“Tonight I will order the US military to conduct an emergency mission to create a temporary dock in the Mediterranean, on the coast of Gaza, which can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelter but there will be no American troops on the ground ”: he announced it the US president Joe Biden in his State of the Union speech, warning however that Israel too "must do its part", "allow greater aid to Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire.”
Biden, here's what he said
“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War had freedom and democracy been under attack here at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and abroad, at the same time.” The president of the United States, Biden, thus began his speech of about an hour on the state of the Union, in a Congress divided in half: on one side the Dems who applauded for a long time and several times calling for "another four years ”, on the other the Republicans who remained seated all the time, some with the “Maga” hat (“Make America great again”, the slogan of Donald Trump), contesting the president despite the invitation to decorum from the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
A politically strong speech, full of optimism, focused on America's "comeback", during which the dem leader showed clarity and vigor, also joking about his 81 years, the real electoral Achilles' heel: "At my age certain things become clearer than ever. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I've been here a long time."
Biden, harsh attack on Trump
His speech had two lines, one on ongoing international conflicts and the other on internal politics, with Trump always in the crosshairs, even if he never named him directly. The first of the thirteen broadsides came immediately, when he spoke of the war in Ukraine, urging the Republicans to approve aid to Kiev and accusing the tycoon of "submitting" to Vladimir Putin: "My message to Putin is clear: the United States does not they will back down, I will not back down,” Biden underlined. He then defined Trump's invitation to Putin to "do what he wants" with the NATO countries that do not pay their fair share as "scandalous", reiterating that with him, however, the Alliance is stronger, as demonstrated by the new membership of Sweden, whose prime minister was among the guests in the White House chamber.
On the Middle Eastern front, the president of the United States - who dribbled by car upon arriving at the Capitol the pro-Palestinian protests – officially announced that he had ordered the US military “an emergency mission” to create a temporary dock on the coast of Gaza that can receive large humanitarian aid ships… without American troops on the field.” But he also warned that Israel “must do its part,” not using aid “as a bargaining chip,” and that it “has a fundamental responsibility to protect innocent civilians in Gaza” in a war with unprecedented human costs. The president also reiterated the call for an immediate six-week, two-state ceasefire as the only solution for peace and security of all parties.
Biden and China
As for Beijing, Biden assured that the US can win the challenge of competition for the 21st century and claimed to have done much more than his predecessor, "despite his tough talk on China".
Biden and US domestic politics
But it is the internal front that Biden was focusing on the most. Objective: win back the American vote and rise in the polls. Hence, the emphasis on a record economy "that the whole world now envies us", the battle for reproductive, civil and workers' rights, the reduction of student debt, the fight against fentanyl and gun violence, the defense of welfare, the renewal of infrastructure and the supply chain. In particular, he insisted on the right to abortion after the abolition of "Roe v. Wade", warning that the power of women will also be felt in the next elections such as in 2022 and 2023. Then, referring to Trump, he assured that he would not He will “demonize” migrants, saying they “poison the blood of our country” and has urged Congress to pass a border control law. Finally, she relaunched the tax crusade to ensure that companies and billionaires pay their "fair share", proposing a tax increase for them and relief for the poor.
Biden and Trump's reply
The ending is again against Trump, to highlight the contrast with his rival: “My life has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair chance. To avoid giving hatred a safe haven. Now some people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge and punishment. That's not me." Trump commented on his social network Truth on Biden's "angry, divisive and hateful speech", blaming him for the fire in the Middle East for his condescension towards Iran and for the migration crisis on the border with Mexico.
