With the final lines of his 2023 State of the Union address, the president told the joint session of Congress that they are at an "inflection point": "We must see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans. We are a good people, the only nation in the world built on an idea," he said.

Biden ended his speech telling the nation that the state of the union is strong, alluding to the fulfillment of one of his campaign promises -- to restore "the soul" of the nation.

"Because the soul of this nation is strong, because the backbone of this nation is strong, because the people of this nation are strong, the state of the union is strong," he said.

"As I stand here tonight, I have never been more optimistic about the future of America. We just have to remember who we are."

While talking about the political violence that has occurred in the country over the past few years, Biden called out to Paul Pelosi, the husband of Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was violently assaulted in his San Francisco home in October, with authorities saying the suspect was seeking his wife.

Biden linked the assault on Paul Pelosi to the violence on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob -- attempting to subvert the certification of Biden's presidency -- attacked the Capitol.

"Just a few months ago ... an assailant unleashed political violence in the home of the then-speaker of this House of Representatives. Using the very same language that insurrectionists who stalked these halls chanted on Jan. 6," Biden said.

He pointed to "my friend, Paul Pelosi," with Nancy Pelosi seen from the House floor waving and looking up at her husband, who was seated in the first lady's box.

"Here tonight in this chamber is the man who bears the scars of that brutal attack but is as tough and strong and as resilient as they get."

Biden, noting that "such a heinous act never should have happened," said that American voting rights and election integrity must be safeguarded in order to curb that extremism.

"There is no place for political violence in America. In America, we must protect the right to vote, not suppress that fundamental right. We honor the results of our elections, not subvert the will of the people. We must uphold the rule of the law and restore trust in our institutions of democracy," he said.

As he reupped his "Unity Agenda" -- aimed at improving mental health, supporting veterans, beating the opioid epidemic and fighting cancer -- Biden shared personal stories of some of the guests in the audience.

"Joining us tonight is a father named Doug from Newton, New Hampshire," Biden said. "He wrote Jill and me a letter about his daughter Courtney. Contagious laugh. Her sister’s best friend. ... Courtney discovered pills in high school. It spiraled into addiction and eventually her death from a fentanyl overdose. She was 20 years old."

Biden said her family's been working since her death to end stigma and change laws. "Doug, we're with you," he said.

He next introduced Maurice and Kandice, whose daughter Ava was diagnoses with a rare kidney cancer when she was 1 year old. Ava had to undergo 26 blood transfusions, 11 rounds of radiation, 8 rounds of chemo and had one of her kidneys removed, Biden said.

"They never gave up hope," Biden said. "Ava never gave up hope. She turns 4 next month. They just found out that Ava beat the odds and is on her way to being cancer free, and she’s watching from the White House tonight."

The president, whose oldest son, Beau, died of cancer, has made working to end the disease a major health priority of his administration.

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene pulled a political stunt ahead of Biden's State of the Union by patrolling the halls of Congress with a white balloon. The move was an apparent reference to GOP criticism over how the president's administration handled a suspected Chinese spy balloon that floated over the U.S. for several days. That wasn't it, though. Throughout Biden's speech on Tuesday, Greene was caught on the hot mic yelling "you lie" and "liar."

But those disruptions -- no matter how tense -- shouldn't be too surprising. As I've written previously, Greene is arguably part of the most incendiary wing of the House GOP. Of course, Greene has always been a congressional rabble-rouser, but her latest move might catch some by surprise considering that she's attempted to dip her foot -- or at least a pinky toe -- in more establishment categories as of late.

-FiveThirtyEight's Alex Samuels

Members began steadily streaming into the House chamber on Tuesday with Vice President Kamala Harris around 8:30 p.m. ET, including some former lawmakers who are also using floor privileges.

The realities of a divided government are on full display -- little conversation between Democrats and Republicans across the aisle on the House floor.

The vice president has been making small talk with House Speaker McCarthy -- overheard on the mics saying it's a "packed house."

Former Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., was seen joking to Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.-- infamous for shouting "you lie!" at former President Barack Obama during a joint address of Congress -- to "sit down, sit down Joe."

Former Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is at the speech as one of the only former Trump officials spotted thus far.

Newly independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema made her way in, standing next to GOP Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and was then speaking with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

For some, the most coveted seats appear to be along the aisle. That's where embattled Rep. George Santos chose to sit, in position to shake the president's hand as he enters and exits the chamber. Santos still has time to switch seats.

Some of the president's fiercest critics are also along the aisle: Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was carrying around a white balloon through the halls of Congress for much of the day to mock the administration's handling of the suspected Chinese spy balloon -- but decided to not bring it into the chamber.

Speaker McCarthy's guest, Enes Freedom, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Cabinet secretaries Pete Buttigieg and Jennifer Granholm and pollster Frank Luntz have also filed into the room.

-ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and John Parkinson