US President Joe Biden vowed in his State of the Union address to “get the job done” to rebuild the economy and unite the nation.
In his 73-minute speech, the US President touched on issues such as post-China climate change, the war in Ukraine, the economy, welfare and police reform.
Some of his speeches caused a stir. Republican Marjorie Taylor Green shouted “liar!” after Biden said: “Instead of letting the rich pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to disappear. I’m not saying it’s the majority.”
Here are the main points of his speech:
“To finish work”
He said the words about 13 times during his speech, using the phrase to urge politicians to support his government’s work in areas such as lowering the cost of insulin, fighting climate change, raising taxes on the rich and corporations, and banning offensive weapons. .
“People sent us a clear signal. Fight for fight, strength for power, conflict for the sake of conflict, that’s not going to get us anywhere,” Biden said. “And that has always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to restore the backbone of America – the middle class – to restore to unite the country.
“We were sent here to get the job done!” He said.
police reform
Biden used State of the Union to address the nationwide policing debate rekindled by the death of Tyre Nichols.
“Imagine having to worry about your son or daughter coming home from walking down the street, playing in the park, or just driving,” he said. “I never had to talk to my kids – Bo, Hunter and Ashley – like I do to many black and brown families.”
Biden expressed reverence for Nichols’ mother, Rowan Wells, who after his death spoke of her son’s “beautiful soul” and hoped “something good will come of it.”
He also received double applause when he called most law enforcement officers “good, decent people” but added that “when police or police departments violate public trust, we must hold them accountable.”
Chinese diplomacy
Biden promised to “defend our country from threats to sovereignty” but also said he would work with Beijing.
“I am committed to working with China where we can advance American interests and benefit the world,” Biden said. “But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And that’s what we did.”
Speaking of the spy balloon shot down over the Atlantic, Biden said: “As we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And that’s what we did.”
To be close to Ukraine “as much as necessary”.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova was one of the guests of the address to Congress. Biden told her that she “represents not only her nation, but the courage of her people.”
“Ambassador, America is united in our support for your country,” Biden said, looking at her in the stands. “We’ll stay with you for as long as it takes.”
He also praised Congress for giving Ukraine what it needs to counter Russia’s relentless aggression. Since the start of the war, the US has already provided almost $30 billion in security assistance.
“Tired of playing for suckers”
Joe Biden has previously said that billionaires should pay at least 20% in taxes instead of the current 8%.
In his speech today, he once again challenged the billionaires. “No billionaire should pay a lower tax than a school teacher or a firefighter,” he said to applause.
He also criticized airlines for treating their passengers as “boobs”.
The president said he would ban airlines from charging families for sitting together and said children would be treated like luggage. He wants to ban hidden resort fees from hotels and fines from cell phone operators.
“Americans are tired of being played as suckers,” he said.
Woke Fantasys – Republican response
Speaking to State of the Union, Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused the president of pursuing “daytime fantasies.”
Speaking at the governor’s mansion in Little Rock, Arkansas Gov. Sanders and former Donald Trump spokesman said, “Reaping the rewards of its failures, the Biden administration appears to be more interested in fantasy than in the harsh realities” that Americans face every day. . day. .
“Most Americans just want to live in freedom and peace, but we’re under attack from a left-wing culture war that we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”
Source: I News
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.