Biden stumbles as he opens State of the Union
President Joe Biden fumbled at the top of his State of the Union address, trying to make a joke about wife Jill going to the Super Bowl without him, messing up Chuck Schumer’s Senate title and complimenting Kevin McCarthy after previously calling Republicans as MAGA extremists.
The president tried to improvise a bit as he took the stage in the Chamber of the House to address the nation.
After greeting Jill Biden, who was sitting in a coffin overlooking the floor of the house, Biden tried to joke with Chief Justice John Roberts about the first lady’s upcoming trip to the Superbowl, where her Philadelphia Eagles would face the Kansas City Chiefs. to play.
“By the way, Chief Justice – I may need an injunction,” he said, deviating from his prepared remarks. ‘She can go to the competition next week. I have to stay home. I have to work something out here.’
He also gave McCarthy, who presided over his first State of the Union address as speaker, a backhand compliment.
‘Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you,” the president said.
In other sittings, Biden has labeled Donald Trump supporters like McCarthy as “extremists” in the Republican Party. “This is not your father’s Republican Party,” he has said repeatedly in the past.
McCarthy, for his part, seemed to mentally wander during Biden’s remarks and often seemed to struggle to pay attention. Seated directly behind the president was the speaker for most of Biden’s on-camera comments.
President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address
The president, who stutters, also struggled to greet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom he called Minority Leader, which was Schumer’s old title.
“Chuck Schumer — another, you know, another term is, was this Minority Leader in the Senate. You know, I think you always have a slightly larger majority. Mr. Leader,” he said.
Schumer, sitting in the House chamber, raised a finger, indicating the one-seat majority the Democrats have in the Senate.
“You are the majority leader,” Biden said, finally getting his title correct. “But so much bigger.”
During his speech, Biden used some of his favorite tactics to make a point: sometimes whispering and raising his voice to yell at others.
But at several points he struggled to get his words out.
He fumbled as he tried to warn Republicans not to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act—its multibillion-dollar social programs—when Democrats controlled Congress.
“Now some members here are threatening – and I know it’s not an official party position – so I’m not going to exaggerate, but definitely repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. … As my football coaches like to say, good luck in your senior year,” he said.
But eventually he got his message: “Make no mistake…I’ll veto it.”
Biden’s remarks praised his economic record and pushed for more bipartisan legislation, such as the Infrastructure Act and the CHIPS Act.
The president has not announced that he will seek another term, but said he plans to do so. He is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming weeks. And his State of the Union address will be seen as an argument why he should get another four years in the White House.
Biden will take his sales job on the road. He goes to Wisconsin on Wednesday and to Florida on Thursday.
Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as she arrives in the House chamber for the State of the Union address
First lady Jill Biden arrives at the State of the Union address; second lord Doug Emhoff stands next to her
President Joe Biden in the presidential limousine known as the Beast on his way to the Capitol
Bono greets Paul Pelosi – the two men sit next to each other in Jill Biden’s box
Against the backdrop of Biden’s comments, the fight to raise the debt limit continues. Republicans want to cut federal spending in exchange for raising the country’s $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. Biden wants it increased without conditions.
The fight appears to be his first major policy battle with Republicans since they took control of the House. Both parties have until the end of June to reach an agreement.
In addition, the Federal Reserve has been slowly raising interest rates to try and curb rising inflation. The consumer price index fell from almost 9% year on year in June to less than 6.5% in December.
Gasoline prices that hit $5 a gallon in the summer were below $3.50 this week.
The president’s approval rating hovers around 40% going into Tuesday night.
The Capitol is ready to receive him. Protective fences have been placed around the building over the weekend and the streets around it will be closed during the speech.
Additional chairs were brought to the House floor to accommodate the 100 senators, Supreme Court justices, cabinet members and other officials who will be in attendance.
Television cameras are located in Statuary Hall, a little further down the House room from which Biden will speak. Lawmakers will flood the room after Biden’s address to voice their opinions.
Behind him is Kevin McCarthy in his role as speaker for the first time. Biden’s new bete noir will set the room in order and introduce the president.
GOP leaders on Tuesday issued a blunt warning to their lawmakers to behave while the president speaks, reminding them that cameras and microphones will be on throughout the event.
The US Capitol is seen through security fences erected before President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress during the annual State of the Union Address
Workers move extra chairs to the House Chamber for the speech
US military V-22 Osprey aircraft fly past the Capitol on the night of the State of the Union address
US Capitol Police officers gather outside the Capitol
The presidential limousine is on the South Lawn in front of the White House prior to Biden’s departure for Capitol Hill
The president’s speech will consist of two contrasting elements: his “agenda for unity,” which the administration hopes will have bipartisan support. It focuses on issues they feel they can work with Republicans on: tackling the problem of illegal drugs; quit smoking; helping veterans and cancer patients; and greater access to mental health care.
But Biden will also offer ideas that show how he and the Republicans differ. He will call on Congress to raise taxes on the wealthy, give more federal aid to those in need, and guarantee protections for Social Security and Medicare.
He will again advocate for a “minimum tax for billionaires.” In the past, Biden has proposed a 20% levy on households with a net worth of more than $100 million.
Lawmakers will be divided for Biden when he speaks — Republicans to his left and Democrats to his right. Members of the cabinet, the Joint Chiefs and the diplomatic corps will attend the speech.
Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a white balloon through the halls of Congress amid criticism of Biden over his handling of the Chinese spy balloon
Earlier Tuesday, McCarthy warned his GOP conference members to behave, making it clear he didn’t want any shenanigans on the House floor.
Lawmakers were reminded that boom mics will be on so “people’s conversations are picked up and everything you read on your phone” can be seen through a camera lens, a GOP lawmaker said.
The speaker also pledged to behave and not cause “theater,” specifically saying that he will not do as Nancy Pelosi did during Donald Trump’s last State of the Union address and tear up the text of the speech.
“I don’t believe in the theatrical art of tearing up speeches,” he said in a video posted to his Twitter account. “I respect the other side.”
Last year, Republican Delegates Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado repeatedly interrupted and harassed Biden during his remarks.
On Tuesday, Greene was spotted walking the halls of Congress with a white balloon as Republicans slammed Biden’s treatment of a suspected Chinese “spy balloon” that flew over several US states before finally being shot down on Saturday.
She didn’t take it to the House chamber for Biden’s speech.