President Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday evening drew both praise and criticism from politicians and commentators across the political spectrum. With negative approval ratings and trailing former President Trump in the latest polling average, Biden took a critical tone as he targeted Trump and Republican lawmakers during his speech.
Biden wasted no time in attacking his predecessor, referring to him only as “his predecessor” and accusing him of allowing Putin to do as he pleased. This marked the first of thirteen references to Trump throughout the speech, which drew criticism from Republicans who felt it crossed the line. Bill McGurn, former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush, called it the most partisan State of the Union address he’s heard in his lifetime and accused Biden of promoting big government.
Conservative commentator Marc Theissen, another former speechwriter for Bush, called Biden’s speech an “utter disgrace” and criticized the president for starting his address in such a partisan manner. However, Dan Cluchey, a speechwriter for the Biden White House, praised the president for his energy and vigor, describing the speech as a clear choice between two different visions for the future.
Longtime Democratic consultant Maria Cardona hailed Biden’s speech for its contrast with Trump and praised the president for being energetic, direct, and eloquent. However, McGurn argued that while Biden appeared vigorous, the speech had an “angry” quality to it and accused the president of shouting and projecting outrage. Clark Judge, a former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, concurred, stating that the speech sounded angry and criticized it as a “laundry list of bad solutions.”
During his address, Biden highlighted the economic rebound under his tenure and claimed that the economy is now the envy of the world. However, polls indicate that Americans are not giving the president much credit for the easing in inflation. Biden also addressed the crisis at the southern border, an issue where he is politically vulnerable. Republican strategist Colin Reed criticized Biden for burying these important issues deep within his speech.
As the oldest president in the nation’s history, Biden acknowledged his age near the end of his address, joking that certain things become clearer with age. Seasoned Democratic strategist Chris Moyer acknowledged that Biden cannot ignore concerns about his age and commended the president for addressing it directly. Moyer also noted that the speech had a more campaign-like tone than a traditional State of the Union address but praised Biden for showing a fighting spirit and touching on popular issues.
Overall, Biden’s State of the Union address drew mixed reactions, with Republicans criticizing its partisan nature and Democrats praising the president’s energy and vision for the future. As the November showdown approaches, it remains to be seen how the speech will impact the political landscape.
