However Biden adlibbed some mocking traces as he delivered an upbeat and feisty speech putting a populist tone.
Biden was jeered by Republicans when he touted his personal file in opposition to Trump, albeit with out mentioning the previous president’s title.
“Within the final two years, my administration lower the deficit by greater than US$1.7 trillion – the most important deficit discount in American historical past,” he stated.
“Below the earlier administration, America’s deficit went up 4 years in a row.”
“Due to these file deficits, no president added extra to the nationwide debt in any 4 years than my predecessor.”
He famous the Congress underneath the Trump administration raised the debt ceiling thrice with out precondition, one thing the Republicans in energy at present have refused to do.
And a few Republicans began shouting at him when he stated a few of them wished to sundown outdated age pensions.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a conservative firebrand, stood up and shouted “liar”.
At different occasions, he was heckled by different members of the Republican congress.
However the president went off-script in response to their jeers, difficult them to vote to assist strengthening pensions.
At one level he ad-libbed his high-school soccer coach with a sarcastic apart to Republicans: “Good luck in your senior yr.”
However a lot of Biden’s speech centred on populist home insurance policies.
He started his speech with a name for bipartisanship in Congress, which is now partly managed by Republicans.
“Mr Speaker, I do not wish to wreck your popularity, however I sit up for working with you,” he stated to Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
However for a lot of the State of the Union, many of the Republican facet of the chamber remained seated as Biden’s fellow Democrats gave a number of standing ovations.
However he could not assist however flip a gesture of conciliation right into a refined jab on the Republicans.
He stated he would nonetheless fund tasks within the districts of Republicans who voted in opposition to his infrastructure invoice.
“We’ll fund your tasks. And I will see you on the ground-breaking,” he stated with a cheeky grin.
He referred to as for the worth of insulin to be capped at US$35 per vial for everyone, tons of lower than what tens of millions are at present charged.
In calling for more cash to pay for infrastructure combating local weather change, he referred to as for increased taxes on the wealthiest.
“I am a capitalist. However simply pay your fair proportion,” Biden stated.
“No billionaire ought to pay a decrease tax charge than a faculty instructor or a firefighter.”
He referred to as for the tax on inventory buybacks to be quadrupled to inspire massive companies to spend their income on investments.
Biden additionally touted his proposed “Junk Charge Prevention Act”, which might ban shock prices for issues like resorts, cellphone payments and live performance tickets.
“We’ll prohibit airways from charging as much as $50 roundtrip for households simply to take a seat collectively.
“Baggage charges are unhealthy sufficient – they can not simply deal with your baby like a chunk of bags.”
“People are uninterested in being performed for suckers.”
Biden cited the case of Tyre Nichols, a Memphis man who was overwhelmed to loss of life by law enforcement officials final month.
Nichols’ dad and mom had been friends of the president on the State of the Union.
“I do know most cops are good, respectable, honourable individuals. They threat their lives each time they put that defend on,” Biden stated.
“However what occurred to Tyre in Memphis occurs too typically.
Additionally current within the chamber was Brandon Tsay, the California man who wrestled a gun away from a mass shooter final month.
“He saved lives. It is time we do the identical as properly,” Biden stated to the Congress.
“Ban assault weapons as soon as and for all.”
Robust speak on Russia, China
Biden decried Vladimir Putin’s “murderous” invasion of Ukraine.
He directed a message to the ambassador for Ukraine, who was within the viewers.
“America is united in our assist in your nation. We’ll stand with you so long as it takes,” he stated.
He additionally talked robust on China within the wake of the spy balloon saga.
“However make no mistake: as we made clear final week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we are going to act to guard our nation,” he stated.
The terrible tragedies that outlined Joe Biden’s life
At 72 minutes Biden’s speech was longer than any of his earlier addresses to Congress, however shorter than all however three of Trump’s.