Featured photo via Sidelines archives, by Dylan Skye Aycock
Story by Jenene Grover
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On March 7, President Joe Biden delivered his final State of the Union address of this term Thursday night, criticizing his predecessor Donald Trump and promising change with a second term.
He began his speech by mentioning the war in Ukraine and how America needs to provide weapons and keep American soldiers out of it. Biden’s first mention of Trump was to reference Trump’s calls for Putin to “Do whatever the hell you want” to Ukraine. Biden then mentioned how Finland joined NATO last year and how Sweden just joined on Thursday morning.
“We will not walk away,” Biden said, directly addressing Putin. “We will not bow down. I will not bow down.”
Biden moved on to the economy and COVID, looked back on how far the country has come since 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, and said that America turns setbacks into comebacks.
He mentioned the boost of the economy and American manufacturing and stated the importance of buying American. Biden referenced his time on the picket lines with the United Auto Workers, mentioning how unions created the middle class and how the middle class built America.
The president then talked about legislation he signed and acts he passed to improve the costs of drugs, particularly insulin. Biden also announced a new women’s health research White House initiative led by Jill Biden.
Moving onto education, Biden said that he wants to extend preschool to every child 3- and 4-years-old. Biden also said he wanted to expand tutoring and summer learning so every child knows how to read by third grade.
Biden additionally spoke to college affordability and increasing access to the Pell Grant. He mentioned his student loan forgiveness which affected around four million people. He said he cut the federal deficit by $1 trillion and wishes to cut it by $3 trillion. Biden yet again criticized Trump by saying Trump gave tax cuts to the wealthy amounting up to $2 trillion.
Biden also mentioned a law requiring companies to pay a minimum tax rate of 15%. However, according to CNN, he failed to mention that the law only affects companies with an average annual income of at least $1 billion.
He expressed wishes to protect Medicare and social security, fighting back against disagreement from the Republican side of the chamber.
“Oh no,” Biden said. “You guys don’t want another $2 trillion tax cut? I kind of thought that’s what your plan was. Well, that’s good to hear.”
Biden discussed border security as well, a hot topic following his visit to the border earlier in the week. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wearing a Make America Great Again hat and Laken Riley pin, yelled at Biden during the middle of his speech to recognize Laken Riley, a woman killed by “illegals.”
“To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand,” Biden said.
Biden criticized Trump’s policies on immigration and immigrants and urged Congress to pass his proposed border bill.
Biden spoke about his climate accomplishments, saying he has “tak(en) the most significant action ever on climate in the history of the world.” He also spoke about his reduction of crime.
He called for action to be taken against gun violence, criticizing Trump’s lack of action and comments to “get over it.”
“I say stop [gun violence],” Biden said. “Stop it, stop it, stop it.”
Biden additionally mentioned the war in Gaza, talking about the importance of getting the Israeli hostages home. Some representatives in the chamber wore name tags with “153” written on them, representing the number of days since the Oct. 7 start of the war.
Biden called for a 6-week ceasefire, saying that while Israel had the right to go after Hamas, Israel had no reason not to allow humanitarian aid. He once again promised that while the U.S. needs to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians, he will not put American soldiers on the ground to fight.
Toward the end of his speech, Biden addressed the claims and worries that his age prevented him from being suitable as president. He said that old ideas, such as hate, anger, revenge and retribution, are part of Trump’s policies.
“My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are: It’s about how old our ideas are,” Biden said.
He said that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was a threat to democracy and that Trump wishes to bury the truth about that day.
“You can’t love your country only when you win,” Biden said.
Biden reminded Congress of their oath to protect against any and all threats, “foreign and domestic,” saying that political violence cannot be used.
Invited guests Latorya Beasley and Kate Cox were mentioned in relation to I.V.F. and abortion access in Alabama and Texas. Biden directly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson to overturn Roe v. Wade. Various women representatives in the crowd wore white in support of reproductive rights, cheering for Biden’s criticism of the Court.
“The Supreme Court majority wrote the following, and with all due respect justices, ‘Women are not without electoral, electoral power’–excuse me–‘electoral or political power,’” Biden said. “You’re about to realize just how much you got right about that.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of democracy and all the endurances he has seen since the beginning of his career. Biden summarized his speech and said he has hope for the future of America.
“You’re the reason we’ve never been more optimistic about our future than I am now,” Biden said. “So let’s build the future together. Let’s remember who we are.”
Jenene Grover is the politics reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact News Editor Alyssa Williams and Assistant News Editor Zoe Naylor, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.
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