(CNN) — The president of the United States, Joe Biden, closed his first speech on the state of the union Tuesday night with a resounding sense of optimism and unity as the world watches the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden said his trust in the American people is what gives him the assurance that democracy will prevail at this critical moment.
“Now is the time, our moment of responsibility. Our test of determination and awareness, of history itself. It is at this time that our character is formed. Our purpose is found. Our future is forged,” Biden said in conclusion.
“Well, I know this nation. We will pass the test. To protect freedom and autonomy, to expand equality and opportunity. We will save democracy. As difficult as these times have been, I am more optimistic about America today than what I have been all my life,” he continued.
The president said, “The state of the Union is strong, because you, the American people, are strong.”
“We are stronger today than we were a year ago,” Biden said. “And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today. Now is our time to meet and overcome the challenges of our time. And we will be, as one people. One United States. United States of America.”
Speaking to political leaders in Washington, Biden began the speech by stressing unity against Russia within the US and among its allies.
In the midst of such a pivotal moment in world politics, Biden sent a message to the world: The West is united in its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and condemns the Russian leader for his aggression. And he, too, encouraged everyone in the chamber to show that support with a resounding standing ovation, saying that the United States and its allies have “an unwavering determination that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.”
Biden argued that Putin’s aggression had only made the world’s democracies stronger in their resolve to counter rising autocracies.
“Six days ago, Vladimir Putin of Russia tried to shake the foundations of the free world, thinking he could make it bow to his menacing ways. But he miscalculated,” Biden said. “He thought that he could go into Ukraine and the world would collapse. Instead, he found a wall of resistance that he never imagined. He found the Ukrainian people.”
The president also boasted of the West’s unanimity in the face of Russian aggression, saying their united front is “inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine” and “obstructing Russia’s access to technology that will undermine its economic strength.” and will weaken your army for years to come.”
“Putin’s latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected repeated, repeated diplomatic attempts. He thought the West and NATO would not respond. He thought he could divide us at home, in this chamber and in this nation. Putin was wrong. We were ready,” Biden said.
“We spent months building a coalition of other freedom-loving nations from Europe and the Americas to Asia and Africa to take on Putin. I spent countless hours unifying our European allies. We shared with the world in advance what we knew Putin was planning and precisely how he would seek to falsely justify his aggression. We counter Russia’s lies with the truth. And now that he has acted, the free world is holding him accountable.”
The president hailed the impact the actions will have on “Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have no longer defrauded this violent regime of billions of dollars.”
“We join our European allies in finding and seizing your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private planes. We are here for your ill-gotten gains,” he said.
He also stated that “Russia’s economy is reeling and Putin alone is to blame.”
Putin, for his part, did not expect to see the speech, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “The president usually doesn’t watch speeches on television,” Peskov said in response to a question from CNN.
As the Tuesday unfolded before Biden’s primetime address, the president, his administration and their allies made it clear that Ukraine was top of mind.
The United States and its allies announced early Tuesday that they had agreed to release 60 million barrels of their reserves, as leaders seek to cushion the effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on fuel prices in the country. Vice President Kamala Harris held five separate calls with European leaders, and Biden held a half-hour call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Biden acknowledged that many Americans are concerned about how the war is affecting gasoline prices.
“I know the news about what’s going on might seem alarming. But I want you to know that we’re going to be okay,” he said. “When the history of this era is written, Putin’s war against Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.”
A return to domestic concerns in the State of the Union
During the remainder of his speech, Biden delivered a more traditional State of the Union address, laying out his domestic agenda to the American people for the coming year and calling on Congress to pass several of his proposals that have stalled despite government control. Democrats in both chambers.
He sought to highlight areas of bipartisan unity on a number of issues, and in the context of the pandemic and the state of the economy, two of the biggest issues on the minds of Americans, the president sought to convey a sense of empathy and understanding. .
The president used the speech to celebrate the passage last year of his first two major legislative agenda items, the American Bailout Plan and the bipartisan infrastructure act, as well as their effects on Americans. In addition, he repeatedly urged the audience of lawmakers in the room to move forward on their stalled priorities, such as passing the long list of elements of the Build Back Better social spending bill and confirming his nominees from the Federal Reserve. .
Biden outlined his plan for emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and called for a bipartisan “reset” of the polarization of the past two years as the nation begins a return to normalcy.
He acknowledged that Americans are “tired, frustrated, and burned out” with the pandemic, highlighting recently updated mask guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which show that “the majority of Americans in most of the country they can now be mask-free” and outlined steps the United States will take to “move forward safely.”
“Thanks to the progress we have made in the past year, Covid-19 is no longer in control of our lives,” he added. “I know that some are talking about ‘living with covid-19’. Tonight, I say that we will never accept simply living with covid-19. We will continue to fight the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will remain vigilant.”
In another area that has affected daily life, the president sought to recalibrate his economic message to acknowledge the struggles facing many Americans, saying: “The pandemic has been punishing. And many families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep up.” with the rising cost of food, gas, housing and so much more. I get it.”
“With all the bright spots in our economy, record job growth and higher wages, too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” Biden said. “Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel.”
In remarks meant to address a concern of Americans across the country, Biden said his plan to fight inflation would include investing in work-at-home jobs, allowing Americans to go back to work while making more products that are they need at the national level.
“Cut your costs, not your wages. Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods that move faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can make a good living in America. America. And instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it America,” Biden said. “Economists call it ‘increasing the productive capacity of our economy.’ I call it building a better America. My plan to combat inflation will reduce your costs and reduce the deficit.
The president unveiled what he called “a unity agenda for the nation,” a broad list of efforts with four main points: defeating the opioid pandemic, addressing mental health, supporting veterans and ending cancer.
Biden announced new efforts to combat identity theft and criminal fraud in pandemic relief programs, including the appointment of a Justice Department prosecutor tasked with identifying and prosecuting pandemic fraud. She will also announce higher penalties and more resources to prosecute fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Unemployment Insurance (UI). Biden, the White House says, will sign an executive order in the coming weeks to task federal agencies with tackling fraud and theft in their respective arenas.
Biden highlighted the efforts his administration has made to reduce gun violence, reiterated his call for Congress to pass “common sense gun violence legislation that will save lives” and urged Congress to pass his proposed budget, which includes hundreds of millions in funding for community policing and violence intervention programs, according to a White House official.
Despite the president’s efforts to unify Americans in his speech, the night was not without its controversial moments.
Several Republicans boycotted the speech over a COVID-19 testing requirement. As Biden discussed the border and immigration, at least one person on camera was heard yelling, “Build the wall.” And while paying tribute to members of the military who have gotten sick from being in contact with burn pits, Biden was interrupted by Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who interrupted by saying, “You put them in there, 13 of them,” a apparent reference to soldiers killed during the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Lawmakers quickly silenced her.
As is tradition, First Lady Jill Biden invited people who represent policies and issues the president will speak about during the speech, her office said. This year’s invitations included Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, along with educators, a union representative, members of the tech community, an organizer for Native American causes, a health care worker, and a military spouse. they were also invited to sit with the first lady in her box above the dais.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was the designated survivor for Tuesday’s speech, meaning she was the Cabinet member assigned to stay out of the chamber during the State of the Union address in case disaster struck.
CNN’s Kate Bennett, Kevin Liptak, Jake Tapper, Donald Judd and Harry Enten contributed to this report.