Joe Biden's State of the Union address: Key Highlights

Former President Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social that he plans to provide real-time commentary during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday evening.

Ahead of Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday evening, tensions rose as demonstrators gathered near the White House to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The US Secret Service temporarily restricted access to Pennsylvania Avenue, though protesters congregated at Lafayette Park’s edge, opposite St. John’s Episcopal Church, displaying signs that expressed disapproval of the administration’s stance on Israel.

A driver halted his vehicle near the protest, causing a disturbance with the loud revving of his engine. This action led to his removal from the vehicle and subsequent detention by the police.

Former US President Donald Trump criticized current President Joe Biden in the lead-up to his State of the Union address, in an X video.

Trump accused Biden of evading responsibility for what he termed “horrific devastation” caused by his administration’s policies, stating, “Joe Biden is on the run from his record and lying like crazy to try to escape accountability for the horrific devastation he and his party have created-- all the while, they continue the very policies that are causing this horror show to go,” and added, “We cannot take it any longer as a country.”

Trump also disparaged Biden’s upcoming address, labeling it a “sad excuse for a State of the Union address.”

As the leading GOP candidate for 2024, Trump claimed that he had bequeathed to Biden the “most secure border in United States history,” citing policies such as “Remain in Mexico,” an asylum ban, title 42, a 571-mile border wall, and rapid deportations.

Trump asserted, “We gave him Remain in Mexico, very tough to get but I got it…an asylum ban, title 42, 571 miles of border wall, rapid deportations and much more." He concluded by accusing Biden and his administration of intentionally dismantling these policies, saying, “Safest border in the history of our country. As soon as he got in, Crooked Joe, and his radical left lunatics deliberately dismantled each and every one of those polices that were so good.”

Charles Barkley slammed President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party for caring "about black people" only before elections.

"The reason I think the Democratic Party and Mr. Biden, President Biden, is losing black votes is they only care about black people every four years," Barkley said on Wednesday on CNN's "King Charles" show.

The names of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are also mentioned in the list of Biden's guests.

“Each of these individuals were invited by the White House because they personify issues or themes to be addressed by the president in his speech, or they embody the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies at work for the American people,” US First Lady Jill Biden's office said in a statement.

From cancelling the border wall construction to not taking name of Laken Riley, Republicans chastised Biden over several key issues. They called out his "hypocrisy", stating that it will be “once again on full display” tonight.

"Joe Biden has a fence up to protect him during the #SOTU tonight. But won’t finish the wall at our southern border to protect Americans. Protection for him, not for us," Rep. Tom Tiffany tweeted.

"Today, the House will pass the Laken Riley Act to honor the memory a 22-year-old woman who was murdered by an illegal alien who never should've been allowed to cross into our country. Biden is neglecting the safety of American citizens. At the SOTU tonight, he should #SayHerName," Rep. Mary Miller wrote on X.

"Joe Biden cancelled construction of the border wall on day one of his Regime but just built a wall in front of the capitol the night before the SOTU," Rep. Lauren Boebert posted on X.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lambasted Joe Biden over surge in migrant crossings along the southern border. She also cited nursing student Laken Riley, who was allegedly murdered by a Venezuelan migrant.

Kate Cox, the woman who fled Texas for an abortion, has emphasised the "terrifying" impact on women and families following the supreme court's ban on abortion.

Having to travel out of state for the treatment "added a lot of pain and suffering to what was already the most devastating time of our lives," Cox said in an interview with CNN.

Joe Biden clinched Hawaii's Democratic presidential primary on Wednesday with 66% of the vote, according to the Hawaii Democratic Party.

Out of 1,563 cast in the contest, 29% chose "uncommitted".

Ahead of Biden's speech, GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly appealed to his party leaders to show “decorum” on Thursday.

A unnamed Republican told Hill that Johnson in a closed-door meeting said: “Decorum is the order of the day.”

Another Republican was quoted as saying: the GOP House Speaker said: “Let’s have the appropriate decorum. We don’t need to be shrill, you know, we got to avoid that. We need to base things upon policy, upon facts, upon reality of situations.”

Joe Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said the president's speech would focus on his vision for the United States' future and his legislative achievements.

“You’re going to hear the president address how democracy is under attack, how freedoms are certainly under attack,” including women’s reproductive rights and voting rights, she told MSNBC.

The White House confirmed that Olena Zelenska, the Ukraine's First Lady, and Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, refused invitations to attend Biden's State of the Union (SoTU) address on Thursday.

The White House intended to place Zelenska and Navalnaya next to First Lady Jill Biden, according to the Washington Post.

Biden would preview the steps that will be part of a proposed fiscal 2025 budget released next week, which aims to cut the federal deficit by $3 trillion while reducing taxes for low-income Americans. Most of Biden’s tax proposals hinge on the win of Democrats in chambers of Congress in November, which appears uncertain.

Biden proposes raising corporate taxes further, imposing stricter limits on business deductions, and also seeking to extend the Trump-era tax cuts for those earning under $400,000. As consumers continue to struggle with high prices, Biden will outline steps to combat corporate practices like "shrinkflation" and exploitative credit card fees.

After Biden's Union address, Katie Boyd Britt, the junior senator from Alabama, will deliver the the response of Republican party. Her remarks would be critical as her home state became a part of discussion and debate following the Alabama Supreme Court's decision that embryos developed through in vitro fertilization are people.

“The Republican Party is the party of hardworking parents and families, and I’m looking forward to putting this critical perspective front and center,” she said, as per Washington Post.

During his key address, US President Joe Biden aims to announce his plans to target the super-rich and corporate America with sweeping tax increases in tonight's State of the Union address. Biden plans to implement a minimum 25% tax for the wealthiest Americans, i.e., individuals with wealth exceeding $100 million, targeting figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

The proposal is motivated by concerns that wealthy individuals pay lower tax rates compared to working families. He also plans to increase the minimum corporate tax rate from 21% to 25%.

US President Joe Biden's 2024 State of the Union address is being broadcast live on several websites, including WH.gov, live TV stations, and all major news channels. You can click here to watch his address live and keep following us for all the latest updates.

First Lady Jill Biden has extended an invitation to Kate Cox, the mother of two who sued the state of Texas in 2023 for the right to abort her pregnancy.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine has sent an invitation to Elizabeth Carr, the first person born through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the United States.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has invited Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich's parents. The journalist was detained in Russia on March 29 on the charges of espionage.

Moreover, the relatives of US citizens, who were killed or taken hostage by Hamas after the October 7 attack, have also received the invitation.

Speaker Johnson has invited Zunxu Tian and Ben Kurian, the two New York policemen who fought a mob outside a migrant shelter in Times Square.

81-year-old Biden's 2024 address comes amid growing criticism and concerns about his mental capacity to lead the country. It's expected that he will try to quell voter concerns about his job performance and make an election pitch against Donald Trump. Read more here

US President Joe Biden will make his third State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7.

During his crucial speech to Congress, Biden is expected to lays out his vision ahead of the presidential elections. He is also expected to highlight the achievements of his administration, effective policies and creates a political narrative.