United States President, Joe Biden, has laid out his case for re-election in a fiery State of the Union speech that accused his predecessor and challenger in the forthcoming presidential election, Donald Trump, of threatening democracy, kowtowing to Russia, and thwarting a bill to tackle U.S. immigration woes.

Biden, a Democrat, in a 68-minute address to Congress on Thursday, March 7, 2024, drew sharp contrasts with his Republican rival and gamely challenged Trump’s supporters in the chamber during the speech.

Biden charged Trump, his Republican challenger in the November 5 election, with burying the truth about the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault, bowing to Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and blocking a bill to tighten restrictions at the U.S. border with Mexico.

On the Middle East, the president said he had been working for an immediate ceasefire to last six weeks between Hamas militants and Israel, and he warned Israel against using aid to Gaza as a bargaining chip.

The greater thrust of his remarks focused on Trump, though Biden did not mention him by name.

Biden opened by declaring democracy under threat at home and abroad and criticizing Trump for inviting Putin to invade NATO nations if they did not spend more on defense.

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“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,” Reuters quoted Biden as saying.

Biden, who pressed Congress to provide additional funding to Ukraine for its war with Russia, also had a message for Putin, saying: “We will not walk away.”

Trump, in a response on his Truth Social platform, responded with criticism of Biden.

“He said I bowed down to the Russian Leader. He gave them everything, including Ukraine,” he said.

The speech gave Biden, who is suffering from low approval ratings, a chance to speak directly to millions of American television viewers about his vision for another four-year term.

He used the opportunity to draw contrasts with Trump over abortion rights and the economy, and he directed several barbs at Republican lawmakers in the chamber with off-the-cuff banter that appeared designed to assuage concerns about his age and mental acuity.

Biden was directly challenged by Republican Representative Marjorie, Taylor Greene, who heckled him over Laken Riley, a woman recently killed, allegedly by an immigrant in the United States illegally.

Biden acknowledged Riley – and then, in a reference to efforts to reduce gun violence, referred to greater numbers of people killed in incidents unrelated to migrants in the country.

The Star