President Joe Biden’s third State of the Union address, on Thursday, was filled with Democratic applause, Republican jeers and a slew of headline-making moments as he sought to make the case to Americans that he deserves a second term over rival Donald Trump.
Below are some of the most notable parts of his speech, made to a joint session of Congress and watched by an expected audience of millions tuned in at home.
Republicans, responding via Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, had plenty of sharp words for Biden, too.
Biden swings at Trump, ‘insurrectionists’ over Jan. 6
The president never addressed Trump by name, but he still mentioned his predecessor more than a dozen times throughout.
“History is watching,” Biden said early on in his speech. “Just like history watched three years ago on Jan. 6 when insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger to the throat of American democracy.”
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Mar. 7, 2024, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/AP
“We must be honest, the threat to democracy must be defended. My predecessor, and some of you here, seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6,” he continued, invoking the 2021 riot when Congress gathered to certify Trump’s loss to Biden. “I will not do that. This is the moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies.”
“Here’s the simple truth: You can’t love your country only when you win,” he said.
Biden also takes aim at justices seated in front row
Biden had a message for the conservative-leaning Supreme Court justices who reversed Roe v. Wade, quoting their own opinion right back to them.
“The Supreme Court majority wrote the following, and with all due respect, justices — ‘Women are not without electoral or political power,'” Biden said.
“You’re about to realize just how much you were right about that,” he said, prompting cheers from Democrats and officials in his administration — some of whom towered over the justices as they rose to their feet to applaud.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts along with Associate Justices (L-R) Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson (back) stand in the House of Representatives ahead of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC, Mar. 7, 2024.
Shawn Thew/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The court’s opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, also said: “Our decision returns the issue of abortion to those legislative bodies, and it allows women on both sides of the abortion issue to seek to affect the legislative process by influencing public opinion, lobbying legislators, voting, and running for office.”
Since the decision to end Roe’s nationwide guarantees to abortion access, the issue has become a prominent theme on the campaign trail and votes to protect abortion rights have succeed in a number of both red and blue states. Biden has also pushed for Congress to codify Roe’s guidelines into federal law.
The members of the court, in keeping with tradition, did not react to Biden’s comments.
The House Democratic Women’s Caucus also focused on abortion access: They wore all-white outfits, for women’s rights, and “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” pins.
Women members of the House of Representatives, pose for photos before President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Mar. 7, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Biden picks up Laken Riley pin as he expresses condolences
As Biden arrived in the House chamber and greeted lawmakers on his way to the dais, he encountered Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — a vocal critic — who handed him a pin remembering Laken Riley, a nursing student, whose homicide has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate.
“Say her name,” Greene, clad in a MAGA red baseball cap, told Biden as he passed her.
Biden later picked up the pin as he discussed Riley’s death, noting the suspect is a Venezuelan migrant whom officials say was illegally in the U.S.
“To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself. I understand,” he said.
Biden went on to call the suspect, Jose Ibarra, an “illegal,” echoing rhetoric that federal officials have moved away from as divisive. That comment quickly drew notice and some criticism of its own from other Democrats.
President Joe Biden holds up a Laken Riley button as he delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Mar. 7, 2024, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Republicans and Biden spar — again
Biden’s comments about Riley and his remarks about the border prompted Republican backlash.
In one lengthy back-and-forth, Biden hammered GOP lawmakers for rejecting a bipartisan proposal to make immigration changes and tighten border security alongside billions of dollars in new foreign aid. Republicans like Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson insist the agreement, despite its scope, is insufficient to fix the problem of high illegal immigration.
As Biden listed what the bill would accomplish, and who had supported it, he was met with boos from conservatives in the chamber.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls out as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol, on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
At times his response was sarcastic: “Oh, you don’t like that bill, huh? That conservatives got together and said was a good bill? I’ll be darned, that’s amazing.”
Eventually he concluded with an ultimatum. “I’m ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now.”
It was a déjà vu moment of sorts, as Republicans heckled Biden at last year’s State of the Union — and he quickly responded with ad-libbed remarks.
Father of Marine killed in Afghanistan removed after shouting during speech
Another interruption came not from a member of Congress but from an invited guest.
A man sitting in the upper area of the House chamber appeared to yell about the Marines who were killed in the Abbey Gate bombing at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
A heckler yells out as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol, on March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
After the address was over, the man was identified as Steven Nikoui, the father of a Marine who died in the attack.
Nikoui was arrested for disrupting Congress, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
ABC News’ Luke Barr contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address on March 1, 2022, outlining his administration’s accomplishments and priorities for the year ahead. The speech covered a wide range of topics, from the economy and healthcare to foreign policy and national security. Here are the top 5 highlights from President Biden’s State of the Union address:
1. COVID-19 Response: President Biden highlighted the progress that has been made in the fight against COVID-19, including the successful rollout of vaccines and the administration’s efforts to provide testing and treatment to those in need. He also announced new initiatives to combat the virus, such as expanding access to vaccines for children and investing in research to develop new treatments.
2. Economic Recovery: The President emphasized his administration’s efforts to rebuild the economy in the wake of the pandemic, including the passage of the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. He outlined plans to create more jobs, lower costs for families, and invest in clean energy and manufacturing to strengthen the economy for the long term.
3. Climate Change: President Biden reiterated his commitment to addressing climate change and transitioning to a clean energy economy. He announced new initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy sources, and create green jobs. The President also called on Congress to pass legislation to combat climate change and protect the environment for future generations.
4. Foreign Policy: President Biden discussed his administration’s efforts to strengthen alliances and promote democracy around the world. He highlighted the importance of standing up to authoritarian regimes, such as Russia and China, and supporting countries that are fighting for freedom and human rights. The President also reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO and other international partnerships.
5. Unity and Bipartisanship: In his address, President Biden called for unity and bipartisanship in Congress to address the challenges facing the country. He urged lawmakers to work together to pass legislation on key issues, such as healthcare, immigration, and gun violence prevention. The President emphasized the need for both parties to come together to find common ground and move the country forward.
Overall, President Biden’s State of the Union address highlighted his administration’s accomplishments and priorities for the year ahead. From COVID-19 response to economic recovery and climate change, the President outlined a vision for a stronger, more united America. It remains to be seen how Congress will respond to his proposals, but one thing is clear: President Biden is committed to leading the country through these challenging times with a focus on unity and progress.
