- Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver his third State of the Union address on Thursday.
- Biden needs a speech now more than ever.
- This may be his most high-profile appearance before the November election
President Joe Biden may never have a moment like this again.
On Thursday, Biden is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address to what could be his largest audience before Election Day. Polls show he intends to speak to a public that is not only skeptical of some policies but also doubts his ability to physically get the job done. Special Counsel Robert Hur's recent conclusions about Biden's memory, which he strongly disputes, only heighten concerns about the president's position.
No matter what Biden accomplishes as president, he has yet to convince Americans that he can fulfill what one of President Ronald Reagan's biographers deemed “the role of a lifetime.” Every gaffe, gaffe, and stumble, whether fair or unfair, will be seen as further evidence of the hypothesis that Biden is unable to do his job.
In this sense, Biden's speech comes with additional pressure. Whether he directly answers questions about his age or not, the topic will loom large on the night, as it has for much of his first term.
It is an undeniable fact that fewer Americans are watching this speech than a generation ago, according to historical Nielsen ratings dating back to 1993. But even in the age of peak streaming, the speech remains one of the few events watched live by tens of millions of Americans. , this distinction is shared almost exclusively by NFL football games. Ordinarily, sitting presidents seeking re-election may also look forward to the fall debates. At this time, it is unclear whether discussions will take place this fall. On Wednesday, President Trump distanced himself from the Republican National Committee's previous withdrawal from the nonprofit organization that has hosted every presidential debate since 1988. President Trump wrote on his social media platforms that he is calling for a debate “anytime, anywhere, anywhere.”
The State of the Union is not an explicit campaign speech.
Unlike Biden, most sitting presidents have given speeches much earlier in the primary calendar. Both primaries have effectively ended following former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley's decision to withdraw from the Republican campaign. Timing aside, presidents preparing for November have used the speech to praise their accomplishments and lay out the outlines of their re-election campaigns.
In the words of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrats are asking Biden to “brag more” about his accomplishments. It's no surprise, then, that you'll hear him talk about the major bipartisan bills he signed into law on infrastructure, domestic superconductor production, and gun control.
But more bragging may not be enough.
Polls show Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the Biden administration's handling of immigration. Although there are signs of improvement, a recent Wall Street Journal poll found that only 40% of Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy.
Sen. Bernie Sanders privately offered slightly different advice, according to the Washington Post. Sanders reportedly challenged Biden to this reality by pointing out how big corporations and other bastards are trying to sabotage his policies, rather than trying to sell his record more. He urged them to take a stand.
Biden also faces pressure from within his own party over Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Some progressives are pushing a campaign urging Democrats to vote “irresponsible” in a clear sign of their dissatisfaction with Biden's current position on the war.
Thursday night's speech will not end these discussions. But now that the 2024 campaign has effectively begun, Biden will have a chance to lay out his vision for the future.
He needs this moment more than ever.
