AreaRead the video transcript hereunfold
Joe Biden, US President
“We are the United States of America!”
A week after Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden also gave his annual State of the Union address.
And he immediately made it clear that he deals with the Kremlin leader differently than his likely challenger Donald Trump.
Joe Biden, US President
"It wasn't long ago when a Republican president, Ronald Reagan, thundered: 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!' Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, is saying to Putin: 'Do 'what the hell you want.' That's a quote!
A former president actually said that.
Bowing to a Russian leader.
I think this is outrageous, dangerous and unacceptable.”
Biden also found pithy words about the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, shortly after Trump lost the presidential election.
Joe Biden, US President
»My predecessor and some of you here are trying to bury the truth about January 6th.
I won't do that.
This is the moment to tell the truth and bury the lies.
Here's the simple truth: You can't love your country only when you win."
Biden's messages: After an election victory, he will not abandon Ukraine.
He wants to reintroduce the general right to abortion.
In general, Biden seemed to be in a good mood on the day of his important speech.
Joe Biden, US President:
“Does anyone really think that the tax code is fair?”
MP:
“No!”
Joe Biden, US President:
“Do you really think the rich and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax break?”
MP:
“No!”
Joe Biden, US President:
»Definitely not me!
I will continue to fight hard for justice.
Under my plan, no one making less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in federal taxes.
Nobody, not a penny.”
He didn't even mention his opponent Donald Trump by name.
Not even when it comes to the particularly controversial topic of immigration policy.
Joe Biden, US President:
"I will not demonize immigrants and claim that they are poisoning the blood of our country."
When the Republicans heckled him, he became combative:
Joe Biden, US President:
»In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators.
The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest border security reforms we have ever seen.
(MPs boo)
Joe Biden, US President:
“Oh, you don’t believe that?
You don't like the bill, do you?
That the Conservatives got together and said it was a good bill?
Damn, that's amazing!
The Border Patrol Union has endorsed this bill.
The Federal Chamber of Commerce… Yes, yes.
They always say no, look at the facts.
I know you can read.”
And then Biden responded ironically to the main criticism of his renewed candidacy.
Joe Biden, US President:
"It may not look like it, but I've been around for a while."
Many Americans, including Democrats, fear that at 81, Biden is simply too old for a second term.
Donald Trump is four years younger.
Space for a counterattack.
Joe Biden, US President:
»The
problem of our nation is not how old we are, but how old our ideas are.
Throughout my career I have been told that I am too young.
Sometimes they wouldn't even let me into the Senate elevators to vote.
No joke.
Then I was told I was too old.
Whether young or old, I always knew what lasted.
I know our North Star: America's founding idea that we are all equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.
We never fully embraced this idea, but we never deviated from it either.
And I won’t do that now either.”