Biden Delivers Fiery State of Union Speech Attacking Trump in High-Stakes Test of His Ability to Lead

US President Joe Biden on Thursday launched a scathing attack on November presidential election rival Donald Trump during his State of the Union address and warned that his predecessor is bowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, putting America’s freedom and democracy in danger.

“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War, have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas,” Biden said.

Biden did not choose to name his rival Trump and instead chose to refer to him as “my predecessor, a former Republican president”.

The annual set-piece presidential speech was a unique chance for Biden to pitch his reelection message in front of his closest political allies and foes — and a national TV audience.

At just over an hour long, it was also a high-stakes test of his ability, at 81 and making history as the oldest ever US president, to think on his feet.

The State of the Union Speech also targeted Israel as Biden urged US’ closest ally to not use aid as a bargaining chip.

“To the leadership of Israel I say this — Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority,” Biden said in his annual State of the Union address and said the situation in Gaza is “heartbreaking”.

“I’ve been working nonstop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks. As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel. My entire career, no one has a stronger record with Israel. I challenge any of you here,” Biden said, while reiterating his support for creation of a Palestinian state, a long-term goal opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government.

Boos and Heckles

Republicans frequently booed and heckled Biden but he shot back each time, sprinkling a vigorous delivery with jokes that mocked his opponents for everything from planning to cut billionaires’ taxes to refusing to take climate change seriously.

But the US President was also heckled by members of his own party’s left-leaning leaders who tried to block the motorcade from the White House to Congress protesting his support to Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Biden also shot back at Republicans for underestimating “the power of women in America” as Democrats feel that this could be a vote-winning issue.

Biden also touted the US economy which appears to be resurgent even though many Americans say the boom has not impacted their daily lives.

“In thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” he said. “Now our economy is literally the envy of the world. Fifteen million new jobs in just three years — a record. Unemployment at 50-year lows,” Biden said.

He also accused the Republicans of not taking effective steps to reduce illegal immigration.

Ahead of the speech, Trump accused Biden of “horrific devastation” during his three years so far in office, focusing on the record numbers of migrants crossing the Mexican border.

However, in the speech, Biden sought to turn tables on Republicans on the issue, calling them out for refusing to pass a bill that would have sharply increased controls.

“We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it,” he said in response to heckling from Republican right-winger Marjorie Taylor Greene. “I’m ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now.”

The US President also pushed back on the Republican-led narrative that he is too old to serve in the White House. He said that age gave him clarity and responded to the jeers with more jokes.

“I know it may not look like it but I’ve been around a while. When you get to be my age certain things become clearer than ever. I know the American story,” Biden said.

In line with tradition, First Lady Jill Biden hosted a number of guests chosen to highlight the White House’s priorities.

This year they include a Texan woman forced to leave the state for an abortion, a woman whose IVF treatment was halted by an Alabama court ruling, and the prime minister of Sweden, which became NATO newest member on Thursday.