Biden Focuses Speech on Defending Democracy, the Economy and the Border

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address on Thursday to launch a series of fiery attacks against former President Donald Trump, a competitor whom he did not mention by name but labeled as a dire threat to American democracy and stability in the world.

In a televised speech to a joint session of Congress, Biden brought the energy his allies and aides had hoped he would display to warn of what could happen should Ukraine continue to lose ground to Russia. Invoking an overseas war at the top of his address was an unusual introduction to a speech that was in many ways a political argument for his reelection.

“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” Biden said. “What makes our moment rare is the freedom of democracy, under attack both at home and overseas.”

Biden’s speech had to accomplish several goals at once, including taking credit for an economy that has outperformed expectations but whose effects many Americans say they cannot feel. He touched on a range of issues, including immigration, abortion, prescription drug costs and the war in the Gaza Strip.

He also engaged in a back-and-forth with congressional Republicans, picking up a button circulated by Republicans that called for people to say the name of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed in February by, according to authorities, an immigrant who had entered the country illegally.

“To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand,” he said at one point, going off script and addressing Republicans by using the phrase “an illegal” to describe the accused.

Biden assailed Trump for his soft treatment of President Vladimir Putin of Russia. “We will not bow down,” Biden said. “I will not bow down.”

Trump, never one to sit quietly, responded to many of Biden’s points in a stream of real-time posts on his social media site, Truth Social. “Putin only invaded Ukraine, because he has no respect for Biden,” he asserted in one post.

Before the speech, Biden was under pressure to address the issue of his age. He argued that his 81 years had taught him to “embrace freedom and democracy” and “to give hate no safe harbor,” remarks meant to address concerns about his age and draw a clear contrast with Trump.

Biden also tried to quell dissatisfaction within his own party over his handling of the conflict in Gaza. Earlier Thursday, the Biden administration said the United States would build a temporary seaport off Gaza to assist with the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Biden also focused extensively on reproductive rights, which have become among the most galvanizing issues for his party.

And within his economic message were hints about what Biden would do with a second term, including an effort to increase corporate taxes to at least 21%.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times .