Tổng thống Biden declares “Not abandoning Ukraine,” sending a direct message to Putin
In his State of the Union address on March 7th, President Joe Biden outlined various domestic issues, as well as the challenges and achievements of his administration. The following are the key points from his speech.
Tổng thống Biden ends his State of the Union address: Age is not the issue
President Joe Biden dedicated the final part of his speech to discuss his perspective on the values he has witnessed throughout his life. He emphasized the importance of freedom, democracy, integrity, kindness, and equality in shaping the United States. Biden rejected the notion that America is a country filled with anger, hatred, and revenge. He firmly believes in the enduring values represented by the North Star. “It is the belief in the United States that we are all created equal and deserve equal treatment throughout our lives,” he asserted. According to Biden, the issue facing the United States is not about age but about the extent to which our beliefs have become outdated. “Hatred, anger, revenge, and retribution are the oldest mindsets. Leading America cannot be done with outdated ideas that simply take us back to the past. To lead America, we need a vision for the future that America can and should become,” he stated. Finally, Biden affirmed, “I will always be the president for all American citizens because I believe in America, and I believe in all of you, the American people. You are the reason why I am more optimistic about our future than ever before. So let’s build that future together. Remember who we are! We are America. There is nothing beyond our capabilities when we act together.”
Biden: “We Want to Compete with China, Not Clash”
When discussing the relationship between the United States and China, Biden emphasized, “We want to compete with China, not clash. And we are in a stronger position to win the 21st-century competition with China or any other country.” He mentioned that for many years, he heard from his Republican friends and others that China was rising while America was declining. However, he believes they misunderstood the situation. In fact, America is rising. “We have the world’s best economy. Since taking office, our GDP has been growing, and our trade deficit with China has reached its lowest point in over a decade.” He stated that the United States is standing up against China’s unfair economic practices and standing up for peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait. “I have reestablished our partnerships and alliances in the Pacific. I have ensured that America’s most advanced technologies cannot be used in China’s weapons.”
Middle East Crisis: The Only True Solution is a Two-State Solution
President Biden dedicated the latter part of his speech to the foreign challenges facing the United States, starting with the Middle East. He addressed the crisis that erupted from the Hamas attack on October 7th. Biden pledged to continue efforts to rescue the hostages being held by Hamas. “Here in the room tonight are American families whose loved ones are still held captive by Hamas. I promise all families that we will not rest until their loved ones are home,” Biden said. According to the US leader, “Israel has the right to go after Hamas,” but it also has the responsibility to “protect innocent civilians in Gaza.” Biden also mentioned international efforts to establish a ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, including the role of the United States. “We have been working tirelessly to establish an immediate ceasefire that can last at least six weeks. This will bring the hostages home, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and build towards something more sustainable.” Furthermore, he stated, “The United States has led international efforts to bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza. Tonight, I have directed the military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary port on the Mediterranean coast of Gaza that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelter.” He emphasized, “There will be no US military on the ground.” Biden called on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and ensure that humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire. He sent a message to the Israeli leadership: “Humanitarian aid cannot be an afterthought or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives must be the top priority. As we look to the future, the only true solution is a two-state solution.”
Proposal to Increase Taxes on Billionaires
President Joe Biden proposed increasing taxes on the wealthiest individuals in the United States, arguing that the revenue generated could be used to further reduce the federal budget deficit and fund federal initiatives. Biden criticized the Republican Party, stating that the policies of previous administrations benefited only the top 1% and proposed raising taxes on billionaires. “A fair tax code is how we invest and make this country great. Healthcare, education, national defense, and much more,” Biden said. He cited the average tax rate for billionaires on their income, which is much lower than what the majority of Americans pay. “There are 1,000 billionaires in the United States. Do you know what their average tax rate on income is? 8.2%! That is much lower than what the majority of Americans pay.” “No billionaire should pay a lower federal tax rate than a teacher, janitor, or nurse. That’s why I proposed a minimum tax rate of 25% for billionaires. Just 25%. This will increase revenue by $500 billion over the next 10 years,” he said, receiving applause from the crowd. Biden also presented a solution: “It’s time we raise the minimum corporate tax rate to at least 21% so that every large corporation pays its fair share. I also want to end the tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, private jets, and exorbitant executive salaries. End them right now!” “If you want to earn millions – great! Just pay your fair share of taxes,” Biden said.
America Needs the Best Education System in the World
“To maintain our position as the world’s strongest economy, we need to have the best education system in the world,” President Biden affirmed when referring to the education sector. Biden stated that he wants to provide opportunities for children aged 3-4 to participate in early childhood education, expand high-quality tutoring programs and summer learning time, and ensure that every child can read before the third grade. Biden expressed a desire to reduce the cost of higher education for students, proposing increased scholarships and investments in historically black colleges and universities. Additionally, Biden wants to increase salaries for public school teachers.
Biden: Obamacare Cannot be Abandoned
“Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else. That’s wrong, and I’m ending it,” Biden emphasized in his State of the Union address, while also criticizing the Republican Party for not passing legislation related to his proposed reforms. “We finally defeated Big Pharma! Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, senior citizens with diabetes only need to pay $35 a month. For years, people have been talking about it, but I finally did it and empowered Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices,” Biden said. Biden believes that the US government should take further steps and empower Medicare to negotiate lower prices for 500 types of drugs over the next decade. “This will not only save lives but also save taxpayers an additional $200 billion,” Biden said. Furthermore, Biden highlighted a policy introduced by former President Barack Obama, which he struggled to pass during his term. “Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act, is still very important,” Biden said, noting that more than 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions are not denied coverage because of it. However, Biden stated that his predecessor, former President Trump, and many others in the audience today wanted to repeal Obamacare, and Biden asserted, “I won’t let that happen!”
“Buy American” and “Chips and Science Act”
Referring to economic and social accomplishments during his term, President Biden mentioned the “Buy American” Act from the 1930s, a policy that previous administrations, including the Trump administration, did not implement. Biden stated that during his term, he has emphasized projects with that spirit. “Under my watch, federal projects like building American roads, bridges, and highways will be made with American products, built by American workers, creating high-paying jobs in America,” Biden said. Furthermore, the US leader mentioned the Chips and Science Act, a policy passed by his administration. Thanks to this act, the United States is investing more in research and development. “Instead of importing semiconductors, private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories right here in America, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Many of them pay over $100,000 a year and do not require a college degree,” Biden said. He also mentioned new policies to modernize infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, public transportation systems, and internet networks.
Biden: The US Economy Makes the World Envious
President Joe Biden declared that the US economy is the “envy of the world.” According to him, the US economy is growing faster than most other major countries, with much of Europe being more affected by shocks from the war in Ukraine than the US. “In just three years, 15 million new jobs have been created—a record!” Biden emphasized. He listed the achievements during his term: “The unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in 50 years. Sixteen million Americans have started their own small businesses, and every action is a beacon of hope. There have been 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in the US, and the number continues to rise.” “Wages continue to rise, and inflation continues to decrease! Inflation has decreased from 9% to just 3%—the lowest in the world! And it’s still trending downward.” “Now, instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we are exporting American products and creating jobs for Americans—right here in America, where they belong!” Biden said. He emphasized, “Landing is and has been smooth.”