World Courant
Washington, DC – US President Joe Biden has praised his administration’s financial document and sought to distinguish himself from his predecessor Donald Trump as he delivered his third State of the Union deal with simply months earlier than the US presidential election.
Throughout a joint session of Congress on Thursday night, Democratic President Trump repeatedly lashed out however didn’t point out his Republican rival by identify.
“My objective tonight is to get up Congress and warn the American those who this isn’t an strange second,” Biden mentioned, warning that “freedom and democracy are beneath assault each at residence and overseas.”
Latest polls present Biden and Trump neck-and-neck of their pursuit of the White Home, and their looming rematch in November’s presidential election forged a big shadow over Thursday’s State of the Union deal with.
The speech supplied a key platform for Biden, who continues to face questions over whether or not he’s match sufficient to hunt a second time period, in addition to protests over his staunch assist for Israel regardless of the lethal navy offensive within the Gaza Strip.
Listed here are 5 key takeaways from his 2024 State of the Union deal with.
US to construct ‘short-term pier’ to spice up help to Gaza
Biden, who has confronted intense criticism for months for his unwavering assist for Israel throughout the Gaza conflict, introduced that his administration would construct a “short-term pier” off the coast of the Palestinian territory to facilitate the supply of help.
The pier will have the ability to obtain “giant shipments of meals, water, medication and short-term shelter,” Biden mentioned throughout his speech, with out specifying how lengthy it might take to arrange the pier.
The measure comes every week after the US airlifted 36,000 meals to lots of of 1000’s of ravenous individuals in northern Gaza.
However the Biden administration has dominated out conditional help or halting arms transfers to Israel to stress it to permit extra help to Gaza, insisting its assist for the US ally stays “rock strong”.
Critics of Biden’s place mentioned the Gaza pier would seemingly fail to alleviate the territory’s rising starvation disaster. Israel has blocked help deliveries because it continues its navy offensive.
“It simply appears to be an try to distract from the actual downside right here, which is that 700,000 individuals in northern Gaza are ravenous, and Israel isn’t permitting them the humanitarian help they want,” mentioned Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti to Al Jazeera. Biden’s deal with.
Greater than 100 protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza blocked a street resulting in the US Capitol forward of the speech on Thursday night. “What do we wish? Everlasting ceasefire. When do we wish it? Now,” they sang.
Pledges assist to Ukraine, praises pro-Israel bona fides
Whereas Biden urged Israel to permit extra help into the Gaza Strip, he emphasised that he’s a “lifelong supporter” of the US ally.
‘Nobody has a stronger demand than I do. I problem each one in all you right here,” he mentioned.
He additionally urged Congress to unblock help to Ukraine to assist the nation fend off the Russian invasion. A rising variety of Republican lawmakers have expressed opposition to the excessive price ticket of continued U.S. funding for Kiev.
“My message to President Putin, whom I’ve identified for a very long time, is straightforward: we is not going to run away. We is not going to bow. I cannot bow down,” Biden mentioned.
He additionally lashed out at Trump for saying he would inform Russia to “do no matter they need” in opposition to a NATO nation that is not spending sufficient on protection. “A former president truly mentioned that, bowing to a Russian chief,” Biden mentioned throughout his speech.
“I feel it is scandalous. It’s harmful and unacceptable.”
Biden attacked Putin and Trump throughout his speech (Shawn Thew/Pool through Reuters)
Distinction with Republican rival Trump
Biden has lengthy sought to painting himself as a bulwark defending American democracy from Trump and the previous Republican president’s Make America Nice Once more (MAGA) base — and that was a serious theme once more Thursday night.
A mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, in an try to cease Congress from certifying Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump additionally faces two felony expenses associated to his efforts to overturn the election outcomes.
Throughout his State of the Union deal with, Biden lashed out at his Republican rival a number of occasions.
“My predecessor and a few of you right here try to bury the reality about January 6 – I will not try this,” Biden mentioned. “This is the easy reality: You’ll be able to’t love your nation simply by successful.”
Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from the US Capitol, mentioned Biden talked about Trump no less than 10 occasions throughout his speech, calling him “my predecessor.”
“It was truly extra of a marketing campaign speech than a State of the Union speech,” Halkett mentioned. “It was uncommon in the truth that (Biden) not solely talked about him as soon as, however he continued to say him all through your complete speech on each matter that was talked about.”
US Home Speaker Mike Johnson, proper, and Vice President Kamala Harris stand within the Home chamber forward of US Biden’s speech (Shawn Thew/Pool through Reuters)
Abortion, reproductive rights
Biden has additionally sought to differentiate himself and his Democratic Get together from American conservatives who celebrated a 2022 Supreme Courtroom resolution overturning Roe v Wade. This landmark ruling had established the constitutional proper to abortion within the US for many years.
Republican-led states handed a slew of abortion restrictions and bans after Roe was overturned, sparking outrage. The difficulty resonates with many Democratic voters who’ve continued to name for entry to abortion and reproductive well being care.
On Thursday night time, Biden vowed to defend abortion entry nationwide.
“When you, the American individuals, ship me a Congress that helps the precise to decide on, I’ll reinstate Roe v Wade because the legislation of the land,” he mentioned.
Citing latest election victories for Democrats since abortion rights have been withdrawn, the US president additionally mentioned ladies’s “electoral energy” will assist his get together win votes once more in November.
He additionally blamed Trump for the autumn of Roe; the Republican president appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Courtroom who helped overturn authorized precedent.
Economic system, financial system, financial system
A lot of Biden’s speech targeted on home points, chief amongst them his administration’s dealing with of the financial system.
The US president mentioned he inherited an financial system “on the brink” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic however that his insurance policies helped revive it. “Now our financial system is actually the envy of the world – 15 million new jobs in simply three years,” he mentioned.
Biden additionally made a nod to American unions and the American center class, whereas emphasizing that he plans to make sure that corporations pay their justifiable share.
“I’m a capitalist. Do you need to make one million or thousands and thousands of {dollars}? That’s superb. Simply pay your justifiable share of taxes,” he mentioned. “A good tax code is how we make investments to make this nation nice.”
5 Key Takeaways from Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Deal with | Joe Biden information
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