'My predecessor,' Laken Riley and Israel: Takeaways from Biden's fiery State of the Union

Joey Garrison

USA TODAY


WASHINGTON − President Joe Biden delivered a forceful case for a second term, urging Americans to move past the old ideas of his predecessor in a State of the Union address Thursday that served as the kickoff to a general election rematch against Donald Trump.


In a feisty address to the nation, a defiant Biden framed his race against Trump as forward-versus-backward and sought to convince Americans he has brought a historic economic rebound despite their lingering anxieties.


Biden never mentioned Trump by name in his speech, which clocked in at 1 hour and 8 minutes, but took aim at "my predecessor" throughout. The 81-year-old Biden tried to flip concerns about his age by saying "other people my age" − a clear reference to Trump − see an "American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution."


"My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are. It’s how old our ideas are," Biden said. "Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back."


Here are five takeaways from Biden's speech.