'I believe in America': Fired-up Biden uses State of the Union to skewer GOP, his 'predecessor'
The president made the case for why he deserves a second term.
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.
Key moments:
Biden says he will 'protect and strengthen' Social Security
Biden urged lawmakers to "all agree once again to stand up for seniors" while calling for Social Security protections.
"If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age, I will stop you," he said to applause.
"I will protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share," he said.
Americans approve of efforts to cancel student debt
We haven't seen as much polling on student loans since the Supreme Court scuttled Biden's big student-loan forgiveness plan this summer. But a slim majority of Americans, 51%, approved of Biden’s plans in a NORC for GenForward And a Winston Group for Winning the Issues poll from September found that a plurality, 44%, trust Democrats more on the student debt issue.
—Monica Potts, 538
Biden calls for tax reform
Biden also called for tax reform, reiterating a longtime push to boost taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
"I propose a minimum tax for billionaires of 25%, just 25%. You know what that would raise? That would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years. Imagine what that could do for America," he said, noting the additional funds could fund things like expanded child care.
Biden on helping 4 million Americans reduce student debt
Biden spoke of the burden of student debt during his State of the Union address.
"I fixed student loan programs to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 Million Americans including nurses firefighters and others in public service," Biden said.
The President referenced Keenan Jones, a public-school educator in Minnesota, who is in the audience Thursday.
"He’s educated hundreds of students so they can go to college, now he can help his own daughter pay for college," Biden said of Jones.
"Such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home, start a business and even start a family," Biden said, adding, "While we’re at it I want to give public school teachers a raise!"
Republicans spotlighting slain college student amid criticism of Biden's border policies
Republicans plan to keep an empty seat in memoriam of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed on the University of Georgia's Athens campus last month.
Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., said he invited Riley's parents to be guests at the State of the Union though "they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter."
Biden's address comes hours after the House passed the Laken Riley Act, which would require detention of any unauthorized migrant who commits burglary or theft.
The suspect charged in Riley's killing, Jose Antonio Ibarra, unlawfully entered the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was paroled and released for further processing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said following his arrest in Georgia.
ICE said that Ibarra was subsequently arrested by New York City police in 2023 and released before federal officials could ask for his detention. The NYPD has said there is no arrest on file.
The Laken Riley Act passed the House 251-170, with 37 Democrats voting for it. Some opposing it believe Republicans are using Riley's death for their own political gain to place blame on the Biden administration's border policies as polling shows immigration is a top issue for some voters.