As Biden began to wrap up his speech, he made his first reference to his age: an issue polling has shown is a major concern for voters.
The remark mixed Biden's strategy for quelling such doubts: self-deprecating humor and assurances that age equals wisdom.
"I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while," he joked. "And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before."
"My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy," he said. "A future based on the core values that have defined America. Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor."
He added: "Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me."
Continuing to swipe indirectly at Trump, who is 77, Biden said it's Trump who will move the country in the wrong direction.
"My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are, it’s how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back."
Biden addresses his age at the conclusion of his State of the Union address
"The issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it's how old our ideas are," Biden remarked.