State of the Union replay: Joe Biden hits hard; Katie Britt gives intense response
President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address on Thursday, his last before the 2024 presidential election.
The president addressed a sweeping range of issues facing the nation and the world, from providing aid for Ukraine to expanding abortion rights. Overall, Biden told Americans from coast to coast that "The state of our union is strong and getting stronger.”
But as the president seeks another term in office, he also repeatedly hit former President Donald Trump, whom he only referred to as his "predecessor."
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., delivered the Republican response to Biden's remarks after he wrapped up his speech, highlighting conservative priorities during a close election year.
Catch up with the USA TODAY Network's coverage of the State of the Union.
Takeaways from Biden’s State of the Union
President Joe Biden called on Americans to look to "the future" and not return to the politics of his predecessor in a State of the Union address that served as the kickoff to a general election rematch against Donald Trump.
He began his address with an immediate attack on Trump by casting the fight ahead as one to preserve "freedom and democracy" ? the central theme of his candidacy. Biden made restoring abortion rights a major theme of his speech, blaming Trump for the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 by appointing three justices who tilted the court's conservative majority.
He also addressed challenges both at home and abroad, getting into a heated confrontation with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., over the border and calling on Israel to “do its part” in sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
-- Joey Garrison
Joe Biden, Donald Trump troll each other during SOTU speech
He never mentioned Donald Trump by name. But President Joe Biden was quick to go after his “predecessor” and “the last administration” Thursday during the State of the Union address, hammering Trump on everything from Russia policy to abortion, taxes and the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Trump started jabbing Biden hours before he entered the House chamber, where he delivered his speech. Trump complained about Biden being late when the event didn’t start on time and kept up his “Play by Play” throughout much of the speech.
For instance, at one point in the speech, Biden accused Trump of trying to “bury the truth about Jan. 6” to which Trump defended Jan. 6 participants on Truth Social and repeated unfounded claims of election fraud.
-- Zac Anderson and Michael Collins
‘Remember Abbey Gate’ man yelling interrupts SOTU speech
Approximately one hour into the speech, in which Joe Biden drew sharp contrasts between himself and the Republican Party, a person began shouting causing the President to pause briefly. “Remember Abbey Gate! US Marines!” the protester shouted.
Abbey Gate is a reference to a 2021 suicide bombing during the evacuation of Afghanistan.
The protester was handcuffed and arrested after being escorted out by security from the House gallery as seen in a photo shared with USA TODAY.
-- James Powel, Jeanine Santucci, Tom Vanden Brook, Ken Tran
House Republican: Joe Biden's energy was 'high' despite age
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., said he was impressed by Joe Biden's energy on Thursday night, despite his age. The Montana lawmaker remarked that the president's energy was notably "high."
Zinke's reaction to his address is a stark contrast to Republicans who have repeatedly attacked Biden, 81, over his age. Prior to Biden's address, several House Republicans joked they wanted to see a "coherent" message from the president.
– Ken Tran
'We want families to grow'
Katie Britt addressed a number of conservative priorities on Thursday, from addressing inflation to curbing TikTok.
But the Alabama lawmaker also discussed IVF in the wake of her home state's Supreme Court decision earlier this year.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month that frozen embryos are children and that people can be held legally responsible if they are destroyed. The decision rocked families and medical providers across the country.
"We want families to grow" Britt said of herself and her Republican colleagues. "It's why we strongly support continued, nationwide access to invitro fertilization. We want to help loving moms and dads bring precious life into this world."
– Marina Pitofsky
Katie Britt zeroes in on Joe Biden's border policy
Katie Britt on Thursday said the American dream "has turned into a nightmare for so many families."
"President Biden's border policies are a disgrace. This crisis is despicable. And the truth is, it is almost entirely preventable," she said.
Britt told the story of a Texas woman who was trafficked by drug cartels. She also referenced Laken Riley, a Georgia woman who was killed. An undocumented immigrant has been charged following her death.
"Mr. President, enough is enough. Innocent Americans are dying, and you only have yourself to blame."
– Marina Pitofsky
Katie Britt hits Joe Biden in Republican SOTU response
Katie Britt kicked off her response to Joe Biden's State of the Union address by calling the president a "permanent politician," referring to him as "out of touch."
"Under his administration, families are worse off," Britt said.
– Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden addresses concerns about his age
Joe Biden ended his speech by addressing Americans' well-documented concerns about his age, cracking a joke.
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while,” he quipped.
The president said he is still up to the task, citing his experience and wisdom. He seemed to draw a direct comparison to his predecessor and opponent, alluding to his belief that he and Donald Trump think different core values define America.
“My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy... Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality,” he said. “Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution.”
Biden also highlighted his decades of experience in politics, reminding viewers that there was a time in his career when people told him he was “too young.”
“Whether young or old, I’ve always known what endures,” he said. “The very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.”
– Rachel Barber
Standing up to China
Relations with China have stabilized – for now. But competition with the rival nation remains a top priority for the Biden administration.
“America is rising,” Joe Biden said Thursday. “We’re standing up against China’s unfair economic practices. We’re standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan straits.”
Biden said Thursday that he had revitalized U.S. alliances in the region and taken steps to protect American investments in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.
“Frankly, for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that,” Biden said.
Moments later, as Biden said that issues such as the reduction of fentanyl production and trafficking should be bipartisan, he chafed at Republicans seated in the chamber.
“You don’t want to do that huh,” he said.
– Francesca Chambers
Who yelled 'Liar!' at Joe Biden?
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., was the first Republican to accuse Joe Biden of being a 'liar' during the state of the union, according to reports.
When reached for comment, Van Orden told USA TODAY in a text message: "Who?"
– Ken Tran
Containing the “threat posed by Iran”
Joe Biden warned Houthi rebels in Yemen that the U.S. will take any means necessary to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea and minimize disruptions to global trade.
An attack by the Iranian-backed group on a shipping vessel killed three crew members on Wednesday.
The U.S. and its coalition partners are wary of escalating the conflict. They have responded to previous episodes of violence with limited airstrikes.
But the president said Thursday, that “containing the threat posed by Iran” is key to achieving stability in the region.
“As commander-in-chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and our military personnel,” Biden said.
– Francesca Chambers
Joe Biden calls for temporary cease-fire in the Middle East
Biden rebuked Israel for the high death toll in Gaza and called for a temporary cease-fire in its war with Hamas.
“Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Biden said. “Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.”
He added: “As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time.”
The bloody conflict began five months ago, to the day, when Hamas fighters kidnapped, killed and most likely engaged in “sexualized torture” of Israeli civilians, according to a U.N. report, during the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack.
Biden pledged to the families of hostages that he would not rest until their loved ones return home. The commitment drew a standing ovation from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President Kamala Harris.
And while the U.S. firmly supports Israel’s right to defend itself, Biden said, the price that innocent Palestinian women and children are paying is too high.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Biden said.
Biden pressed both sides to accept the terms of a six-week ceasefire that would bring about the release of hostages, including an unknown number of Americans, and help get higher amounts of aid into the Gaza strip.
– Francesca Chambers
Joe Biden demands assault weapon ban, touts lower crime rates.
Joe Biden told the joint session that he is demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and urged lawmakers to pass universal background checks.
“None of this violates the Second Amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners,” he said.
He acknowledged Jasmine, whose nine-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers at a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last year. Biden said families who lost their children urged him to “do something” to address gun violence.
“Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA he’s proud he did nothing on guns when he was president,” he said.
Biden claimed America is safer today than when he took office and touted his American Rescue Plan's investment in public safety.
– Rachel Looker
Protestor who interrupted Joe Biden handcuffed and arrested
The protestor who interrupted Joe Biden, yelling about Abbey, Gate was handcuffed and arrested after being escorted out by security from the House gallery as seen in a photo shared with USA TODAY.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden interrupted by a protestor
A protestor loudly interrupted Biden's speech from the House gallery overlooking the House floor, yelling about Abbey Gate. It's a reference to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which saw 13 military members killed.
The protestor was escorted out by security.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden says his "predecessor" is playing politics with border
Joe Biden talked about introducing a comprehensive plan to fix the immigration system, secure the border, and provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
The bipartisan bill, he said, would be the toughest set of border security reforms and would hire 1,500 more border security agents and officers. But Republicans killed the legislation earlier this month, even after GOP lawmakers participated in negotiations.
“But unfortunately, politics have derailed it so far,” he said. “I’m told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him."
–Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Republicans are leaving Biden's State of the Union early
In a sign of disinterest and disdain at the president's address, a handful of Republicans have slowly been trickling out of the House chamber as Joe Biden has been speaking.
– Ken Tran
Biden calls for expanded voting rights
In recognition of a dark moment in U.S. history, Biden pressed Congress to strengthen voter protections.
His speech fell on the 59th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” when Alabama police clubbed and attacked civil rights advocates with tear gas during a peaceful demonstration.
The incident was a catalyst for passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 several months later, which banned literacy tests and introduced other measures intended to help African Americans exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Biden held hands and marched with civil rights activists last year in Selma; Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech at this year’s commemorative event.
"There are forces taking us back in time. Voter suppression. Election subversion. Unlimited dark money. Extreme gerrymandering," Biden said Thursday. "It's time do to more than talk. Pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!"
– Francesca Chambers
Joe Biden pushes for a return of the expanded Child Tax Credit
Biden said he would like to see a return of the expanded Child Tax Credit he approved during the pandemic. The credit enacted as part of his American Rescue Plan was only active in 2021.
That year, the Child Tax Credit increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per child over six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under six. It also raised the age limit from 16 to 17. Working families received the full credit if they made less than $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for families with a single parent.
“Restore the Child Tax Credit because no child should go hungry in this country,” he said.
– Rachel Barber
Democrats to Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'Shut up!'
As Joe Biden railed against Republicans for killing a bipartisan border and migrant deal earlier this year, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene got into a testy back and forth with the president and yelled "It's about Laken Riley!"
Riley was found dead last month, and an undocumented migrant is accused of killing her.
Democrats immediately stood up to boo at Greene, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., was seen yelling at her to "Shut up!"
– Ken Tran
“Strong and getting stronger”
Biden sought to boost confidence in America’s future, saying on Thursday that when the country gets knocked down, it gets back up.
“We keep going. That’s America,” Biden said.
It’s because of the tenacity of the American people that Biden said he could say in his address, “The state of our union is strong and getting stronger.”
The line drew loud cheers and applause from Democrats in the chamber, who erupted in chants of “Four more years!” Republicans stayed seated.
– Francesca Chambers
Republicans jeer as Biden accuses them of cutting Social Security
Biden accused Republicans of supporting cuts to Social Security and vowed to protect the social safety net, provoking jeers and a handful of GOP members yelling "Liar!" back at the president.
"If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age I will stop them," Biden said.
If the dynamic sounds familiar, that's because it is. Biden made the same point at last year's State of the Union address, and Republicans responded the same way.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden vows to lower housing costs
To address the increasing cost of housing, Joe Biden said he wants to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next two years as mortgage rates come down.
“I know the cost of housing is so important to you,” he said.
He said the administration is also eliminating title insurance fees for federally backed mortgages so that when a homeowner refinance their home, they can save you $1,000 or more.
He also urged Congress to pass his housing plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring rents down.
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Joe Biden: ‘I want to make college more affordable’
Biden pushed for making college more affordable and urged lawmakers to continue increasing Pell grants for working and middle class families.
He acknowledged Keenan Jones, a public school educator from Minnesota, who was a guest sitting near the first lady Thursday evening.
“While we’re at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise,” he said.
Biden told the joint session that he wants to give every child a good start by providing access to preschool for three and four year olds as well as expand high quality tutoring and summer learning to increase reading levels.
“To remain the strongest economy in the world, we need to have the best education system in the world,” he said.
– Rachel Looker
Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'Tell Hunter to pay his taxes!'
When Biden spoke about raising the corporate tax rate, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., interrupted and yelled, "tell Hunter to pay his taxes!" referring to the president's son, Hunter Biden and his federal tax evasion charges.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden calls for Medicare to negotiate lower prices on 500 prescription drugs
Joe Biden touted his administration’s steps to lower the cost of insulin and other prescription drugs, noting that “for years, people have talked about it, but finally we got it done.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022, gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices directly with drug companies. As a result, Biden said, Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market.
Now it’s time to go further, he said, and give Medicare the authority to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade.
–Michael Collins
George Santos, during the State of the Union, announces he's running for reelection
During Biden's speech, embattled former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was expelled from the House for his extravagant lies and slate of criminal charges, announced he was running for reelection, challenging his fellow New Yorker, Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.
"Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick," Santos said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
– Ken Tran
IVF and Roe v. Wade take center stage
Joe Biden during his speech highlighted Latorya Beasley of Birmingham, Alabama, who was going through a round of IVF treatment when her embryo transfer was abruptly stopped after the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision treating embryos as children.
“She was told her dream would have to wait,” Biden said. “Let’s stand up for families like hers," said Biden.
He also pointed to Kate Cox, who was denied an abortion in Texas.
“Here are state laws banning the right to choose, criminalizing doctors, and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well to get the care they need,” said Biden. “Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024.”
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
UAW President Shawn Fain warms up to Joe Biden
United Auto Worker President Shawn Fain mouths "it's you," in response to accolades from Joe Biden.
It's a big turnaround: Fain and the UAW withheld an endorsement for Biden for months as the United Auto Workers pressured the administration to strengthen union rules. The union openly criticized the administration for failing to tie generous federal funding to strong labor requirements.
They finally endorsed Biden earlier this year after big contract wins in the fall.
– Riley Beggin
Donald Trump's Truth Social website is down
While Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump at length, the former president has not responded as often as expected.
His Truth Social website went down shortly after Biden began his speech.
Trump aides are weighing in often on Biden on other social media, but the candidate himself is silenced …. for now.
– David Jackson
Joe Biden: ‘My predecessor failed’ handling COVID-19 pandemic
Biden said America is on the comeback from the worst pandemic and economic crisis in the century.
“My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American people—the duty to care,” Biden said. “I think that’s unforgivable.”
Biden said the COVID-19 pandemic no longer controls our lives. And while the U.S. economy was on the brink, it’s now the “envy of the world.” He cited unemployment at record lows, an increase in small business owners, new manufacturing jobs, a decrease in inflation and increase in exporting American products.
“It doesn’t make news, but in 1,000 cities and towns, the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told," he said.
- Rachel Looker
Joe Biden condemns Jan. 6 mob attack in SOTU address
Warning that democracy is under assault, Joe Biden cited the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by a mob of Donald Trump's supporters trying to stop the certification of the 2020 election.
“The insurrectionists were not patriots,” Biden said. “They came to stop the peaceful transfer of power.”
Lies about the 2020 election and the plot to steal the election posed the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War, Biden said, “but they failed.”
Trump and some Republicans in Congress “seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6,” Biden alleged. “I will not do that.”
“Here’s the truth,” he said. “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
– Michael Collins
'Lies!' one House GOP lawmaker yells
As Joe Biden was speaking, one House Republican interjected and yelled "Lies!"
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., instructed GOP members to remain cordial throughout the address, but that message evidently didn't get through to some lawmakers.
– Ken Tran
Who is sitting behind Joe Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are sitting behind the president on Thursday. It's traditional for the vice president and speaker of the House to sit behind the president during the State of the Union.
– Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden criticizes Donald Trump's attacks on NATO
One of Biden’s few foreign policy successes since last year: the addition of Sweden to the NATO alliance.
Sweden cleared the final obstacle on Tuesday when, after more than a year of delays, the Hungarian government finally approved the nation’s membership. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson submitted the accession paperwork in Washington, D.C. hours before Biden’s evening address.
The ceremony made it convenient for Kristersson to attend the State of the Union as a guest of the White House. And it gave Biden a ready-made opportunity to juxtapose his support for the alliance that is about to celebrate its 75th anniversary with the position of likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Trump last month claimed he once told the leader of a NATO nation that Russia can do “whatever the hell” it wants countries to countries that spend less than they should on their national defense.
“We will not walk away. We will not bow down,” Biden said Thursday. “I will not bow down!”
– Francesca Chambers
Joe Biden opens remarks with call to support Ukraine aid
President Joe Biden opened his speech by declaring loudly that America stands with Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin continuing to wage war on the sovereign nation.
Biden said he hoped to "wake up the Congress" and alert the American people "this is no ordinary moment" with democracy under threat in the U.S. and abroad.
"If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not," Biden said from the House chamber. “But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons that it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking."
"They are not asking for American soldiers," Biden said. "And I'm determined to keep it that way."
A national security bill that included assistance for Ukraine cleared the Senate with bipartisan support. Facing potential blowback from conservative members of his conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson has not brought the bill for a vote.
Kyiv’s ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, and a Ukrainian soldier, Andrii Chevozorov, were present for the remarks.
– Francesca Chambers
Biden kicks off speech with a joke
As Biden reaches the podium, he quips: "If I were smart I'd go home now." House Speaker Mike Johnson, standing over Biden's left shoulder, cracks a smile.
– Riley Beggin
Democrats chant 'four more years'
As President Joe Biden made his way down the aisle in the House chamber, Democrats erupted in chants of "four more years!" dispelling at least any public perception of Democratic concerns about the president's reelection prospects.
Republicans, meanwhile, looked on silently.
– Riley Beggin and Ken Tran
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is SOTU designated survivor
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is the designated survivor for this year’s State of the Union.
A designated survivor is a Cabinet official appointed to go to a secure, undisclosed location in case a catastrophic event kills the president, vice president and other Cabinet members. The practice ensures that someone in the line of presidential succession is always available to assume the presidency if the worst-case scenario happens.
– Michael Collins
Joe Biden has arrived to applause from both sides of the aisle
Joe Biden is now on the House floor to raucous applause from Democrats – and at least some from Republicans.
Upon entering the chamber, Biden greeted Republicans and was seen in a long conversation with ultraconservative Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden's cabinet has arrived
President Joe Biden's cabinet has entered the House floor, to a lot of cheering from Democrats.
Unsurprisingly, the reception wasn't as warm from Republicans, who stood in silence besides the few who did applaud.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden bypasses protesters en route to Capitol
Biden’s motorcade arrived at the Capitol at 8:59 p.m., just 10 minutes after departing the White House.
Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked parts of Pennsylvania Avenue, a major street that connects the White House to the Capitol and is the route usually taken by the presidential motorcade when heading to the Capitol.
Reporters traveling with Biden said the motorcade took a different route that bypassed the protests.
– Michael Collins
SCOTUS arrives at State of the Union
The Supreme Court justices have arrived on the House floor ahead of Joe Biden's speech, to bipartisan applause.
Sort of.
Noticeably not as many Democrats opted to cheer compared to Republicans as the justices walked down the aisle. The court's 6-3 conservative majority has been a frequent point of criticism from Democratic lawmakers, especially after the court overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion, in 2022.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden en route to Capitol
Joe Biden’s motorcade departed the White House at 8:49 p.m. for the short ride to the Capitol, where he will deliver his State of the Union address.
–Michael Collins
GOP lawmaker wears Donald Trump T-shirt
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, one of former President Donald Trump's most outspoken supporters on Capitol Hill, is wearing a T-shirt sporting Trump's booking photo with the caption "NEVER SURRENDER" along with a bowtie with an American flag pattern.
Trump took the photo in association with the criminal charges he faces in Georgia. The former president is accused of trying to steal the 2020 election from Joe Biden in the Peach State.
– Ken Tran
Protestors host “People’s State of the Union”
A group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Middle East gathered outside the U.S. Capitol ahead of Biden’s speech for an event dubbed the “People’s State of the Union.”
Protestors attempting to block Biden’s motorcade in Washington chanted “free, free Palestine,” some wearing t-shirts that read “Biden’s legacy = genocide.”
IfNotNow, an organization made up of Jewish American activists, took credit for displaying banners calling for a cease-fire on nearby freeways earlier in the day on X, formerly known as Twitter.
– Rachel Barber
Kamala Harris, senators arrive ahead of Joe Biden's State of the Union
Vice President Kamala Harris, joined by senators, have arrived to the House floor after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the lower chamber into order to introduce them.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump polls
Now that Joe Biden and Donald Trump are expected to face off in November, where do the rivals stand in the polls?
In a hypothetical general election match-up, Trump leads Biden by 1.8 percentage points, according to a Real Clear Politics average of nationwide polls. But keep in mind that's within the margin of error of many surveys.
– Marina Pitofsky
What does SOTU mean?
If you're keeping up with Joe Biden's State of the Union address tonight, you're probably going to see four letter a lot: SOTU. If you need a primer, SOTU stands for State of the Union.
Another acronym you might see tonight: POTUS. That stands for president of the United States.
– Marina Pitofsky
Why are women wearing white at the State of the Union?
In the House chamber, where Biden is expected to speak in less than an hour, several female House Democratic lawmakers are dressed in all-white to commemorate the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.
– Ken Tran
Joe Biden expected to slam Republicans for rejecting bipartisan border deal
Joe Biden is likely to criticize Republican lawmakers on Thursday for rejecting a bipartisan border security deal that Senate conservatives killed earlier this month.
Republicans initially demanded that border security policies be attached to additional foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that Biden requested last year. After months of negotiations, a bipartisan group of senators released an agreement that would have significantly restricted asylum and created a new emergency mechanism to stop migrants from illegally entering the country.
But former President Donald Trump came out against the provisions, and many Republicans followed suit. House leaders declared it “dead on arrival” in their chamber, and Senate Republicans abandoned it when it became clear it wouldn’t get the support of a majority of their conference.
Democrats have since seized on the turnaround, arguing Republicans aren’t serious about their claims of urgency at the border. Republicans, however, are also expected to bite back: Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., is expected to say Biden “invited” the border crisis and describe it as “despicable” and “a disgrace” in prepared remarks of the formal GOP response.
– Riley Beggin
What time does the State of the Union address start?
The State of the Union address is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Joe Biden will begin addressing lawmakers and Americans across the country after he enters the halls of Congress alongside officials from all three branches of America's government.
– Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden set to address IVF after Alabama Supreme Court ruling
As Joe Biden addresses the nation Thursday in his State of the Union speech, hopeful parents and medical experts will be looking for signs that access to IVF, or in vitro fertilization is not in jeopardy.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month that frozen embryos are children and that people can be held legally responsible if they are destroyed. The court’s ruling alarmed prospective parents and IVF clinics, and the real-world consequences were immediate. At least three Alabama medical facilities halted in vitro fertilization treatments.
The issue is sure to take center stage during Biden's speech. Among the guests joining first lady Jill Biden is Latorya Beasley of Birmingham, Alabama, who was going through a round of IVF treatment when her embryo transfer was abruptly stopped after the court's decision.
There is a good chance that Biden will emphasis her experience as yet another example of how the overturning of Roe v. Wade disrupted access to reproductive health care for women and families across the country.
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
George Santos is back on Capitol Hill for State of the Union
Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was expelled from the House last year for fabricating his background and his sweeping criminal charges, is back on Capitol Hill today for the State of the Union address.
One House Republican told USA TODAY that Santos “should stay away.”
But, the Republican joked, his return is fitting since “he’s already delivered a State of the Union address,” referencing the embattled for lawmaker's lies.
– Ken Tran
What notable guests are attending the State of the Union?
Every year, invited guests are an important part of the messaging strategy for the president’s State of the Union speech. This year, the First Lady Jill Biden's guest list reflects key themes Joe Biden is expected to address, including the conflict in the Middle East, the student debt crisis, reproductive rights, and other top issues.
Among her 20 invitees are:
Shawn Fain of Detroit, Michigan. Fain is President of the United Auto Workers, the union Biden walked the picket line with last September.
Kate Cox of Dallas, Texas. Cox is a mother of two who was thrust into the national spotlight when she was denied an abortion following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Ulf Kristersson of Sweden. Kristersson is the Prime Minister of Sweden, which became the latest country to formally join the NATO Alliance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. have also invited guests.
Johnson's list includes the family members of an American IDF soldier held by Hamas, the parents of a Wall Street Journal reporter imprisoned in Russia, and conservative athletes.
Schumer's list includes a wounded Ukrainian soldier, a person who has sought IVF, and union members.
— Rachel Barber
Where to watch the State of the Union
The State of the Union will be carried by ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX on network television.
CNN, FOX News, MSNBC and NewsNation will air the address on cable.
? Gabe Hauari
Fact check: Is there a State of the Union intermission?
A March 7 Instagram post claims an adjustment was made to the schedule for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
“White House announces there will be 2 ‘intermissions’ during tonight’s State of the Union,” reads the post, which is a screenshot of a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, from former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
But the White House has made no such announcement, and Spicer said the post was a joke. USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Read more: A State of the Union intermission? False claim circulates ahead of address
– BrieAnna J. Frank
Republican response to focus on economy, border
Katie Britt will call Joe Biden “a dithering and diminished leader” during the Republican response to the State of the Union this evening, according to advance excerpts from her speech.
“America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation,” she says in prepared remarks.
The 42-year-old first-term senator also plans to touch on border security, the economy and crime, painting a picture of the country “at a crossroads,” choosing between a bright future or “an America in decline.”
Britt will speak shortly after Biden’s remarks conclude.
– Riley Beggin
Biden's crucial SOTU: Addressing age, the economy, and Donald Trump
President Joe Biden faces a pivotal State of the Union address Thursday as he looks to silence skeptics about his ability to keep serving, convince restless Americans of a strong economy and reestablish the stakes of a likely rematch against Donald Trump.
In what could be his final State of the Union address, the moment could not be much bigger for Biden, who is saddled with challenges at home and abroad.
Biden hears heckling regularly from pro-Palestinian protesters as he tries to navigate the U.S. role in the Israel-Hamas war without further alienating his liberal base.
He's been unable to assuage concerns about his age and ability to effectively serve another four years. Despite a booming stock market and historically low unemployment, Biden isn't getting credit for an economic rebound. His approval rating, already hovering in the low 40s for two years, dipped even lower in recent weeks.
– Joey Garrison
Joe Biden housing plan set for State of the Union
Times are tough for homebuyers and renters. Between high mortgage rates, lack of availability, skyrocketing home prices and dire rental prices, housing costs are devouring the American pocketbook.
With the dismal housing outlook weighing on family budgets, President Joe Biden will use his State of the Union speech Thursday to showcase plans to help Americans obtain mortgages and to push down monthly rents, according to the White House.
Biden will call on Congress to pass a mortgage relief credit that would provide first-time middle-class homebuyers an annual tax credit of $5,000 for two years.
This would effectively reduce the mortgage rate by more than 1.5 percentage points, the White House said, and will help more than 3.5 million middle-class families purchase their first home over the next two years.
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Joe Biden will address abortion rights, economy in SOTU
According to excerpts released ahead of his speech, Biden will highlight election wins in states in favor of restoring abortion rights since the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and a constitutional right to an abortion. Biden plans to campaign aggressively on abortion rights against Trump.
According to excerpts, Biden will also highlight election wins in states in favor of restoring abortion rights since the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and a constitutional right to an abortion. Biden plans to campaign aggressively on abortion rights, vowing to codify abortion rights if given a Democratic-controlled Congress.
“Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America,” Biden will say. “But they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again in 2024.”
Biden will also tout the “greatest story never told” as he talks about the nation’s economic rebound following the pandemic.
“Let’s tell that story here and now,” Biden will say. “America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up – not the top down, investing in all of America – in all Americans – to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one behind.”
– Joey Garrison
Joe Biden to reject ‘an American story of resentment, revenge and retribution’ in State of the Union
Joe Biden will say he rejects “an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution” during Thursday’s State of the Union address as he frames a general election rematch against Donald Trump.
Biden, according to excerpts released by the White House, will say his life has taught him to “embrace freedom and democracy” and values such as honesty, equality and giving everyone a fair shot.
“Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me,” Biden is expected to say.
– Joey Garrison
What is a designated survivor?
Members of Joe Biden’s Cabinet are expected to attend tonight’s speech at the U.S. Capitol, but one of them – a “designated survivor” – will be watching from a secret location.
A designated survivor is a Cabinet official appointed to go to a secure, undisclosed location in case a catastrophic event kills the president, vice president and other Cabinet members. The practice ensures that someone in the line of presidential succession is always available to assume the presidency if the worst-case scenario happens.
The White House hasn’t said who this year’s designated survivor will be. During last year’s address, the designee was Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. In 2022, it was Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
– Michael Collins
Tonight's State of the Union is happening later in the year than usual
Tonight’s State of the Union address is only the second to take place during March since 1964. The first was Biden’s speech in 2022. Last year, Biden delivered his address on Feb. 7.
Presidents have mostly delivered their State of the Union speeches in January, but some have taken place in February in recent years, according to the American Presidency Project.
This year’s scheduling allows Biden to address the American public two days after winning several state primary elections on Super Tuesday. In contrast, Trump delivered his State of the Union speech a month before Super Tuesday took place in 2020.
– Rachel Barber
House Republicans donning badges with Laken Riley's name
Ahead of Biden's State of the Union address, House Republicans are wearing pins and badges bearing Laken Riley's name. Riley was found dead last month, and an undocumented migrant is accused of killing her.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., and Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are handing out pins and badges to their fellow Republican colleagues as the GOP continues to focus on the crisis on the southern border as a messaging point against Biden.
– Ken Tran
How long have previous State of the Unions lasted?
State of the Union speeches typically range from about 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes. Biden’s previous addresses each lasted more than an hour. In 2022, he spoke for just over an hour and in 2023 he spoke for an hour and 13 minutes, according to the American Presidency Project.
Former President Richard Nixon delivered the shortest State of the Union address in 1972, speaking for under 29 minutes. Former President Bill Clinton holds the record for the longest State of the Union speech. During his 1995 and 2000 addresses, he spoke for close to an hour and a half.
Biden is the most talkative president in recent memory in terms of the actual number of words spoken in his speeches.
– Rachel Barber
How can I stream the State of the Union?
The State of the Union address will be streamed on the USA TODAY YouTube channel and through the USA TODAY channel on your smart television.
– James Powel
State of the Union bingo: Everything you need to play during Joe Biden's speech
It's time to play State of the Union bingo! You know ? the game where you play along as Joe Biden gives his annual address to the nation.
In his State of the Union address, Biden is expected to speak about domestic and international challenges. We've done our best guess to compile a list, or rather bingo cards, of talking points or phrases Biden probably will use.
Pick a card and cross off a square every time Biden brings up one of the statements or terms to claim political victory over your opponents.
Who is Katie Britt?
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., will deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Thursday evening.
But who is the first-term lawmaker? Britt, 42, is the youngest Republican woman to ever be elected to the upper chamber and is considered a rising star among a party dominated by older men. On Thursday night, she'll also offer a contrast to President Joe Biden, the oldest sitting president in American history.
She has two children still in middle and high school and said in a statement ahead of the speech that the Republican Party is the party of "hard-working parents and families."
Britt's speech will come just over two weeks after the Supreme Court in her home state issued a decision that rocked families across the country: The Alabama high court determined that frozen embryos used in IVF are children and have legal protections under state law.
– Riley Beggin
Joe Biden’s State of the Union address to focus on four themes
The White House briefed Democratic congressional aides on Thursday morning about Joe Biden’s address and outlined key themes of his speech, according to a person in the briefing. A slideshow, shared with USA TODAY, was presented to staffers read out four themes:
Progress and possibility
Defend democracy and freedom
Economy from middle out, bottom up
Move the country forwards, not backwards
The presentation also alluded to the presidential election and former President Donald Trump. Another slide in the presentation read that the “key message” after Biden’s address will be that “there’s a clear contrast” and “competing visions for the country.”
– Ken Tran
Donald Trump to prod Joe Biden during State of the Union
Rest assured: The 2024 Republican frontrunner will not stay silent during Biden's speech tonight.
Donald Trump says he and his staff will provide running (critical) commentary on social media as Biden delivers the State of the Union.
"We did this once before to tremendous success," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. The former president on Thursday also put out a "prebuttal" video statement, mostly hitting Biden over immigration and border security.
? David Jackson
How long is SOTU?
Last year, President Biden spoke for one hour and 13 minutes according to UC Santa Barbara's "American Presidency Project." The shortest State of the Union address (00:28:55) was given by President Richard Nixon in 1972. Bill Clinton gave the longest-ever State of the Union address (01:28:49) in 2000.
More than a speech: 5 things Biden really needs to do in the State of the Union
It's not just what he'll say to a joint session of Congress Thursday. It's also how he looks and sounds to perhaps his biggest TV audience of the year.
? Carli Pierson
What is the State of the Union? Why is it important?
The State of the Union address isn’t just a tradition in the nation’s capital. It's rooted in the Constitution.
Article II of the Constitution says the president shall “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union."
That doesn’t mean the president has to give a speech – as they often do today.
"From that very general mandate in the Constitution has evolved into what we recognize today as a yearly event, with lots of pomp and circumstance," Claire Jerry, a curator of political history at the National Museum of American History, previously told USA TODAY.
Jerry said the State of the Union often provides a spotlight for the president to reference values such as unity or American innovation. She said it also provides a "unique opportunity for Americans and people around the world to see how this checks and balances system of our government works."
– Marina Pitofsky
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State of the Union replay: Biden's fiery SOTU, Britt's response
