post. And if there was any doubt, Biden went from Washington, where he spoke before the two Houses of Congress convened, to Wisconsin and Florida, where he took the message of unity to essential states to ensure victory in 2024. And with Donald Trump looking for a chance to return to the White House and Ron DeSanti ready to challenge the former president for the Republican nomination, the truth is that the polls are not encouraging for the current head of the US state, with a popularity rating of just over 40% and two-thirds of Democrats said they preferred another candidate.
Before an audience that brought together members of the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as military leaders and the nine Supreme Court justices and even a group of presidential guests, including the singer and activist Bono of Tire’s mother and stepfather Nichols, the 29-year-old beaten up by police officers in Memphis and whose video of the attack has reignited controversy over police brutality in the US, Biden turned to the economy. The president highlighted low unemployment and falling inflation and fuel prices after months of instability exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, reiterating the idea that it is time to act on behalf of the workers.
Behind Biden a familiar face – that of Vice President Kamala Harris, also leader of the Senate – and a new face – that of Speaker of the House, Republican Kevin McCarthy, whose election in January produced a political soap opera that dragged on for several days, with the right wing of the party blocking it.
It was precisely to the Republicans that the president turned to help him “finish the job”. And if he still got applause and even a smile from McCarthy when he emphasized cooperation in his first two years in office, the atmosphere froze as Biden focused on increasing the debt. Speaking of Republican demands to tie this increase to spending cuts, the president recalled that no one has contributed more to raising the debt ceiling than Trump. The booing rose even higher as Biden attacked Republicans who planned to cut funding for Medicare and Social Security. And to the cries of “liar” he ironically replied, “Very well, people! Since we all agree, we can take Medicare and Social Security off the table. We have unanimity”.
Source: DN
