President Joe Biden will deliver a high-stakes address to the American public on Thursday evening, as the 81-year-old seeks to tackle concerns about his age, put a positive gloss on his first-term record and lay out the case for his re-election in November.
The State of the Union address will give him a rare opportunity to speak to a national audience of millions, and draw a contrast with his Republican competitor, former President Donald Trump.
Traditionally these annual speeches to Congress are standard affairs, full of pageantry and laundry lists of legislative priorities. But this year, questions about Mr Biden’s fitness for office and polls that suggest an extremely tight race for the presidency, mean the address is a critical moment for the president.
“This speech is particularly important to rally Democrats and calm their nerves,” said Michael Waldman, who served as speechwriting director for President Bill Clinton. “He needs to show that he’s vigorous and in command and a happy warrior.”
Mr Biden’s approval ratings are some of the lowest recorded for a president seeking re-election, and other surveys highlight the discomfort Americans across the political spectrum feel about giving him another four-years as the commander-in-chief.
