President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech: Reactions of 8 Republicans and Democrats
Exploring the reactions of Republicans and Democrats to Joe Biden’s SOTU speech
In a heated State of the Union address on Thursday, March 8, President Joe Biden made his case for reelection by accusing Donald Trump of endangering democracy, caving to Russia, and sabotaging a law intended to address the country's immigration problems. In a 68-minute speech to Congress, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden sharply contrasted himself with his Republican opponent and boldly attacked Trump's supporters in the chamber. The 81-year-old president's performance was as much a focus of the speech as his policy recommendations. Here's how GOP and Democrats reacted to Biden’s State of the Union Speech.
1. House Speaker Mike Johnson
During the speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who sat behind Biden in the chamber alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, appeared to nod in agreement with the president many times. However, Johnson's formal answer thereafter was scathing. Johnson said, "President Biden and I have a decidedly different view of the present state of our union. While I appreciate his optimism tonight, no amount of flowery prose or aspirational promises can mask the failures of his time in office."
2. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama
The youngest senator from Alabama representing the Republicans, Katie Britt, put forth her party's response to President Joe Biden's third State of the Union speech. She said that President Biden has been out of touch and he has painted a dark picture of the US under his watch. She stated, "Right now, the American Dream has turned into a nightmare for so many families."
3. Rep Nick Langworthy
President Biden's State of the Union speech was criticized by Representative Nick Langworthy as "nothing more than a divisive campaign speech". He said, "Instead of bringing our nation together, President Biden’s address was nothing more than a divisive campaign speech. He failed to take ownership of his disastrous policies and instead tried to place the blame on House Republicans."
4. Gov Kathy Hochul
Governor Kathy Hochul said that during President Biden's first term, there was protection for women's reproductive rights, significant investment in infrastructure and tech sectors, and historically low unemployment and high job growth. She said the President's speech was "rooted in his optimistic vision for our future — one that uplifts working and middle-class families that have built our nation — and paints a stark contrast to those trying to divide the country and set us back."
5. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
As Biden runs for a second term, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY, said that concerns about his physical and mental health have arisen due to his old age and sporadic stumbles. He said, "He showed the American People that the state of our union — and his leadership — is strong and only getting stronger with each passing day as we build back from the COVID-19 pandemic."
6. Rep Glenn Thompson
A Republican representative from Pennsylvania, Rep Glenn Thompson described the address as a 'campaign stop on the road to November’s election'. He said, "Biden attempted to gloss over the past three years of his policy failures. ... The American people are smarter than that. They know while talking heads suggest the economy is booming, families across the country and throughout Pennsylvania are dealing with budget-busting costs at the pump."
7. Senator Kirstin Gillibrand
Sen Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY) expressed her gratitude to Biden for highlighting his achievements, which include billion-dollar investments in New York's public infrastructure and "major investments in infrastructure and domestic manufacturing that have created jobs in New York and across the country." She added, "President Biden has also played a crucial role in helping to address the high cost of prescription drugs."
8. FDP Chair Nikki Fried
FDP Chair Nikki Fried said, "Florida Democrats remain thankful for President Biden’s brand of clear, visionary leadership. His State of the Union address showed a drastic contrast between the Biden-Harris vision for America and the anti-democratic vision pushed by Donald Trump."
