President Biden’s third State of the Union address may be the closest thing to a live presidential debate Americans will see ahead of the November election. And it was ugly.
Mr. Biden has not yet agreed to meet former President Donald Trump on the debate stage in the fall, but he attacked him as “my predecessor” more than a dozen times during his address in the Capitol on Thursday.
Mr. Trump and Republicans hardly stood by silently.
From his home in Palm Beach, Florida, the former president provided running commentary, bombarding social media with four dozen blistering posts during the speech. He called Mr. Biden’s bombastic address “angry, polarizing and hate-filled.”
Mr. Trump is eager to face off with Mr. Biden in person, even offering to appear at a debate hosted by the Democratic National Committee if that’s what it takes to get Mr. Biden on stage with him ahead of the election.
Mr. Biden hasn’t committed to it, and Mr. Trump moved their debate to social media Thursday. He shot back in real time when the president addressed immigration, Iran, energy policy and the Middle East. He even picked apart Mr. Biden’s coughing fits and mocked his image with digital filters that transformed the president into Pinnocchio, and then a rat, while he addressed the chamber and a national prime-time audience.
When Mr. Biden boasted of his actions to increase renewable energy and steer the nation away from fossil fuels, Mr. Trump derided him on his Truth Social media site.
“Other countries are laughing at our stupidity on ’Climate.’ Mr. Trump posted. “The Green New Scam is destroying our Economy and our Country.”
After Mr. Biden called on House Republicans to pass a bipartisan border security bill that many in the GOP reject, Mr. Trump posted talking points criticizing the bill’s provisions to fund lawyers for illegal migrants, pay for their transportation and housing while allowing nearly 2 million illegal entries per year.
Mr. Trump’s attacks on Mr. Biden on border security were some of the most searing in his online State of the Union commentary. He posted that Mr. Biden didn’t mention the nation’s immigration crisis, a top voter concern, until far into the speech, and well after his attack on manufacturers who shrink candy bars and other snacks to save money.
“Biden talked about the SNICKERS Bars, before he talked about the Border!” Mr. Trump posted.
Mr. Biden delivered the speech as though he was addressing a campaign rally.
It came a day after Nikki Haley’s withdrawal from the GOP primary secured Mr. Trump’s third presidential nomination, which launched the official start of the general election battle between the former president and Mr. Biden.
Just a few minutes into the speech, Mr. Biden accused Mr. Trump of “bowing down to a Russian leader” by opposing funding for Ukraine’s war, and said freedom and democracy are “under attack” by the former president and Republicans.
Amy Walter, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said the top of Mr. Biden’s speech “feels more like something one would hear at the Democratic National Convention” than at a State of the Union address.
Mr. Biden delivered the speech amid low approval ratings matching those of one-term Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Poll numbers show Mr. Trump is beating him in every swing state.
Many voters, including Democrats, view the 81-year-old Mr. Biden as too old for a second term, polls show.
“Given that most who watch [the speech] are already partisans, it seems like the top of the speech was dedicated to wobbly Dems who worry that Biden doesn’t have stamina or strength to take it to Trump,” Ms. Walters added in a social media post.
Mr. Biden took shots at the GOP over abortion and immigration and was heckled in the chamber by Republican lawmakers, who shouted at him about border security and rising crime.
Mr. Biden often returned fire, criticizing Republicans for failing to pass a border security bill and other legislation.
House Democrats celebrated Mr. Biden’s performance, seemingly relieved he made no major stumbles that would reinforce fears he is too old and feeble for the job.
“Smokin’ Joe Biden was on fire during the State of the Union address. He was lit,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, said Friday.
The evening left one former presidential nominee exhausted and disheartened at a traditional speech that not long ago commanded respect and applause from both parties, at least some of the time.
“I think it’s unfortunate that the State of the Union has become so political,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, Utah Republican and the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee. “It’s not just this president, but other presidents. And a person chants in the room on one side and catcalls on the other. I think that’s unfortunate, but that’s just the way it is today.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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