WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, President Joe Biden delivered the final State of the Union Address of his first term. He made his case to the American electorate as to why it shouldn’t be his last address.
“Now it’s we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union,” said President Biden as he discussed the need for the U.S. to help allies like Ukraine in their fight against Russia.
Aside from foreign aid, Biden hit on other key issues like the economy, reproductive rights and even encouraged Congress to pass Senator Bob Casey’s (D- PA) Shrinkflation Prevention Act.
“It’s called Shrinkflation. Pass Bobby Casey’s bill and stop this. I really mean it,” said President Biden as he gave a SOTU shoutout to Sen. Casey.
The 81-year-old President delivered the address Thursday evening to a deeply divided Congress. As expected, the reaction was partisan.
“Joe Biden delivered an incredible speech that was very well received by the American people beginning, middle and end,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D- NY) and Democrats praised the address.
“As the President declared tonight, the state of the American economy is strong, with record high job creation and record low unemployment,” said Sen. Casey in a statement following the address.
Republicans were not shy with their criticism of the address.
“It really did sound like a bad, really poorly prepared campaign speech,” said Rep. Jack Bergman (R- MI). “We need to be inspired by the leadership in our country… the takeaway will be, not inspiring,” Bergman added.
Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D- U.S. Virgin Islands) attended the State of the Union with her guest, National Guard Brigadier General Sally E. Petty.
Petty is the first woman assistant adjutant general of the Virgin Islands National Guard and only the second to rise to the rank of brigadier general in the guard’s 50-year existence.