On Feb. 7, 2023, President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union speech in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives to the 118th United States Congress. 

The State of the Union Address happens around January or February every year and is given by the President of the United States. In the Constitution, this power given to the President was not explicitly clear as it was stated the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” (Article II, Section 3, Clause 1). George Washington and John Adams both gave their speeches in person, but after Thomas Jefferson, it became a tradition for the President to write their speech down and have someone else present it. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson started making the address in person and every President since has followed his lead. 

When President Joe Biden took to the House Chamber on Tuesday for his annual State of the Union address, his message was one of unadulterated optimism – even in the face of open hostility.

A majority of Americans say he hasn’t accomplished much; many Democrats are not thrilled at the prospect of him running for reelection and he faces clear disdain from most Republicans.

But Biden powered through. Delivering what was widely viewed as a test run for his reelection announcement, Biden claimed credit for progress made during his first two years in office while stressing that the job is not yet finished.

The accomplishments he spoke of were primarily surrounding the economy as it was clear that he wanted to show his appreciation for the middle class as well as show off his accomplishments with inflation. He expressed his deep desire to have more American manufacturing in order to develop our economy and create more jobs.

While making all these claims about his achievements, he gave evidence with numbers about the decreasing unemployment rate and the increasing levels of production. He also bragged about the many bipartisan acts he has signed over the past two years and implored the need for collaboration between Democrats and Republicans.

Biden discussed the things he wanted addressed in the House: healthcare issues involving insulin, the passage of his proposal for taxing billionaires a minimum amount of money, quadrupling the tax on corporate stock and more.

He faced a crowd of sometimes unruly Republicans, with whom he spiritedly sparred from the podium. The feisty display drew cheers inside the White House and offered the best preview to date of the energy Biden hopes to bring to the campaign trail soon.