Biden's State of the Union was decent. It's not enough to make voters forget he's old.
President Joe Biden had one job at his final State of the Union address before the November presidential election.
It was to help convince the American people that he’s up to four more years and is more than a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” – the damning words used last month to describe Biden in a Justice Department report related to his mishandling of classified documents.
The vast majority of voters believe the president, 81, is too old to serve another term. And Biden has given them plenty of reasons to think that.
It could very well be the issue that sinks him – or at least one of the issues.
After showing up to the Capitol nearly a half hour late, Biden started his speech clearly trying hard to portray confidence and competence.
Calling out Trump won't save Biden
He also began by turning attention to his new favorite subjects of democracy and freedom, drawing a correlation between Ukraine’s struggle against Russian invasion and the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 – a clear dig at former President Donald Trump, the first of many references to his predecessor.
Now that it looks like 2024 will be a rematch from 2020, Biden is turning to contrasting himself with Trump. He will have to do a lot more than point fingers at Trump, however.
In addition to his age, Biden is struggling to convince Americans that he has the economy under control. The pain of years-long inflation is still very real for families across the country.
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And Biden’s big-government and spending initiatives will only further stress the economy, all while adding to our national debt.
The same goes for the southern border, where illegal immigration has soared each year of Biden’s presidency. That has quickly become one of voters’ biggest concerns.
Rather than take responsibility for the border, Biden once again pointed blame to Trump and Republicans in Congress for holding up legislation related to immigration. Yet, Biden has plenty of authority now to secure the border and slow down asylum claims. He’s just choosing not to.
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'If I were smart, I'd go home now'
Throughout his speech, Biden tried to goad Republicans, trying to get a stand-out moment like he did in last year’s State of the Union when going off script on Social Security and Medicare.
It didn’t work and called into question Biden’s calls for unity.
Other than getting some shouts from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who usually can’t stay quiet, he didn’t succeed in having a stand-out moment like his supporters pointed to a year ago.
Biden got through his hour-long speech, with a few stumbles and mumbles. Yes, Biden can handle reading a speech from a teleprompter. It’s when he has to think on his feet – like at a news conference – where he struggles most.
Biden ended his speech by acknowledging his age and trying to make light of it.
“In my career I’ve been told I’m too young and I’m too old,” he quipped.
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He said he wouldn’t “walk away from it now” and was committed to fighting the battle for the “soul of our nation.”
That may be, but one speech is not enough to ease the very real concerns voters have about his age and his ability to govern for four more years.
Biden started his speech with these words: “If I were smart, I’d go home now.”
He should take his own advice.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's State of the Union was fine. But his age is still an issue
