State of the Union address: Everything Joe Biden said in his 2023 speech

Joe Biden offered an impassioned defence of America's post-pandemic economy and promised to tax the wealthy in a pitch to blue-collar workers in a State of the Union address that appeared to lay the ground for his 2024 re-election bid.

The US president urged Congress to unite to "finish the job" of rebuilding the economy and celebrated bipartisan achievements over the last two years but appeared to revel in jousting with raucous Republicans who heckled him at times.

At times jocular, and at other points confrontational, Mr Biden concluded his address, viewed on television by tens of millions of Americans, insisting he has “never been more optimistic about our future”.

But Mr Biden, who is expected to announce his re-election bid within weeks, faces an uphill battle to make that case to a nation struggling against persistent inflation, a wearying war in Ukraine and growing tensions with China.

In a blueprint of Mr Biden's 2024 campaign, the speech was heavily focused on bread and butter issues, rather than soaring rhetoric or foreign policy that are often hallmarks of the annual address.

The first mention of Ukraine, which Mr Biden vowed would get US support for "as long as it takes," came just under an hour into the speech.

Follow along for the latest updates

05:10 AM

That's a wrap

That is all from our blog for tonight, thanks very much for following along.

A quick recap on the night's events before we go:

• Biden honed his 2024 pitch on the country's economic resurgence by focusing on job growth and easing inflation

• The US president celebrated the bipartisan achievements of the first half of his term, calling on Congress to "finish the job"

• Biden, speaking in the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives, leaned in to GOP heckling, hitting back at the jeers

• Among the most lively scenes were Marjorie Taylor Greene's shouts of "liar" as the president spoke. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Speaker, was spotted calling his members to order as they jeered

• Embattled congressman George Santos came under friendly fire from fellow Republican Mitt Romney, who called him a “sick puppy” who “shouldn’t be in Congress”

05:01 AM

CNN poll: 72% of Americans had positive response to Biden's speech

Some 72 per cent of Americans who watched Joe Biden’s State of the Union address had a positive reaction to the speech, according to a CNN Poll.

The figure fits in with past precedent - Donald Trump got a 76 per cent positive rating, while Barack Obama and George W Bush both received 84 per cent for their performances in previous CNN polls.

However, just 34 per cent reacted very positively, the lowest in CNN’s speech reaction polls dating back to 1998.

04:38 AM

Marjorie Taylor Greene: 'I called him a liar, because that's what Joe Biden is'

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the ultra right-wing congresswoman for Georgia, has offered her own account of that contentious moment in the chamber.

04:32 AM

'He's a sick puppy': Heated exchange between George Santos and Mitt Romney

What went on between George Santos and Mitt Romney?

The Utah senator appeared to give Mr Santos, who has been mired in controversy since it emerged he embellished his CV, short shrift when he encountered him in the chamber earlier this evening.

Twitter was rife with speculation over what the Utah senator had to say to the newly-elected Republican congressman, who is facing multiple investigations over his finances and lies about his life story.

The New York congressman later weighed in himself:

Mr Romney has now clarified what he said for reporters, and it is perhaps more explosive than Twitter's army of lip readers could have guessed.

Mr Santos is a “sick puppy” who “shouldn’t be in Congress”, Mr Romney said.

04:23 AM

Trump responds to Biden's address

Donald Trump, who has already announced his 2024 presidential bid, has released a video response to Mr Biden's State of the Union address.

"Here's the real State of the Union," Mr Trump says.

Mr Trump went on to say the "good news is we are going to reverse every single crisis, calamity and disaster that Joe Biden has created".

04:03 AM

'Our freedom is under attack'

Mrs Huckabee Sanders is touting her foreign policy credentials, travelling with President Donald Trump on his international trips as his White House press secretary.

She described arriving on a US military base in Iraq during one such trip, when Mr Trump surprised troops.

The room rang out with chants of "USA! USA! USA!", she said.

"Today, our freedom is under attack and the America we love is under threat," she said.

Earlier in her address, the Arkansas governor indirectly referenced the Chinese spy balloon, saying Mr Biden’s “refusal to stand up to China is dangerous”, describing his “refusal to defend our skies”.

03:57 AM

'It's time for a new generation of Republican leadership'

The Arkansas governor, a rising star in the Republican Party, is best known for her role as Donald Trump's press secretary.

But the youngest governor in the country is considered to have a potential national role in her own right, and her speech offered plenty of red meat for the conservative base.

She said Mr Biden was "unfit to serve as commander in chief" and that his "weakness puts our nation and the world at risk."

In a comment that could be interpreted as an attack on Mr Trump as much as Mr Biden, she added: "It's time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

03:55 AM

Huckabee Sanders: Americans 'under attack from left-wing culture war'

Mrs Huckabee Sanders is continuing the theme, accusing Mr Biden and the Democrats of surrendering to a "woke" mob.

She said: "In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race."

"While you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day," she said.

"Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn't start and never wanted to fight."

03:52 AM

'I'm for freedom, he's for government control'

Mrs Huckabee Sanders is offering a glimpse of the distinction Republicans will draw with Mr Biden is he seeks re-election in 2024 as expected.

At 40, Mrs Huckabee Sanders notes she is the "youngest governor" in America. Mr Biden, she notes, "is the oldest president in American history".

"I'm for freedom, he's for government control," she says, drawing more distinctions between Republicans and Democrats.

"I’m the first woman to lead my state, and he’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is,” Mrs Huckabee Sanders said.

03:49 AM

Sarah Huckabee Sanders begins Republican response

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas' newly minted governor, has begun the traditional Republican response.

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story out here," she says.

"So forgive me for not believing much of anything I've heard tonight from the President tonight."

03:44 AM

Biden spoke for over an hour

Mr Biden began his remarks at 9:09 pm and wrapped up at 10:21 pm.

You can watch the full speech back here:

03:40 AM

'State of our union is strong'

Mr Biden wraps up his speech with his assessment of the state of the union.

“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 says, a phrase that is traditionally included by every president in this annual address.

He adds: “I’ve never been more optimistic about our future, about the future America. Just remember who we are. We’re the United States of America. And there’s nothing, nothing beyond our capacity. If we do it together.”

03:38 AM

'This is our moment' Biden says of protecting democracy

Mr Biden goes on to note that American democracy was “threatened and attacked” with the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

“Democracy must not be a partisan issue; it’s an American issue,” he says.

“Every generation, Americans faced a moment where they have been called to protect our democracy, defend it, stand up for it”

He adds: “And this is our moment.”

03:30 AM

'It's your fault': Republicans yell at Biden

One of the more notable instances of Republican rancour during the address came when Mr Biden was discussing the scourge of fentanyl.

He said: “Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year.

"Let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border.”

One or more Republicans yelled in response: “it’s your fault”.

Earlier in the night, Marjorie Taylor Greene told the president he was a liar:

03:24 AM

Republican speaker appears to shush right-wing congresswoman

Mr Biden turns to US-China relations, and is interrupted by Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right congresswoman for Georgia, who shouts: “China’s spying on us!”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is sitting behind the president, shakes his head and appeared to mouth at Ms Greene to be quiet.

It was not the only point where the Republican Speaker appeared to take members of his party to task by shushing them.

Mr Biden says: “Make no mistake about it, as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country.”

The chamber broke into chants of: “USA, USA”.

03:23 AM

'We're going to stand with Ukraine as long as it takes'

Mr Biden moves to discussing Russia's war in Ukraine. He begins by saying a year ago Vladimir Putin's "brutal war" tested whether America and its allies would stand together against his invasion. “One year later, we know the answer. Yes, we would. And we did,” he says.

Mr Biden turns to directly address the Ukrainian ambassador to Washington, who is a special guest at tonight's event.

“We’re going to stand with you as long as it takes,” he tells her, although he offers no details on new financial or military aid.

03:18 AM

Biden calls for gun reform and abortion rights

Mr Biden calls on Congress to “do something about gun violence”.

He also calls on lawmakers to codify "every woman's constitutional right to choose" after the overturning of Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 bill enshrining abortion rights nationwide.

There is virtually no prospect of that happening, given the Republican majority in the House.

But Mr Biden warns Republicans: "If Congress passes a national abortion ban, I will veto it."

03:15 AM

How is Biden's speech going down?

03:00 AM

Biden addresses Tyre Nichols' parents

There is near silence as Mr Biden notes that the parents of Tyre Nichols, the black motorist who died after being beaten by police in Memphis, are guests tonight.

Mr Biden asks lawmakers to consider the pain of losing a child at the hands of police as he calls on Congress to address police accountability.

He says: "There are no words to describe the heartbreak and grief of losing a child.

"But imagine what it’s like to lose a child at the hands of the law."

He says: “When police officers or departments violate the public’s trust, we must hold them accountable”.

It is a line that attracts applause from some Republicans, although many have so far opposed proposals to pass sweeping police reforms.

Mr Biden treads a fine line, calling out police brutality while also saying officers need more resources and training.

"I know most cops are good, decent people," he says, "But what happened to Tyre in Memphis happens too often."

02:53 AM

Biden enjoys trading jibes with GOP

Mr Biden continues the jibes, accusing some Republicans of threatening US government programmes Medicare and Social Security.

He says: "Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage unless I agree to their economic plans. All of you at home should know what their plans are.

"Other Republicans say if we don’t cut Social Security and Medicare, they’ll let America default on its debt for the first time in our history."

Mr Biden appears to be relishing the back and forth with some of the Republicans who have jeered at him.

After Republicans pushed back at his claim on ending Medicare and Social Security, the president responds: "I'm glad to see it, I enjoy conversion," it is a line that provokes a lot of laughter.

02:50 AM

Biden ribs Republicans over debt limit

Mr Biden has turned his fire on Republicans, who are threatening not to raise the debt limit despite doing so three times under Donald Trump.

He said: “Tonight, I’m asking this Congress to follow suit.”

Mr Biden lightly accuses Republicans of hypocrisy. “Under the previous administration, the American deficit went up four years in a row," he said, blaming Mr Trump for racking up nearly a quarter "of the entire national debt, a debt that took over 200 years to accumulate" while in office.

The remarks are met with sharp boos from Republicans in the chamber. "They’re the facts, check it out,” Mr Biden retorts.

02:47 AM

Biden calls for billionaire tax

Mr Biden called for Congress to pass a minimum tax on the wealthiest and the biggest corporations.

"I’m a capitalist. But just pay your fair share," he says.

He says: "Reward work, not just wealth. Pass my proposal for a billionaire minimum tax.

"Because no billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a school teacher or a firefighter” to raucous applause from Democrats.

02:38 AM

'We're still going to need oil and gas'

The president called the climate crisis an "existential threat".

But in an apparent ad-lib, Mr Biden then says: “We’re still going to need oil and gas for a while”. It is a comment that gets loud cheers from Republicans, but will undoubtedly rankle some members of his own party.

Mr Biden adds: “But there’s so much more to do” in reference to tackling climate change.

"The climate crisis doesn't care if you're in a red or blue state. It's an existential threat. We have an obligation not to ourselves but to our children and grandchildren to confront it," he says.

02:35 AM

Scenes within the chamber

From our US Editor Nick Allen, who is in the chamber:

Before Mr Biden's speech began Bono was seated on the balcony, just in front of Jill Biden.

The U2 singer is a guest of the Bidens, and the First Lady shook hands with him as she was seated.

Earlier, Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican congresswoman, carried a white helium balloon through the corridors of Congress.

She said: "The number one thing he [Mr Biden] needs to address is hovering above me."

On the floor of the House, Senator Ted Cruz took a picture on his mobile phone.

Mitt Romney, the Republican senator, engaged in lengthy conversation with conservative Democrat senator Joe Manchin.

02:26 AM

'A president for all Americans'

Mr Biden is reaching across the aisle to Republicans in the chamber, listing the numerous bipartisan bills passed during the last two years.

"We’re often told that Democrats and Republicans can’t work together. But over the past two years, we proved the cynics and the naysayers wrong," he said.

He added: “You know, my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together and find consensus on important things in this Congress as well.”

The line received ample applause in the chamber.

Mr Biden went on to say he was a "president for all Americans" as he listed the projects he has worked on with Republicans and Democrats alike.

He cannot resist poking fun, however, at Republicans who opposed his signature infrastructure legislation but still take credit for local projects, telling them: “I'll see you at the groundbreaking."

There are some lines that are getting Republicans on their feet to applaud along with Democrats.

In particular, citing bipartisan semiconductor legislation, known on the Hill as the "chips bill", gets members of both parties in their feet.

The bill, passed last year, aims to counter the rising threat of China's dominance of the critical semiconductor industry, the small computer chips that power everything from mobiles to cars.

02:22 AM

Relentless economic focus

Mr Biden is relentlessly focusing on positive signs for the US economy. His message so far has been a pitch to the country's blue collar workers, but he faces an uphill battle.

Just a quarter of US adults say things in the country are headed in the right direction, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About three-quarters say things are on the wrong track.

02:14 AM

US economy better positioned 'than any on Earth'

Mr Biden has opened with an optimistic pitch to Americans. "We're writing the next chapter of the great American story," he told the audience.

Mr Biden says: “As I stand here tonight, we have created a record 12 million new jobs, more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years.”

The president says that two years on since the pandemic led to widespread lock downs, “today Covid no longer controls our lives.”

The 80-year-old says he ran for president to restore the backbone of the country, "the middle class".

He says: "Because when the middle class does well, the poor have a ladder up and the wealthy still do very well."

He says the results of his term so far are a "50-year low" unemployment rate and the creation of "800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs".

Mr Biden says of persistently high inflation, it has been “a global problem" because of the disruption of the pandemic and "Putin’s war”.

But he goes on to say: "But we're better positioned than any country on Earth right now."

He adds that "inflation is coming down" while "take home pay has gone up".

02:14 AM

And we are underway...

Kevin McCarthy, the House Speaker, has opened the night by presenting Joe Biden to the chamber.

The US president begins by acknowledging those present: his military chiefs, US Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and the American public.

He turns to Mr McCarthy and congratulates him on becoming the new Speaker.

"Speaker: I don't want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you," he jokes to the Republican, prompting laughter from Mr McCarthy and the chamber.

Mr Biden also congratulated Hakeem Jeffries, the Democrats' House minority leader, and the first African American in the role.

He then turned to the Senate counterparts - Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader.

He said he wanted to give "special recognition" to Nancy Pelosi, whom he said would go down as "the greatest Speaker in the history of this country". Mrs Pelosi, dressed in a bright pink suit, blew a kiss towards the president in acknowledgment.

02:09 AM

Tardy president chats to the crowd

Joe Biden, perhaps not best known for his punctuality, is slowly making his way through the chamber, greeting attendees as he makes his way to the rostrum.

As Mr Biden entered the chamber he received a standing ovation from Democrats, our US Editor Nick Allen reports from within the chamber.

All Republicans, apart from Marjorie Taylor Greene and one other, stood as he entered.

Some Republicans applauded, while some did not.

One Republican congressman made a "cut" gesture as Democrats continued to applaud.

02:06 AM

Paul Pelosi and Bono exchange words

The White House has a number of guests attending this evening's State of the Union.

The ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova, was invited by First Lady Jill Biden. The White House called it a "recognition of sustained US support for Ukraine nearly a year after Russia launched its unprovoked attack."

The White House has also invited Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He was attacked by an intruder in their California home in October.

Celebrities have also made the list with Bono, lead singer of Irish band U2, invited for his work to fight HIV/AIDS and poverty.

The White House has also invited Brandon Tsay, who disarmed a gunman responsible for a mass shooting in Monterey Park, California.

Other guests include cancer survivor Darlene Gaffney; Amanda Zurawski who was not able to obtain abortion services due to Texas's abortion ban and Doug Griffin, who lost his 20-year-old daughter to a fentanyl overdose.

02:01 AM

Who is the designated survivor?

As Joe Biden's cabinet enter the House of Representatives, you will notice there is one member missing: Marty Walsh.

It is customary for one member of the president's cabinet to be housed in a secure location and tasked with taking over the government in case of a catastrophe that impairs the president and his other successors at the Capitol.

Mr Walsh, the US Labor Secretary, has been picked as the "designated survivor" this year.

01:56 AM

Backdrop to Biden's address very different to a year ago

Mr Biden’s address from the House rostrum will take place in a sharply different context from a year ago, when the president's highly efficient lieutenant Nancy Pelosi was seated behind him as House speaker

Republicans now control the chamber, and the party's newly empowered hard-right flank is itching to undo many of Mr Biden’s signature policies, as well as raising the spectre of persistent investigations - including into the recent discoveries of classified documents from his time as vice president at his home and former office.

Mrs Pelosi's been replaced by Republican Kevin McCarthy, and it was unclear what kind of reception restive Republicans in the chamber would give the Democratic president.

Mr McCarthy previewed the GOP approach to the State of the Union in an interview on CNBC:

01:56 AM

Play along: Biden bingo

Given Mr Biden's penchant for frequently repeating his favourite phrases, supporters and detractors are assembling bingo cards of what reliable words and phrases he's most likely to use during the speech.

From the League of Women Voters to the National Constitution Center and the Washington media outlet Punchbowl News, groups have produced their versions of the cards. When "Bidenisms" come up, especially attentive viewers can cross them off.

Some card list common one such as "folks," "not a joke" and "inflection point." Others are more policy focused. Think "Ukraine," "gas," "inflation" and "tax cuts."

Many versions of the cards make the centre square a free space. But even that can come with a dose of ideology. The conservative Americans for Tax Reform's bingo card referred to it as "tax-payer funded 'free' space."

01:48 AM

Republicans vow to be 'respectful'

The evening has begun with cordial bipartisan spirit with the House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, extending his hand to Kamala Harris, the vice president, as she approached the rostrum in the House of Representatives.

Mr McCarthy vowed to be "respectful" during the address and in turn asked Mr Biden to refrain from using the phrase "extreme MAGA Republicans," which the president deployed on the campaign trail in 2022.

"I won't tear up the speech, I won't play games," Mr McCarthy told reporters, a reference to Nancy Pelosi's dramatic action after Donald Trump's final State of the Union address.

01:45 AM

Biden 'feeling good'

Joe Biden has left the White House and is making the short drive from the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue to the US Capitol building.

Mr Biden said he was “feeling good” as he walked from the White House into his armoured presidential limousine, known as The Beast.

Asked what the state of the union was, he told reporters: “great shape. Getting better.”

His challenge tonight is to convince Americans of that.

01:36 AM

'The Beast' sits waiting to transport Biden

01:34 AM

How Biden prepares for big speeches

The State of the Union is a US president's biggest speech of the year, with millions of Americans tuning in to watch it live.

For Joe Biden, the first modern president to have a stutter, preparation is key for the time in the spotlight.

The president is known to mark his speeches with lines and dashes to help him navigate difficult passages, and remind himself to take a pause for breath. Some have compared it to marking up a sheet of music.

Mr Biden has spoken at length about how he navigated his stutter since boyhood, discussing how he practiced reciting lines from his favourite Irish poets to help him overcome it.

Mr Biden has reportedly been rehearsing drafts of his speech since November, although revisions and edits were expected to be made up until the very last moment.

He is particularly insistent to speechwriters that they use clear language, and despises acronyms, which he argues put off ordinary Americans listening at home.

The president has a small, tight knit group of advisers whom he prepares with. They include Anita Dunn and Steve Ricchetti, who have worked with Mr Biden for years.

He spent the weekend with his advisers practicing in front of teleprompters at Camp David, his presidential retreat.

According to the New York Times, Mr Biden was reading through a final draft of his last State of the Union address up until shortly before he delivered the remarks.

His markings for pauses and breaths were not transferred over to his teleprompter - Mr Biden relied on his memory and the draft in front of him.

01:17 AM

Biden to argue the case for supporting Ukraine

In his speech, the president is expected to highlight the US response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the strength of the Nato alliance.

With some Republicans questioning the level of spending on Ukraine he was expected to make the case for continued large-scale support.

Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, was invited as a guest of Mr Biden and his wife Jill.

01:06 AM

'Finish the job'

Joe Biden will use his State of the Union address tonight to call on Republicans to work with him to "finish the job" of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he seeks to overcome pessimism in the country and navigate political divisions in Washington.

But he faces an uphill battle, with the nation struggling with economic uncertainty, a wearying war in Ukraine and growing tensions with China as it warily sizes up Mr Biden's fitness for a likely re-election bid.

The US president is expected to offer a reassuring assessment of the nation's condition rather than rolling out flashy policy proposals.

“To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress,” Mr Biden will say, according to excerpts trailed by the White House.

“The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere. And that’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America - the middle class - to unite the country. We’ve been sent here to finish the job.”

01:04 AM

Good evening

Hello and welcome to The Telegraph's live blog for tonight's State of the Union address.

Joe Biden is set to address the nation at 9pm eastern time, 2am in the UK.

The US president is expected to call for taxes on the wealthy to be raised in his address, offering a blueprint for his 2024 re-election campaign.

You can read more here from or US Editor Nick Allen on what we are expecting from the US president's biggest TV audience of the year.