A new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows that Americans are split on who they trust to do a better job leading the country, with 36% trusting Trump, 33% trusting Biden, and 30% trusting neither. Republicans trust Trump more, while Democrats trust Biden more. Both candidates have similarly low favorability ratings. Biden's recent State of the Union address was well-received by 29% of Americans, and he received higher marks than Trump on climate change and abortion. However, Trump is rated more favorably on the economy, inflation, crime, and immigration. Americans' approval of Biden's handling of the war between Israel and Hamas has decreased, and his handling of abortion has improved. The poll suggests that voters' views on key issues will be crucial in the 2024 presidential election.
During President Biden's State of the Union address, he mistakenly referred to Laken Riley as "Lincoln" Riley, causing USC football coach Lincoln Riley to trend on social media. Pat McAfee, host of "The Pat McAfee Show," initially thought the coach had died due to the trending topic. Biden's mishap was criticized by Laken's mother, Allyson Phillips, and others, with some attributing the error to his policies.
Gold Star father Steve Nikoui, whose son was killed during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, was arrested after heckling President Biden during the State of the Union address by repeatedly shouting "Abbey Gate." Nikoui's outburst referenced the attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed 13 U.S. service members, including his son. He was removed from the House Galleries, arrested by Capitol Police, and charged with misdemeanor. Nikoui was attending as a guest of Florida Rep. Brian Mast, who brought him to the Capitol to highlight the impact of the Afghanistan withdrawal on American families.
During his State of the Union address, President Biden urged Republican lawmakers to pass a bipartisan immigration compromise that stalled last month, criticizing them for derailing the proposal for political reasons. The proposal would tighten asylum rules, expand legal immigration levels, and provide additional funding for border operations. Biden accused his predecessor, Donald Trump, of influencing Republicans to oppose the bill. The president's comments drew heckles from Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, prompting him to express condolences to the family of a Georgia nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant. Biden's administration has faced record levels of migration and criticism on immigration, with the president seeking to embrace tougher border policies while drawing distinctions from Trump.
President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union Address, emphasizing the unprecedented challenges facing the United States, including the assault on freedom and democracy both at home and abroad. He called for standing up to Russian President Putin's aggression in Ukraine and defending democracy against domestic threats. Biden also highlighted economic achievements, proposed initiatives to lower prescription drug costs, improve healthcare, and make housing more affordable, and emphasized the importance of education and reproductive rights.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has been chosen as the designated survivor for the 2024 State of the Union address, making him the 16th in the presidential line of succession. The designated survivor is a Cabinet member who would take over the presidency in the event of a catastrophic incident at the Capitol during the address. This tradition, which likely originated during the Cold War, has seen various Cabinet members serve as designated survivors in the past, with Cardona being the latest in a line that includes Marty Walsh, Gina Raimondo, and others.
A recent CBS News poll reveals that most Americans perceive the "state of the union" as divided, with negative evaluations such as "declining" and "weak" being the top choices. However, there has been an uptick in positive views regarding the economy, with 39% of respondents rating it as good, the highest since fall 2021. Additionally, immigration and the border situation are key concerns for the public, with most considering it a serious issue. President Biden's approval rating on his handling of the economy has improved slightly, but remains below 50%.
First Lady Jill Biden will host a diverse group of guests in the viewing box for President Biden's State of the Union Address, each representing issues or themes to be addressed in the speech or embodying the administration's policies. The guests include individuals advocating for reproductive rights, cancer care, gun violence prevention, union workers, healthcare affordability, clean energy, and military families, as well as international figures like Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden.
First Lady Jill Biden has invited Kate Cox, a Texas woman who was denied an emergency abortion by the state's Supreme Court, to be her guest at President Biden's State of the Union address in March. Cox, who was forced to seek court permission for an abortion due to a nonviable pregnancy threatening her life, accepted the invitation. President Biden and Democrats are emphasizing abortion issues in the 2024 presidential campaign, highlighting Republican extremism on the issue and former President Trump's role in appointing conservative justices.
