In a 68-minute State of the Union address to Congress, US President Joe Biden took the chance to point to the pros and cons between himself and his Republican rival, former president Donald Trump, among other matters like Russia, abortion, the border crisis and the war on Gaza.
 
Although Biden did not mention Trump by name, his comments were centered on him, as he kicked off his speech by declaring democracy is under threat domestically and abroad while criticizing Trump for encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack NATO. 

He said, "Now my predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, quote, 'Do whatever you want'... I think it's outrageous, it's dangerous and it's unacceptable."
 
Biden also directed his speech to Putin telling him, "We will not walk away."

In response, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, "He said I bowed down to the Russian Leader. He gave them everything, including Ukraine."

Just yesterday, Bloomberg cited sources saying the Biden administration is weighing utilizing around $200 million from US Army funds to give Ukraine immediate "security assistance", as attempts to approve new funding in Congress are hindered.

The truth, and nothing but the truth

The president pointed at Trump and the GOP regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot in an effort to overturn Biden's 2020 victory.

"My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that," Biden said, adding, "You can't love your country only when you win."

Read more: Trump challenges Biden to debate 'anytime, anywhere, anyplace'

He also slammed Republicans for intending to roll back healthcare provisions under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

In the continuous thread on Truth Social, Trump said, "He looks so angry when he’s talking, which is a trait of people who know they are 'losing it,' noting, "The anger and shouting is not helpful to bringing our Country back together!"

In addition to reiterating his support of abortion rights, he vowed to make rich Americans and firms pay more in taxes, but that may not likely pass unless Democrats win strong majorities in both houses of Congress in November.

He also suggested lowering housing costs, including a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers in response to the distress over high mortgage interest rates.

'No US boots' in Gaza?

When it came to the hottest topic of all, Biden tried to cool down the room and those in his party for his support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, by announcing that the American military will build a port on Gaza's coast to receive humanitarian assistance by sea.

"Tonight, I’m directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters," he said during his speech.

"No US boots will be on the ground," he claimed, adding that the temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza, but stressed that "Israel" must play its part in the process for it to be successful.

"To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority," he stated.

He called the impact on Gaza "heartbreaking", recalling that "this war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined."

He also acknowledged that "more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands are innocent women and children."

Read next: 'Biden’s legacy is genocide': pro-Palestine protesters near US Capitol

#Watch | Pro-#Palestine protesters near the US Capitol display a banner reading, "Biden’s legacy is genocide," ahead of the President's #StateOfTheUnion speech.#Gaza pic.twitter.com/11N5t21sPW

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 8, 2024

In closing his speech, Biden mentioned his age - a controversial subject in the upcoming elections -  saying, "Whether young or old, I’ve always known what endures... now other people my age see it differently". 

However, US Senator Katie Britt, who delivered the Republicans' formal response to Biden, did not see his speech as enlightening. 

“The true, unvarnished State of our Union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting. Our country can do better,” she said.