State of the Union 2024 updates: Biden says US will set up Gaza aid port
US president hits out at Republican rival Donald Trump, touts economic record and support for Ukraine and Israel.
This live page is now closed. Thanks for following our coverage of Biden’s third State of the Union address. You can read the key takeaways from the speech here.
This live page is now closed. Thanks for following our coverage of Biden’s third State of the Union address. You can read the key takeaways from the speech here.
- US President Joe Biden says in his State of the Union address that he is directing the American military to establish a “temporary pier” on the Gaza coast to facilitate aid deliveries.
- Domestic issues, such as access to abortion and the economy, dominate Biden’s speech at the US Capitol as he seeks to distance himself from his Republican rival, Donald Trump.
- The speech comes at a critical moment for the Democratic president, who is expected to face off against Trump in November’s election.
- Biden continues to face fierce criticism over his support for Israel amid the Gaza war and concerns over his age and electability.
Thank you for joining us
This live page is now closed. Thanks for following our coverage of Biden’s third State of the Union address.
You can read the key takeaways from the speech here.
Key takeaways from the Republican rebuttal
Senator Katie Britt painted a grim picture of the US under Biden in her response to the president’s speech. She focused on his economic and immigration policies.
Here’s what she had to say:
- “President Biden just doesn’t get it. He’s out of touch. Under his administration, families are worse off, our communities are less safe, and our country is less secure.”
- “President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace. This crisis is despicable. And the truth is it is almost entirely preventable.”
- “The American people are scraping by while President Biden proudly proclaims that ‘Bidenomics’ is working. Goodness y’all, Bless his heart. We know better.”
- “President Biden has failed. We’ve become a nation in retreat, and the enemies of freedom, they see an opportunity.”
- “Our commander-in-chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader.”
Rashida Tlaib holds sign saying: ‘Stop sending bombs’
The Palestinian American congresswoman was draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh during the speech.
Her fellow progressive legislator Cori Bush also held a sign that said, “lasting ceasefire now”.
Biden’s humanitarian pier ‘absurd’, says Palestinian American analyst
Omar Baddar has dismissed Biden’s announcement that the US will establish an aid port for Gaza, saying that “no flashy manoeuvre” can cover that the US administration continues to support and arm Israel.
Biden’s Gaza port thing is just absurd! No flashy humanitarian maneuver can cover for the fact that Biden CONTINUES to arm & fund the Israeli government’s mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, & offer political cover for Netanyahu as he starves children to death. #SOTU2024
— Omar Baddar عمر بدّار (@OmarBaddar) March 8, 2024
Republican senator delivering rebuttal to Biden
Katie Britt is delivering a response to the speech from her home in Alabama, criticising Biden’s policies.
Biden further alienated voters, Palestine advocate says
Asma Mohammed, an organiser with the “no preference” voting campaign in Minnesota, which seeks to pressure Biden over his support for Israel amid the Gaza war, says his speech made her “angry”.
“I think that he further alienated voters who already were feeling like the president hasn’t been listening,” Mohammed told Al Jazeera.
She added that Biden used “flowery language” around his sympathy for Palestinians but failed to reassess US policy.
Mohammed welcomed the aid port that Biden announced for Gaza, but she questioned why Washington cannot pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow in the thousands of aid trucks waiting to enter the territory.
Biden playing ‘firefighter and arsonist’ on Gaza: US Muslim group
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the US president should use Washington’s leverage to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
“President Biden must stop trying to [play] both firefighter and arsonist during the Gaza genocide,” CAIR said in a social media post.
“He shouldn’t have to build a pier in Gaza or airdrop food on Gaza to get humanitarian aid past the Israeli blockade, nor should he simultaneously send thousands of new bombs and billions of dollars to the Israeli government.”
President Biden must stop trying to playing both firefighter and arsonist during the Gaza genocide. He shouldn't have to build a pier in Gaza or airdrop food on Gaza to get humanitarian aid past the Israeli blockade, nor should he simultaneously send thousands of new bombs and… pic.twitter.com/dGvLNfclSK
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) March 8, 2024
Biden’s Gaza port announcement not ‘sincere’ bid to end Gaza suffering: AJ analyst
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, Marwan Bishara, says Biden’s announcement of a “temporary pier” for aid in Gaza is a distraction from Washington’s continued support for Israel.
“I think a statement like that in the State of the Union address is more theatrical and more public relations … than it is a sincere attempt at bringing the end of the suffering in Gaza,” Bishara said.
Biden continues to face widespread criticism and mass protests for his staunch backing of the Israeli government.
Biden cites Palestinian death toll from Gaza Health Ministry
The US president caused an outcry in October when he cast doubt on the official Palestinian death toll in Gaza provided by the territory’s Health Ministry.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war,” he said at that time.
Months later, Biden appeared to acknowledge the ministry’s tally in his State of the Union address, saying that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.
Trump loomed large in Biden’s address
By my count, without naming Donald Trump, [Biden] mentioned him throughout the speech at least 10 times – referring to him as my predecessor.
It really was more of a campaign speech than it was a State of the Union speech.
It was unusual for the fact that not only did [Biden] mention him once, but he continued to mention him throughout the speech with each topic that was mentioned.
Biden concludes speech
The address lasted nearly 90 minutes, tackling a host of domestic and foreign policy issues.
Stay with us as we provide analysis on Biden’s State of the Union address and more.
China gets brief mention
Biden says he is standing up to China and its “unfair” trade practices.
However, he adds: “I want competition with China, not conflict.”
Biden talks up pro-Israel record
After mildly criticising Israel and calling on its leaders to allow more aid into Gaza, the American president labelled himself a “lifelong supporter” of the US ally.
“No one has a stronger requisition than I do. I challenge any of you here,” he said of his support for Israel.
Biden’s Gaza port aims to divert attention from Israel blocking aid: Advocate
Palestinian politician and rights advocate Mustafa Barghouti says the US president’s push to establish a port to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza will likely fail to alleviate a growing hunger crisis there.
“It seems to be just another effort to divert attention from the real issue here, which is that 700,000 people are starving from north Gaza down, and Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid needed to them,” Barghouti told Al Jazeera before Biden’s address.
“There are tens of thousands of trucks waiting at the Egyptian border, and we don’t understand why the Americans cannot pressure the Israelis to allow these trucks to get in.”
He added that it will take months to build such a port as people in Gaza face famine.
Another concern, according to Barghouti, is that the US and Israel may try to use the port for the mass displacement of Palestinians.
Israel needs to allow more aid into Gaza: Biden
The US president has warned the Israeli leadership against using aid to Gaza as a bargaining chip.
“Israel must do [its] part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza, ensure humanitarian workers aren’t caught in the crossfire.”
The Israeli military’s war on Gaza has been one of the deadliest for United Nations workers in the agency’s history.
Biden says US will establish Gaza aid port
Biden tells Congress the initiative will not involve US troops on the ground.
He said he directed the military to establish a “temporary pier” that would be able to “receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelter”.
Biden did not say how long it would take to set up the pier.
Biden highlights Palestinian suffering
“More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands of innocent women and children, girls and boys also orphaned.”
Biden pledges to secure release of captives held in Gaza
“Israel has a right to go after Hamas,” the US president says.
He said the Palestinian group could end the Gaza war by laying down its arms and releasing the captives.
Past months have been ‘gut-wrenching’: Biden on Gaza war
The US president has finally reached the foreign policy part of his speech.
He says the past few months have been “gut-wrenching” for Israelis and Palestinians.
Biden condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, adding that Israel has a “right to defend itself”.
Congress must pass bill to curb migration, Biden says
The US president says lawmakers should pass a pending bill that would tighten border security and create new restrictions on asylum claims.
Biden also addressed the killing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old woman who was allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant.
Riley’s death had become a rallying cry for conservatives.
“Laken Riley was killed by an illegal. But how many of thousands of people [have been] killed by ‘legals’? To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you,” Biden said.
Biden urges US lawmakers to protect voting rights, tackle climate crisis
He has called on Congress to:
- raise the minimum wage
- address the climate crisis
- defend civil rights and equality
US president calls on Congress to end ‘shrinkflation’
Biden urges lawmakers to approve a bill to tackle “shrinkflation”, a term used to describe how, instead of raising prices, companies downsize their products so the consumer gets less for the same money.
Too many corporations raise their prices to pad their profits – charging you more and more for less and less.
President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a bill ending shrinkflation. pic.twitter.com/sLoBNhD328
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 8, 2024
Democratic senator welcomes promise to cap prescription drug costs
Elizabeth Warren says Biden’s promise to cap out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 per year “would change the lives of millions of people”.
.@POTUS just called for capping out-of-pocket prescription costs for all Americans at $2,000 per year.
I spent my career studying why people go bankrupt, and a top reason is health care costs.
This action by President Biden would change the lives of millions of people.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 8, 2024
‘Pay your fair share,’ Biden tells corporations
The US president says he will reduce the budget deficit by making corporations pay their share of taxes.
“I’m a capitalist. You want to make a million or millions of bucks? That’s great. Just pay your fair share in taxes. A fair tax code is how we invest to make this country great.”
US president rebukes Trump on social media, too
Biden’s X account turned parts of his speech criticising Trump’s position on NATO and Russia into a social media post.
Donald Trump’s words are dangerous and unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/cWw31L5Mjw
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 8, 2024