Biden repeatedly attacked his potential rival Trump in his fourth State of the Union address (French)

Washington -

 President Joe Biden took advantage of his fourth and final State of the Union address - which is widely watched by millions of Americans - to promote his election campaign and focus on attacking his rival, former President Donald Trump, at every possible opportunity.

The speech was 6,423 words long, and took more than an hour to deliver. Biden reviewed the main issues that are likely to appear in his re-election campaign.

The US President repeatedly criticized Trump, his potential opponent in the November elections, criticizing his recent comments regarding Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Biden defended abortion rights and said he would work to restore them across the country if re-elected.

The American President presented his record in the economy, and praised the huge legislation that had been passed, especially related to reducing inflation, tax cuts, legislation and initiatives, and said that it was “America’s return to building a future with American capabilities.”

Biden's words on the issue of immigration and border security came as an extension of his repeated calls for Republicans to pass strict security measures at the border.

The US President also focused on his initiatives to reduce drug prices and expand access to health insurance, in addition to proposing to expand his efforts in the field of health care.

Biden talked about how his economic initiatives support young people compared to the positions of the Republican Party, and also highlighted how he is trying to cancel student loan debt.

Threat to democracy

The American President focused a large part of his speech on what he considered a threat to American democracy at the hands of his rival Trump, and chose not to mention the former president by name, and his repeated references were to his “predecessor” and his contradictions with him on various issues and files.

The speech came two days after Biden and Trump's landslide victory in the Super Tuesday elections for both parties.

The US President responded to his critics who say he is too old for this position, and mocked the fact that Trump is also old.

While Biden was giving his speech, former President Trump was busy publishing posts on the “Truth Social” website blaming Biden for being responsible for the border crisis, and Trump described the speech as “embarrassing” to the Democrats and the United States.

After the US President finished, Katie Britt, Republican Senator from Alabama, delivered a Republican Party speech to refute Biden’s speech.

A call to Israel's leaders

Biden used his State of the Union address to emphasize his administration's full and unconditional support for Israel and its right to pursue Hamas, and noted that "Hamas can end this conflict today by releasing the hostages, laying down weapons, and handing over those responsible for October 7."

The US President addressed an appeal to Israel’s leaders, saying, “Israel also bears a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. This war has inflicted more casualties on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined, and has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, most of whom are not from Israel.” Hamas, thousands and thousands of innocent women and children."

He added, "Girls and boys have also become orphans. Nearly two million Palestinians are under bombardment or have become displaced, homes destroyed, neighborhoods under rubble, cities in ruins, families without food, water, or medicine. It is heartbreaking."

Biden is facing a growing protest within the ranks of his party against the backdrop of his absolute support for Israel (Anatolia Agency)

Temporary port

The US President announced new steps to establish a port in Gaza for humanitarian aid, which will include a temporary dock that “will provide the capacity to accommodate hundreds of additional trucks loaded with aid every day.”

Biden appealed to Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to ensure that humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire. He warned, “Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip, and protecting and saving innocent lives must be a priority.”

The American President is facing a growing protest movement within the ranks of his party, especially by Arabs and Muslims who are angry at his absolute support for Israel in its aggression against Gaza and his failure to explicitly call for a ceasefire to save civilians from bombing and starvation, as protesters are calling to abandon him in the upcoming elections.

Source: Al Jazeera