Monday, 25 Aug 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > 5 key takeaways from Biden’s 1st State of the Union
World

5 key takeaways from Biden’s 1st State of the Union

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
5 key takeaways from Biden’s 1st State of the Union
SHARE
ABC News

March 1, 2022, 8:08 PM

President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address looked very different Tuesday night than it would have a few weeks ago — before Russia invaded Ukraine, inflation kept rising and coronavirus guidance dramatically shifted.

From the war in Ukraine to rising prices at home, here’s a look at the key takeaways from Biden’s first State of the Union address to Congress.

Calling out Putin by name

The president kicked off his speech with strong words of support for the Ukrainian people and their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Jabin Botsford,Pool/Getty Images)PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Jabin Botsford,Pool/Getty Images)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Jabin Botsford,Pool/Getty Images)

“From President Zelenskyy to every Ukrainian,” he said, “their fearlessness, their courage, their determination, literally inspires the world.

The president praised his strategy of standing in lockstep with Europe and NATO allies in imposing harsh sanctions on Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, arguing they solidified the NATO alliance and that the Russian president was now “more isolated from the world than he has ever been.”

“Putin’s latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and totally unprovoked,” Biden said. “He rejected repeated — repeated efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. He thought he could divide us at home, in this chamber, in this nation. He thought he could divide us in Europe as well. But Putin was wrong. We are ready.”

The president also announced the U.S. would ban Russian airlines from American airspace, after Europe and Canada took similar steps Sunday.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Saul Loeb, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Saul Loeb, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Saul Loeb, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)

“When dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: US to ban Russian flights from its airspace

First lady Jill Biden hosted Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, as a guest in her box. She received a standing ovation from Democrats and Republicans, many of whom wore the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.

The president devoted about one-fifth of his speech to Ukraine — and received rare bipartisan applause for much of what he said — a significant chunk in an address typically focused on partisan domestic issues.

Heavy focus on countering inflation

With low approval ratings for his handling of the economy – and inflation top of mind for Americans – Biden proclaimed: “I get it.”

PHOTO: President Joe Biden greets Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer as Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol's House Chamber, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)PHOTO: President Joe Biden greets Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer as Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol's House Chamber, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden greets Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer as Biden arrives to deliver the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol’s House Chamber, March 1, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Too many families are struggling to keep up with their bills,” he said. “Inflation is robbing them of gains they thought otherwise they would be able to feel.”

He said his “top priority is getting prices under control.”

But many of his proposals will rely on a Congress that has been reluctant to pass much of his social spending proposals.

Emphasizing the need to boost domestic manufacturing, Biden also called for some specific items that would have been part of his stalled “Build Back Better” plan: cutting the cost of prescription drugs, combating climate change in order to lower energy costs, lowering the cost of child care, and instituting free, universal pre-K, among other initiatives.

He touted the nation’s economic recovery but acknowledged that factories had closed, supply chains had been disrupted and prices had gone up.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the United States House of Representatives chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Shawn Thew, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the United States House of Representatives chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Shawn Thew, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the United States House of Representatives chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (Shawn Thew, Pool/EPA via Shutterstock)

Biden said his “plan to fight inflation” was, “Lower your costs, not your wages.”

A new phase in the coronavirus pandemic

Biden acknowledged Americans were “tired, frustrated and exhausted” from the coronavirus pandemic — but also signaled the U.S. was entering a new phase.

“We’ve reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19, where severe cases are down to a level not seen since July of last year,” he said.

MORE: Biden to signal new phase in pandemic as learning to live safely with COVID

He announced his administration was launching a “test-to-treat” program where Americans who test positive for COVID at drugstores could then receive free antiviral pills to treat the virus.

PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin, left, Sen. Roger Wicker, right, and Sen. John Barrasso, listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite,POOL/AFP via Getty Images)PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin, left, Sen. Roger Wicker, right, and Sen. John Barrasso, listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite,POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Sen. Joe Manchin, left, Sen. Roger Wicker, right, and Sen. John Barrasso, listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite,POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The president also said Americans would be able to order even more free rapid tests from COVIDTests.gov starting next week.

He warned the U.S. must “prepare for new variants” — and noted that scientists could “deploy new vaccines within 100 days” if necessary.

“Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, COVID-19 no longer need control our lives,” Biden said.

“Last year, COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we’re finally together again.”

Transformed chamber

Few masks made appearances in the House of Representatives chamber where Biden spoke.

Under new protocols announced Sunday, attendees did not have to wear face coverings. Biden did not don one like he did last year; attendance was also much more restricted in 2021.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 1, 2022. (Pool/Reuters)PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 1, 2022. (Pool/Reuters)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 1, 2022. (Pool/Reuters)

The president hobnobbed with members of Congress at close range in a scene reminiscent of pre-pandemic State of the Union events.

All attendees had to show a negative PCR coronavirus test to gain admittance, and several Republicans boycotted the speech by refusing to test.

But the testing did turn up at least four positive cases among lawmakers.

‘A unity agenda for the nation’

Biden has made a quest for bipartisanship a hallmark of his presidency, and during his speech he proposed what he called “a unity agenda for the nation.”

In addition to listing a variety of proposals that would have been part of a larger “Build Back Better” bill that passed the House but stalled in the Senate because of opposition from Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, he called for legislation to to invest in cancer research, support veterans, combat domestic violence and more.

“We can do these things,” Biden said. “It’s within our power.”

5 key takeaways from Biden’s 1st State of the Union originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Biden condemns Putin, projects unity in State of Union address Biden condemns Putin, projects unity in State of Union address
Next Article State of the Union: Biden touts courage of Ukraine, makes ‘clear’ US troops won’t engage in conflict State of the Union: Biden touts courage of Ukraine, makes ‘clear’ US troops won’t engage in conflict

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

NYT Mini crossword solutions, hints for December 20, 2024

The Mini is a bite-sized model of The New York Occasions' revered each day crossword.…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

The Perils of Slow Vote-Counting and Delayed Election Results

What happens when Election Day lasts for weeks?The short, glib answer to that question is…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘We Need to Talk About Cosby.’ (Among Others.)

Appreciating art, especially narrative art, requires a moral sensibility. It’s what allows you to distinguish…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Taylor Swift Involves Paparazzi’s Protection in opposition to Safety at Chiefs Sport

Taylor Swift gave safety at Arrowhead Stadium a crash course in good manners on Sunday,…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Mushroom lunch survivor forgives Erin Patterson, saying she has ‘become the victim of my kindness’
World

Mushroom lunch survivor forgives Erin Patterson, saying she has ‘become the victim of my kindness’

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Erin Patterson plea listening to reside updates: mushroom homicide prepare dinner faces victims’ households in pre-sentence listening to – newest information
World

Erin Patterson plea listening to reside updates: mushroom homicide prepare dinner faces victims’ households in pre-sentence listening to – newest information

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Australia politics stay: Labor units October begin date for expanded first residence patrons scheme; home to debate internet zero
World

Australia politics stay: Labor units October begin date for expanded first residence patrons scheme; home to debate internet zero

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Household of man who died at North Tyneside fairground describe their ‘impossible’ ache
World

Household of man who died at North Tyneside fairground describe their ‘impossible’ ache

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?