'I believe in America': Fired-up Biden uses State of the Union to skewer GOP

The president made the case for why he deserves a second term.

Last Updated: March 7, 2024, 11:56 PM EST

President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday night.

The speech provided Biden one of his biggest audiences of the year as he made his case for a second term and contrasted his vision of the country's future with Republicans ahead of what's expected to be a lengthy general election fight with former President Donald Trump.

ABC News live-blogged every major moment and highlight from the speech, with 538 providing analysis and a closer look at the polling and data behind the politicians.

Mar 07, 2024, 11:56 PM EST

Britt says the 'American dream has turned into a nightmare'

In her response to Biden's State of the Union address, Senator Katie Britt called out the President for the strife of families across the Nation, saying, "The American dream has turned into a nightmare for so many families."

Britt used her personal experience as an example in her response, "My American dream allowed me, the daughter of two small business owners from rural enterprise Alabama, to be elected to the United States senate at the age of 40."

"The country we know and love seems to be slipping away and it feels like the next generation will have fewer opportunities and less freedoms than we did," Britt continued.

"The true, unvarnished state of our union begins and ends with this: our families are hurting. Our country can do better," Britt said.

The senator from Alabama fiercely criticized Biden's border policy and inflation.
The senator from Alabama fiercely criticized Biden's border policy and inflation.

Mar 07, 2024, 11:11 PM EST

Britt addresses border security, Laken Riley's killing

Sen. Katie Britt called Biden's border policies over the past three years a "disgrace" and "senseless."

"This crisis is despicable. And the truth is, it is almost entirely preventable," she said. "From fentanyl poisonings to horrific murders, there are empty chairs tonight at kitchen tables just like this one."

Britt mentioned Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed last month on the University of Georgia's campus. The suspect in her murder is a Venezuelan migrant whom officials say was illegally in the U.S.

"She was brutally murdered by one of the millions of illegal border crossers President Biden chose to release into our homeland," Britt said. "Y’all, as a mom, I can't quit thinking about this. I mean, this could have been my daughter. This could have been yours. And tonight, President Biden finally said her name, but he refused to take responsibility for his own actions."

Mar 07, 2024, 11:11 PM EST

Inflation has fallen in recent months

Britt said inflation was "at a 40-year-high." That was true in June 2022, when year-over-year inflation hit 9.1%, but it's fallen in recent months. What is true is that inflation is affecting Americans: 63% said price increases have caused financial hardship in a Gallup poll from January.

-Monica Potts, 538

Mar 07, 2024, 11:07 PM EST

Sen. Katie Britt delivers GOP response

Sen. Katie Britt is giving the GOP response to Biden's address from her home in Alabama.

She said she is worried about the future of the country and called Biden an "out-of-touch," "permanent politician" who has been in office "longer than I have been alive."

Britt, 42, is the youngest GOP woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivers the Republican response following President Biden's State of the Union speech, Mar. 7, 2024.
ABC News