Utah leaders comment on Biden’s State of the Union address

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WASHINGTON – Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address given in Congress last night, Utah’s elected representatives had much to say in response.

Congressman Blake Moore, who represents Utah’s first district in the U.S. House of Representatives, labeled President Biden’s speech as a divisive campaign speech.

“I was expecting President Biden to use tonight’s State of the Union address to find common ground and inspire a shared vision for America. Instead, the President delivered a divisive campaign speech. If we want to find real solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges, we must come together,” Rep. Moore said.

“I agreed with President Biden’s comments about supporting our service members, finding a solution on Ukraine aid, and bolstering our workforce- issues that both sides of the aisle can agree need to be addressed. However, I am disappointed President Biden tried to blame Congressional Republicans for his border crisis. The American people know better. It’s to be expected in an election year, but this crisis is his own making, and he must do better.”

Sen. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, had mixed feelings about President Biden’s State of the Union speech. Sen. Romney agreed with President Biden’s remarks on foreign policy, yet did not approve of his stance on domestic issues.

“I think on foreign policy, he did a good job,” Sen. Romney said about Biden’s State of the Union address. “It is very much in America’s interest to see Ukraine push back against Putin. Putin is an awful guy—a bad guy—and keeping Putin from invading not just other parts of Central Europe, but NATO nations that might involve us in conflict is an American interest. He also spoke, I thought, well, with regards to Israel and also with regards to the need to help the Palestinian individuals in Gaza with humanitarian aid.”

Romney did disagree, however, on Biden’s stance on domestic policies.

“When he got into domestic policy, I’m afraid it was the same old liberal playbook. At least that’s the way I saw it,” Sen. Romney said.

“I mean, there were some new chapters, but the same idea, which is ‘here’s some things I’m going to give you. Here’s some more things I’m going to give you. Here’s how I’m going to crack down on big companies and rich people.’ And I think people have gotten tired of that. They know he can’t deliver all those promises because any promise he makes has to get Republican votes.”

 

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Sen. Romney’s counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee, chimed in on the President’s speech in a post on X.

“Tonight, in what’s sure to be his last State of the Union address, President Biden painted a picture untethered from reality. What we saw is a President who puts America last,” Sen. Mike Lee said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “While the President lectured the American people on the importance of defending foreign borders with billions and billions of dollars of U.S. aid, he continued to neglect the dire situation right here at our own doorstep.”

“Under his watch, we have witnessed a cost of living crisis that has squeezed the middle class with prices soaring to unprecedented heights,” Sen. Lee continued. “In the face of the economic hardship millions of Americans have faced, the administration has the audacity to pat itself on the back.”

2024 Senate candidate Brad Wilson also had some thoughts on Biden’s speech, echoing Rep. Moore’s point on the speech being divisive.

“President Biden’s State of the Union address was the most partisan and divisive one I’ve seen in my lifetime. It’s a stark reminder of how deeply he’s failed the American people,” Wilson said.

“With our borders in chaos, our economy in shambles and our conservative values under assault, it’s never been more important to send a conservative fighter to the U.S. Senate with the guts to stop this madness and take our country back. The problems we now face require a fresh, bold leader who will make Washington work more like Utah, not another entrenched DC career politician who won’t put America first.”

In a show of support, Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis voiced her support for President Biden.

“Tonight, President Biden once again demonstrated his dedication to safeguarding the well-being of Utahns. The difference between President Biden’s aspirations for our nation’s future and Trump’s plan to drag us back to 2020 couldn’t be more apparent. President Biden is determined to improve the lives of our state’s families, while Donald Trump’s primary focus seems to be degrading our most sacred values: liberty, equality, and justice.”