Republicans quickly began to resent the US president’s speech, but McCarthy had asked them not to boo him loudly, so many initially contented themselves with looking at their cellphones.
Although US President Joe Biden spoke in favor of unity in his “State of the Union” address, the disapproving tone of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, set a different tone for the evening.
A symbol of the changing balance in Washington, the Democratic president delivered his speech to Congress under the gaze – behind him – of one of his main rivals who was elected speaker of the House of Representatives.
The last time Biden gave this speech, Democrats held majorities in both houses of Congress and both parties — Democrats and Republicans — had joined forces to warn Russia that its invasion of Ukraine within days sooner will not be without repercussions.
But yesterday, Tuesday, the American public saw a return to normalcy, with intense confrontations between the members of parliament.
Among the guests were the singer of U2 Bono, but also figures connected to the American current affairs, such as the parents of Tyr Nichols, the young African-American man who was beaten to death by police officers in Memphis in January.
“Let’s work together” – Disapproving and discredited
Biden addressed issues that divide Republicans and Democrats, while also praising his accomplishments in the past two years in the White House.
But he added: “To my Republican friends, if we were able to work together last term, there’s no reason we can’t work together in this one.”
A few Republicans applauded the US president for his statement and even stood up. But most of them gave him murderous looks and McCarthy remained in his place.
Former President Donald Trump’s staunch supporter, Marjorie Taylor Greene, lashed out at Biden, calling him a “liar” during his speech.
“Fighting just for the sake of fighting, power just for the sake of power, fighting just for the sake of fighting gets us nowhere,” Biden stressed.
Republicans quickly began to resent the US president’s speech, but McCarthy had asked them not to boo him loudly, so many were initially content to look at their cell phones.
On the Democratic side, many stood to applaud the US president, often enthusiastically.
However, when Biden began criticizing Republicans and especially his predecessor Trump, the whispers gave way to shouts and boos. “It’s your fault,” shouted one Republican when the US president addressed the opioid crisis.
“Battle of the Pins,” for and against gun ownership
Left-wing congressmen wore lapel pins with the date “1870”, the year in which the first recorded death of a free African-American by the police in the US.
Some Republicans had also chosen to wear meaningful pins, such as one in the shape of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which has been used by many mass shooters in recent years in the US – a way to reiterate their support for gun ownership.
Meanwhile, a few hours before his State of the Nation address, an Ipsos poll for Reuters showed the US president’s approval rating at 41%, close to the lowest level of his tenure.
In the same poll, 65% of respondents expressed the belief that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Last year this percentage was 58%.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
