NewsBiden evokes Roosevelt in State of the Union, warns against complacency

Biden evokes Roosevelt in State of the Union, warns against complacency

Joe Biden did not hide his surprise when he saw Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Images source: © PAP, X

8 March 2024 15:04

Biden addressed the combined chambers of Congress. The president compared his address and the current moment in history to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech in 1941 when Roosevelt's aim was "to awaken Congress and warn Americans that this is not an ordinary moment."

Cameras captured a humorous moment that evening just before Biden's speech. The president, on his way to the podium, spotted Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Republican, sitting in the US Congress, is a declared supporter of Donald Trump, which is clearly seen by her outfit.

Biden, not hiding his emotions, expressed great surprise at her outfit.

Biden's address

American presidents deliver the State of the Union address annually. This year it coincided with a dispute over financial aid for Ukraine. The US presidential elections are also expected in 2024.

"Now, we stand before an unprecedented moment in the history of our union. And yes, my goal tonight is both to awaken this Congress and to warn Americans that this is also not an ordinary moment," said Biden. As he added, freedom and democracy are now more threatened than at any point since the Civil War, both at home and abroad.

"If anyone in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you: he will not stop. But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide it with the weapons it needs for its defence," he declared, criticizing opponents of support for Ukraine - including the former president Trump - as those who want to steer away from our leadership in the world.