Recapping the State of the Union Address and the GOP Rebuttal

U.S. President Joe Bide presented a fiery State of the Union address on Thursday evening, highlighting what he has accomplished in the Oval Office during his first term and looking to engage his base heading into the 2024 presidential election.

Here is a recap of the president's address to both houses of Congress as well as to a national audience.

Biden Delivers Raucous State of the Union

It was clear that the Biden administration had a goal of presenting the president as energetic and ready to continue to serve the country during Thursday's State of the Union address.

Biden veered off course frequently during the address, ad-libbing many lines and taking issue with some of his Republican opponents in the audience on Capitol Hill.

For instance, when interrupted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene regarding the murder of a Georgia nursing student by an undocumented immigrant, the president engaged with Greene and took on her challenge of saying the victim's name out loud.

Democratic leaders were overwhelmingly positive about the president's approach to being a bit more combative than usual in his speech, taking on the criticism head-on and with a forceful nature not typically seen.

Biden devoted a great deal of time to discussing his views on reproductive rights and taxes. He also pointedly called out the GOP for not working together to pass a bipartisan border security bill.

Although Biden never mentioned former President Donald Trump by name, he referred to him over a dozen times over the course of the address.

Critics of the president from the other side of the aisle responded to the address by saying that it came off as a campaign speech more than a traditional State of the Union.

Significant Amount of Time Spent on International Issues

The State of the Union address is typically reserved for discussions that focus on domestic issues.

However, this particular address put a greater emphasis on the international landscape. A number of global tensions necessitated that Biden tackle these topics during his address.

The president was clear in his resolve to push more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

He also used the time behind the podium to announce that he was sending the U.S. military to build a temporary port in Gaza in an effort to facilitate the flow of food, water, and medicine into the embattled region.

Biden also touched on the crisis in Ukraine, affirming his support for the ally. He also used this part of the speech to blast Trump for being too cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Youngest GOP Female Senator Delivers Rebuttal Speech

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt was selected to give the GOP rebuttal address. Britt is distinguished as the youngest Republican woman ever elected to serve in the U.S. Senate.

She used her time in front of the nation to criticize Biden for his handling over the border and economy.

Republican leaders have increasingly touted the 42-year-old junior senator as the voice for the new generation of Americans, using her youth to juxtapose to Biden's age.

While many political experts were complimentary of the substance of Britt's rebuttal, the delivery was criticized by many on both sides of the aisle.

The placement of Britt's speech from her own kitchen was the most significant criticism with those in the Democratic Party pointing out that the staging was another sign that the GOP is taking a step backward in regards to female voters.

Britt was also criticized for what many pundits saw as an overly dramatic delivery that relied on scare tactics to make a point.

Biden Campaign Hauls it in During Address

The Biden campaign enjoyed a significant boost in its coffers as a result of the address. A campaign official confirmed that the president saw its most lucrative hours in the online fundraising space between the hours of 9 pm and 11 pm, coincidentally the time period that the address was airing.

The influx of money came after the campaign reported its largest haul from grassroots donors during the month of February.

Early estimates detail that the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party raised in excess of $42 million throughout February, including almost $2 million on the last day of the month.

Protester Arrested During Address

Supporters of the president had expressed concern heading into the address that protesters could mar the event. While the speech was largely free of disruptions, one man was arrested and subsequently charged with a misdemeanor after interrupting the president's address.

According to a statement by the Capitol Police, Steve Nikoui had been warned to stop shouting out while the president was speaking. When he did not comply with the request, he was removed from the House chamber and arrested.

Nikoui is the father of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of 13 servicemembers that lost their lives during a suicide bombing attack outside of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021.

Biden responded to the disruption by saying that the country is safer today than when he took office.

Illegally disrupting Congress is a misdemeanor charge that comes with a $50 fine.