President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address: A Call for Cooperation and a Blueprint to Rebuild America

In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden touted his accomplishments during his first two years in office and laid out his plans for the future. Biden spoke before a divided Congress for the first time since the Republican Party took control of the House.

The President spoke of his desire to find common ground with Republicans and highlighted some of their least popular policy proposals. He also discussed measures to create a “safer Europe” in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his “once-in-a-generation infrastructure law,” and a measure to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

Biden also promised to “finish the job” on what he dubbed a “blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America.” He noted that even Republicans who voted against infrastructure law projects will still be funded.

The President has yet to formally announce his bid for re-election, but it is widely expected. Some lawmakers in the audience saw the speech as something of a soft launch.

The State of the Union address was Biden’s first since taking office in January 2021. He spoke for an hour and 12 minutes from the House chamber, emphasizing the potential for cooperation between the two parties.

Biden’s speech was met with a standing ovation from Democrats and polite applause from Republicans. It remains to be seen how his plans will be received by the public and if they will help him secure a second term in office.