President Joe Biden, 81, addressed the age issue head-on during Thursday’s State of the Union address, joking about it but also suggesting that his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, 77, , will lead with “old” ideas.
He made those present laugh when he said, “I know it may not seem like it, but I’ve been here for a while.”
Biden then took a more serious tone about the differences between him and Trump as leaders.
‘My “My fellow Americans, the problem facing our nation is not how old we are, but how old our ideas are,” the president said. “Hate, anger, revenge and retribution are the oldest ideas, but you can’t lead America with old ideas and only set us back.”
He told the crowd that “when you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever.”
President Joe Biden, 81, addressed the age issue head-on during Thursday’s State of the Union address, joking about it but also suggesting that his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, 77, , will lead with “old” ideas.
“I know American history,” the 81-year-old said. ‘And again I have seen the contest between rival forces in the battle for the soul of our nation.
“Between those who want to move America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future,” Biden continued.
‘My life has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on the fundamental values that have defined America: honesty, decency, dignity and equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair chance. So as not to give hate a safe harbor,” the president added.
He then alluded to his rival, Trump, as the general election began in earnest this week, with Trump’s latest rival, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, dropping out.
“Other people my age see it differently,” Biden said. ‘The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution.’
“That’s not me,” he said.
At least at last year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump told the crowd, “I am your retribution.”
Biden then reminded voters of his folksy biography.
‘I was born in the middle of World War II, when the United States defended the freedom of the world. “I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware, among working-class people who built this country,” he said.
“I watched in horror as two of my heroes, as many of you did, Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, were assassinated and was inspired by their legacy: a career in service,” Biden continued.
Kennedy’s son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is running against Biden in the general election as an independent.
“I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only American city occupied by the national guard after the assassination of Dr. King, because of the riots,” he said. ‘I became a county councilor almost by accident. I was elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running at age 29.’
He then boasted about how he served alongside historic firsts, noting that he was “the vice president to our first black president, now president to the first female vice president.”
“In my career, I was told I was too young,” he said. —By the way, sometimes they didn’t let me get on the Senate elevators to vote. It is not a joke.’
“Now they’ve told me I’m too old,” he said.
“Whether young or old, I always knew, I always knew what lasts,” the president said.
He spoke of the vision of all Americans being equal, something “we have never fully realized” but something we must never stray from.
“And I won’t walk away from it now,” Biden promised.
Biden said a future under his leadership would include defending democracy, restoring the “right to choose” and ensuring the rich would pay their fair share of taxes.
“I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence,” he said, mentioning two important issues for younger voters.
‘Above all, I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans. And I will always be president of all Americans. Because I believe in America. “I believe in you, the American people,” he said. ‘You are the reason we have never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. So let’s build a future together.”
Trump has said he doesn’t even want Haley’s former supporters to be part of his MAGA movement.
Biden mentioned what is considered his greatest political responsibility as he concluded the speech.
“Let me finish this,” the president said.
As audience members cheered, Biden joined them by saying, ‘Yayyy!’
“I know you don’t want to listen to Lindsey anymore, but I have to say a few more things,” he said, giving his former friend turned MAGA Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a nudge.
He ended his speech with his signature line of being optimistic about the country’s future.
‘Let’s remember who we are. “We are the United States of America and there is nothing, nothing beyond our ability when we act together,” the president said.