President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address Thursday evening to try again to convince voters his policies on economic issues have made their lives better.
The 81-year-old Biden stepped to the lectern in the House chamber amid questions and concerns from Republican lawmakers about his age and mental capacity. The president delivered the prime-time address while also battling dismal poll numbers on his job performance, favorability, handling of key kitchen table issues and ability to serve another four-year term.
As expected, Biden defended his record on the economy and described it as fundamentally strong — and better than he inherited from former President Donald Trump, his likely general election foe. “I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now our economy is the envy of the world. Fifteen million new jobs in just three years – that’s a record,” Biden said as Speaker Mike Johnson shook his head behind him. “Unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses and each one is an act of hope.”
