President Biden’s State of the Union address took repeated aim at former President Trump and Republican lawmakers.
Biden referenced Trump 13 times, attacking him on issues like Ukraine, January 6th, abortion, healthcare and immigration.
While Democrats applauded, Republicans criticized the speech as the most partisan in recent memory due to Biden not reaching out to the GOP and strongly pushing a big government agenda.
“This was the most partisan State of the Union I’ve heard in my lifetime,” said Bill McGurn, the chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush.
“No outreach to Republicans, and the clear message was this: the era of big government is back, with a vengeance,” he added.
Speechwriters from past GOP administrations argued Biden’s attacks on his opponent were unprecedented and crossed a line.
“Attacking his opponent directly in the first minutes of his speech is unprecedented and perhaps the most partisan start to a State of the Union address in modern memory,” speechwriter Marc Theissen said.
However, Democratic consultants defended Biden, saying he delivered a clear choice between Democratic and Republican visions while connecting policies to people’s lives.
“With energy and vigor, the President laid out the clear choice facing America — a choice between two starkly different visions for our future. Will we expand freedom, or restrict it? Will we defend democracy, or attack it? Will we continue to grow the economy for all, or rig it on behalf of billionaires and the wealthiest corporations? President Biden made it crystal clear where he stands — and he did it while commanding the room with equal parts sharp oratory, disarming banter, and matter-of-fact moral authority,” Biden speechwriter Dan Cluchey said..
“State of the Union addresses don’t get better than this,” he said.
“The contrast with Trump was brilliant and scathing. He pulled no punches, told the truth, and he was everything he needed to be,” Democratic consultant Maria Cardona said.
“Of course, Republicans thought it was too political. If that’s their only criticism, they know he had a homer, and they have nowhere else to go,” she added.
Biden “was energetic, direct, funny, eloquent, and he laid out his accomplishments clearly and relevantly, connecting them with peoples’ lives.”
Biden touted the economic recovery but polls show Americans don’t credit him much for inflation easing.
“I inherited an economy that was on the brink,” Biden said, adding, “now our economy is the envy of the world.”
“Wages keep going up and inflation keeps coming down!”
On key issues like the economy and border, critics argued Biden didn’t effectively address vulnerabilities.
“Both were buried deep within the confines of the speech,” Republican strategist Colin Reed said.
“On the two most important issues, he whiffed big time,” Reed said.
The speech had an angry, campaign-like tone rather than focusing on unity.
Biden “can’t stick his head in the sand and pretend voters don’t know he’s old, and this was the first time he took on his age directly. It was smart to do so, and I think he’ll refine this more and more over the course of the campaign,” Democratic strategist Chris Moyer said.
“This was more campaign speech and less State of the Union address.” Biden, however, “did what he needed to do, showing a fighting spirit and hitting many of the expected notes on popular issues.”
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