Joe Biden vowed to work with political rivals in his latest State of the Union address.
The US president has spoken before Congress for the first time since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives last month.
While acknowledging that American democracy is wounded, Biden stressed that it is “untamed and unbroken.”
The Democrat said “there’s no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress” — and Americans crave unity.
He added: “People have sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere… We were sent here to finish the job!”
President Joe Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
What is the State of the Union?
This annual speech provides the president with an opportunity to set legislative priorities for the year ahead.
Biden called for bipartisan efforts on cancer research, support for veterans, and defeating the “opioid and overdose epidemic.”
But some of his other proposals — such as a minimum tax for billionaires — are unlikely to be passed by the current Congress.
And the president’s desire for a national cap on the cost of insulin, meaning diabetic patients would pay no more than $35 (£29) a month, may not get Congressional approval.
Among those who are uninsured, the cost of insulin can run up to $900 (£746) a month, forcing many to ration or skip doses and endanger their health.
Elsewhere in the speech, Biden focused on police reform following the death of Tire Nichols, a black man who died after being beaten by officers in Memphis.
The White House and Republican new Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy have been at loggerheads over the US debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion (£26 trillion), which must be raised in the coming months to avoid a default.
In a video in front of the State of the Union, McCarthy said he respects Democrats but has the right to disagree on policy.
He added: “I want to make sure this country is stronger, economically sound, energy independent, secure and responsible.”
Mr. McCarthy also warned Mr. Biden against using the term “extreme MAGA Republicans” in his speech – a nod to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
photo: AP
Biden remains unpopular
A recent Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll put Biden’s approval rating at 41%, which is close to the lowest level of his presidency.
Right now, 65% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, up from 58% a year ago.
Like the UK, the US has also suffered from searing levels of inflation in recent months, but the Federal Reserve expects “significant declines” throughout 2023.
Biden’s speech was designed to strike an optimistic tone ahead of a second presidential campaign in 2024, which is expected to be launched within weeks.
He turned 80 in November and would be 82 if re-elected to a second term – and recent polls suggest that’s a cause for concern among many Democratic voters.
