President Joe Biden of the United States will address Congress this Thursday night, fulfilling his constitutional duty to report to lawmakers. While not formally a campaign event, with eight months to the next presidential vote and a renewed contest against Donald Trump already taking shape after Super Tuesday, the speech represents an opportunity for the Democrat to lay out the case for his reelection.
The Biden team has been planning the address since December, aiming for a 9 p.m. local start. Biden spent the weekend at Camp David, rehearsing with teleprompters and surrounded by a small group of aides and the historian Jon Meacham as part of his preparation.
Preparation matters. Last year, 27 million people tuned in, marking the largest audience Biden could hope for before the summer convention and any debates with his Republican challenger later in the year. The address will be watched closely for signs of how the president handles the moment, as well as how his team manages the message ahead of a packed campaign calendar.
There are risks embedded in the moment. Biden arrives with intensified scrutiny of his capabilities at 81, with approval ratings near historic lows, trailing Trump in several polls and facing visible fractures within the Democratic coalition over issues such as the Gaza crisis, plus a growing disconnect between the economic reality and public perception.
The speech will lay out the challenges and proposals Biden plans to present.
La edad
A stumble on the Senate podium, a mispronounced name, or a stray moment away from the teleprompter would offer opponents instant material for social media and pundits. The president’s age, four years older than Trump, remains a factor that could sway voters. A recent description by a national prosecutor handling classified documents inquiries as an “affectionate, well-intentioned elder with a touch of forgetfulness” has sharpened the focus on whether the president retains full cognitive sharpness. Critics will seize on any misstep as potential fodder for attacks about fitness for office.
Republicans have already sought to highlight age through ads and public commentary in the run-up to the address. They also plan to let a younger Republican voice respond in the wake of the speech, underscoring contrasts in generational leadership. Officials aligned with Biden have signaled that the contrast could center on policy rather than personal traits, highlighting the president’s record and future agenda instead of a direct comparison.
There is also a political playbook element: while some allies hope for a calm, statesmanlike performance, others anticipate a pointed defense of accomplishments and a sharper frame on the stakes of the election. The administration is aware that the internal debate on how aggressively to defend the record against critiques about age and stamina will unfold in the weeks ahead.
Within the party, some officials have signaled a restrained approach to reactions from allies, while others foresee a robust emphasis on concrete achievements and a persistent push to cast the election as a choice between competing visions for the country’s future.
Frente a eso, la coalición demócrata busca presentar un mensaje claro sobre la experiencia y la capacidad para liderar, while also signaling a readiness to address concerns about vitality and governance. The plan is to project steadiness while outlining a bold policy path that resonates with a broad coalition of voters.
Los republicanos, meanwhile, have sought to underscore Biden’s age in public messaging and in early campaign maneuvering. A political action committee backing Trump has signaled live commentary on social media, while a younger Republican voice is prepared to offer counterpoints during a formal response to the address, highlighting perceived contrasts in policy direction.
Expect the president to frame differences between his own proposals and those of his predecessor, addressing economic and fiscal policy, reproductive rights, and support for NATO, among other issues. Immigration is also on the agenda, with advocacy for bipartisanship despite Republican resistance and a stalled aid package for Ukraine still on the table in congressional deliberations.
Más allá de las “bidenomics”
Economic policy will be central, driven by both necessity and the desire to illustrate tangible gains. The administration will likely point to achievements over the past three years, including resilience against a downturn and steady economic growth alongside a stable job market. Yet voters still report not feeling the benefits of policy efforts, a gap the administration will attempt to close by reframing the economic discussion around rising costs, inflation, and housing prices.
The plan includes pressing for measures to reduce medication costs and to raise taxes on large corporations and the wealthiest individuals. The aim is to place Trump on the opposite side of these questions, portraying the Republican as an ally of big business and the super-rich. Concrete policy ideas under consideration include restoring the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, increasing the minimum tax rate from 15 to 21 percent for large firms, ending certain deductions tied to high earners, and limiting incentives tied to private jet travel.
Abortion
The term abortion may not appear often in official discourse, but the protection of reproductive rights will be a central theme in both the speech and the campaign. The issue has long mobilized Democratic voters since the Supreme Court overturned federal protections in 2022. Biden is expected to recount how recent judicial actions, such as states redefining embryos and related bioethical questions, could affect reproductive rights, and he will likely emphasize safeguarding access to reproductive healthcare as a core priority.
Gaza, crisis humanitaria y política
One major development anticipated ahead of the speech is Biden authorizing the construction of a temporary humanitarian port in Gaza to deliver aid amid the ongoing crisis caused by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This move is framed as concrete action on a difficult issue, though it also raises tensions within the Democratic base, where progressives push for stronger action and more aggressive responses. Family, faith, and community leaders, along with younger voters and minority communities, have shown how the Gaza issue can shift political dynamics, intensifying concerns about factional divides within the coalition ahead of November.
Personificar el mensaje
As usual, guests will be seated on the stage to symbolize the issues Biden is addressing. They will include a Texas woman affected by antiabortion laws and another impacted by reproductive technologies in Alabama, among many others. Leaders from labor unions, a professor benefiting from student debt relief, a Marine officer who led operations in the Red Sea, and neighboring leaders from NATO member Sweden will be present. Veterans, community advocates fighting overdoses, a relative of a mass shooting victim turned gun-control advocate, and a Native American leader will also participate.
Their presence underscores the strategic importance of November, with guests representing states that could prove pivotal in the electoral map, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia. In the days surrounding the speech, Biden is scheduled to hold campaign events in Pennsylvania and Georgia, reinforcing the electoral message and the campaign’s broader reach.