'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!"
Why some Democrats are wearing white and other symbols
There was a sea of white as Democrats started to fill the chamber, ABC News' Capitol Hill team reports. The House Democratic Women's Caucus is wearing all white -- along with "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" pins.
Other members are wearing blue to show support for the Israeli hostages taken after Hamas' October terror attack.
Some Republicans are wearing pins that say "Say her name: Laken Riley" in honor of the 22-year-old nursing student who was killed while out running on the University of Georgia's campus last month. The suspect charged in her death is a Venezuelan migrant who is illegally in the U.S., officials have said.
Some Republican lawmakers are also wearing buttons that read: "Stop the Biden border crisis."