State of the Union 2024: Biden to give high-stakes address as Trump election rematch looms

The US president will use his State of the Union speech to contrast with Trump, sell voters on a second term

Stakes are high as Biden seeks to overcome doubts about his age, the economy, wars in Gaza and Ukraine

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President Joe Biden is set to use his State of the Union address to promote his vision for a second term. File photo: AP

Published: 10:53pm, 7 Mar 2024Updated: 8:08am, 8 Mar 2024

US President Joe Biden faces one of the most critical moments of his political career on Thursday, with a State of the Union speech aimed at convincing sceptical voters the 81-year-old is fit to beat Donald Trump in November’s election.

The annual address to a joint session of Congress is often a largely ceremonial affair, but in 2024 the stakes are huge as Democrat Biden seeks to overcome doubts about his age, the economy and wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Crucially, the millions of Americans tuning in to the prime time spectacle will be also be watching not just what the oldest president in US history says but how he says it, with Republican Trump, 77, continually mocking Biden’s health and mental acuity – despite his own repeated verbal slips.

Set for 9pm ET (10am Friday Hong Kong time) and expected to last around an hour, the speech at the US Capitol is possibly Biden’s best chance before November to trumpet his achievements and set out what he would do in a second term.

You hired me to get the job done, build an economy that works for working people, and make life better for families

Joe Biden, US President

Biden said on the eve of the address that he had done “more over three years than most presidents have in eight”, and he is prepared to announce plans for tax cuts for working families and cheaper prescription drugs.