President Joe Biden is set to deliver his annual State of the Union address on March 7. The formal invitation was extended to him by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who acknowledged the great challenges facing the country at this moment. Biden promptly accepted the invitation on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a response of, "Looking forward to it, Mr. Speaker."
This will be Speaker Johnson's first State of the Union address as he traditionally sits behind the president and to his left during the speech to Congress. The upcoming address presents an important opportunity for President Biden to outline his broader vision and priorities as he campaigns for reelection in November.
It is worth noting that Biden's address comes after two critical deadlines to prevent a government shutdown. The funding for federal agencies responsible for veterans programs, transportation, housing, agriculture, and energy is set to expire on Jan. 19. Additionally, the funding for the rest of the federal government, including the Pentagon, State Department, and Homeland Security, will run out on Feb. 2.
The State of the Union Address: Reflecting on Biden's Latest Speech
Every year, the president delivers a highly anticipated address to Congress, traditionally taking place in late January or February. However, President Biden broke with tradition this year by delivering his address on March 7. In fact, this is the latest a president has given a State of the Union speech since 1934 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt reintroduced the practice of personally delivering the annual message.
Before this year, the most recent late State of the Union address was in 2022, when President Biden delivered it on March 1. This information comes from the Congressional Research Service, a reliable source for such historical data.
During last year's State of the Union address, President Biden passionately reiterated his commitment to completing critical components of his agenda. He vowed to take action on reducing insulin costs for all Americans, implementing stronger measures to combat climate change, banning assault-style weapons, and advocating for higher taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.
Importantly, this momentous occasion marked President Biden's first State of the Union address in front of a divided Congress. Unfortunately, some House Republicans disrupted the proceedings by interrupting and jeering at the president. Their objections were particularly noticeable when President Biden addressed attempts by certain GOP lawmakers to cut Medicare and Social Security.
The State of the Union address is always an important event in American politics, offering an opportunity for the president to articulate their vision for the future. President Biden's latest speech will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant moment in his presidency as he sets forth his agenda for the coming year.