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State of the Union: Biden rebukes Putin, praises brave Ukrainians, offers 'unity agenda'

PHOTO: President Joe Biden arrives and greets lawmakers before delivering his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, March 1, 2022, in Washington.
4:36
Win Mcnamee/AP
Key moments from Biden’s State of the Union address
By Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: March 2, 2022, 4:26 AM

President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address as Russian strikes were killing civilians, forces were massing near Ukraine's capital Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no sign of backing down.

Latest headlines:

  • 'The state of the union is strong, because of you': Biden concludes speech with optimistic outlook
  • Biden takes on calls to 'defund the police'
  • Biden urges Congress to pass Bipartisan Innovation Act
  • Biden touts American Rescue Plan
  • 'He has no idea what's coming,' Biden says of Putin
  • Show of support for Ukraine on display
Here is how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Check back for updates.

Mar 02, 2022 4:26 AM

Iowa Gov. Reynolds delivers GOP response

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized Biden for leading the country on the "wrong track" with his foreign and domestic agenda in her GOP response to his State of the Union address.

"Even before taking the oath of office, the president told us that he wanted to 'make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home.’ He's failed on both fronts," she said.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers Republican State of the Union response: “The president told us that he wanted to ‘make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home.’ He’s failed on both fronts.” #SOTU https://t.co/fRRhmoV8PD pic.twitter.com/qfhm1VIT8w

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 2, 2022

Reynolds attacked Biden on his administration's foreign affair policies, inflation and handling of the border. "They've refused to protect you," she said.

Reynolds touted her conservative leadership in schools as a launchpad into Republican talking points on parental rights when it comes to children's education.

"It was the right choice and keeping schools open is only the start of the pro-parent, pro-family revolution that Republicans are leading in Iowa and states across this country," she said. "Republicans believe that parents matter. It was true before the pandemic and it has never been more important to say out loud, parents matter."

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa


Mar 02, 2022 4:13 AM

'The state of the union is strong, because of you': Biden concludes speech with optimistic outlook

Biden ended his State of the Union speech with an optimistic perspective.

"The State of the Union is strong, because you, the American people, are strong," he said. "I know there is simply nothing beyond our capacity."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden holds hands with Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after delivering the State of the Union address in the US Capitol's House Chamber, in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022.
Win McNamee/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock
President Joe Biden holds hands with Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after delivering the State of the Union address in the US Capitol's House Chamber, in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022.
Win McNamee/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock

Biden reiterated that America has turned every crisis it faced into an opportunity. He said he was confident the country would meet any new challenge that arises.

Pres. Biden concludes his first State of the Union address: "The state of the union is strong because you, the American people, are strong. We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we'll be stronger a year from now...This is our moment."https://t.co/MZWQhHmEan #SOTU pic.twitter.com/Fgvj0Oua0E

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 2, 2022

"We are stronger today than we were a year ago," the president said. "And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today."


Mar 02, 2022 4:04 AM

Rep. Lauren Boebert booed after she yells out at moment Biden mentions his dead son

In an ill-timed moment, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., shouted at the president, blaming him for the deaths of the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in an attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan last summer, as Biden spoke about veterans exposed to burn pits developing "cancer that would put them in a flag-draped coffin."

"You put them in, 13 of them!" she yelled.

PHOTO: Rep. Kat Cammack and Rep. Lauren Boebert listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022.
J. Scott Applewhite, Pool/AP
Rep. Kat Cammack and Rep. Lauren Boebert listen as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 1, 2022.
J. Scott Applewhite, Pool/AP

But her words came out just as the president was about to mention the death of his son, Beau Biden, an Iraq War veteran who died from brain cancer in 2015.

"I know," Biden began, attempting to reference Beau. But before he could get the sentence out Boebert shouted.

The members in the chamber immediately booed her.

"One of those soldiers was my son, Major Beau Biden," the president continued. "I don’t know for sure if the burn pit that he lived near, that his hooch was near in Iraq and earlier than that, in Kosovo is the cause of his brain cancer, the diseases of so many other troops. But I am committed to finding out everything we can."

When Biden said flag draped coffins I couldn't stay silent. I told him directly he did it. He put 13 in there. Our heroic servicemen and women deserve so much better.

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 2, 2022

Boebert later addressed the moment on Twitter, saying, “When Biden said flag draped coffins I couldn't stay silent. I told him directly he did it. He put 13 in there. Our heroic servicemen and women deserve so much better.”

-ABC News' Mariam Khan



Mar 02, 2022 3:38 AM

Justice Breyer in spotlight

Biden took a few moments to thank retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer for his service on the bench and asked the justice to stand and be recognized.

Breyer has been one of the most loyal attendees of State of the Union addresses over the past 20 years -- and tonight he was clearly touched by the presidential tribute.

Pres. Biden honors retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer: "Justice Breyer: Thank you for your service." https://t.co/SLfrkxjM7F #SOTU pic.twitter.com/gdC5Ud3icN

— ABC News (@ABC) March 2, 2022

Biden then immediately pivoted to his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill that seat.

“Since she’s been nominated, she’s received a broad range of support," Biden said.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer and Justin Gomez


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