Biden to use State of the Union to stress ‘historic achievements’ and importance of ‘saving our democracy’

President Biden is expected to lay out his administration’s "historic achievements" during his third State of the Union address Thursday night, the White House said, while stressing the importance of "uniting the country" and "saving our democracy." 

The president is expected to deliver his State of the Union address Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. 

A White House official told Fox News Digital the president will "lay out the historic achievements he has delivered on for the American people and his vision for the future." 

"President Biden got more done in the first three years than most presidents have accomplished in two terms," a White House official told Fox News Digital. 

JIM BANKS CALLS ON BIDEN TO 'PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE' LAKEN RILEY AT SOTU

The president is expected to discuss "protecting and implementing his agenda" during the last year of his term and in what he hopes will be a second term. 

The official said Biden will discuss infrastructure and investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, lowering drug prices and "getting rid of junk fees." 

But, at the heart of the speech, the president is expected to discuss "whose side he is on," the official said, and "the work ahead to make life better for every American." 

The president will discuss lowering costs, lowering health care premiums and "taking on the drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs." 

Biden is also set to discuss ways he intends to put the middle class "first." 

The official said Biden will also lay out strategies for "saving our democracy" and "protecting women’s reproductive health." 

While the State of the Union cannot be viewed as a campaign speech, the president, who is running for re-election, will likely try to draw a contrast between his policies and Republican policies. 

"Rights and freedoms are on the ballot," the White House official said, adding that Biden will discuss "uniting the country" and his "unity agenda." 

That "unity agenda," according to the official, will touch on privacy and big tech, ways to curb fentanyl, helping veterans and ending cancer. 

"We want to get as much done as we can as soon as we can," the official said. "We're going to be pedal to the metal this year, and there’s much more to come in a second term." 

BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: BRET BAIER, MARTHA MACCALLUM TO LEAD FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S SPECIAL COVERAGE

But the White House did not offer any insight into how the president will address the crisis at the southern border during his Thursday night address. 

The ongoing border crisis has become a top political issue in the days leading up to the address, with Biden expected to renew his calls for the Senate to pass a border agreement unveiled earlier this year. Republicans have blamed the crisis on the policies of the administration.

The address comes after a historic year for illegal immigration, with more than 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023. Fiscal 2024 has been similarly overwhelming, with over 300,000 encounters in December. 

The president visited the southern border last week, traveling to Brownsville, Texas. His visit came on the same day as his GOP opponent, former President Trump. Biden met with Border Patrol, law enforcement and local leaders and urged Republicans to back a bipartisan Senate bill to address the crisis. 

"It's real simple. It's time to act. It is long past time to act," the president said last week.  "It's time for us to move on this. We can't wait any longer."

The president's visit came just days after the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal migrant from Venezuela, was arrested and charged in Riley's murder.

ALABAMA SEN. KATIE BRITT TO DELIVER REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO BIDEN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: 'TRULY HONORED'

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the Venezuelan national entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and had previously been arrested in New York City and later released. 

Biden has not yet mentioned Riley’s name. 

The president’s address also comes at a time of global uncertainty, amid ongoing wars between Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine and tensions rising in the Indo-Pacific. 

Last month, White House officials acknowledged a national security threat related to Russian abilities in space that could impact U.S. and global military telecommunications. 

RUSSIAN NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES IN SPACE COULD THREATEN INTERNATIONAL SATELLITES, US MILITARY COMMS: SOURCES

Also, last month, the United States conducted retaliatory strikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups and proxies. The strikes came in response to the deaths of three U.S. service members on a U.S. base in Jordan.

There have been at least 160 attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East since mid-October.

The president's address also comes as the House of Representatives conducts an impeachment inquiry against him. GOP lawmakers are investigating whether he was involved or benefited from his family's overseas business dealings, something they say could impact U.S. national security. 

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His speech to the nation also comes just weeks after special counsel Robert Hur released his highly anticipated report following his months-long investigation into Biden's improper retention of classified records. 

Hur, in his report, described the president as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," and did not bring charges against him. 

SPECIAL COUNSEL CALLS BIDEN 'SYMPATHETIC, WELL-MEANING, ELDERLY MAN WITH A POOR MEMORY,' BRINGS NO CHARGES

Opponents of the president have raised concerns about his mental fitness for the presidency and a potential second term. 

Meanwhile, White House communications director Ben LaBolt said the president, in his address, "will make the case to continue to build the economy from the bottom up and the middle out," saying his policies have "led to record job creation, the strongest economy in the world, increased wages and household wealth and lower prescription drug and energy costs." 

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LaBolt drew the contrast between that of the "MAGA Republican agenda," which he claims is focused on "rewarding billionaires and corporations with big tax breaks, taking away rights and freedoms and undermining our democracy." 

But the White House’s messaging is not only focused on Thursday night’s speech. LaBolt said we live in a "fractured communications landscape" and said many Americans "won’t consume the State of the Union collectively in the same moment or through the same medium." 

"Therefore, we’re fanning out aggressively not only Thursday but in the weeks ahead to reach Americans where they receive the news with the president’s message about whose side he’s on," LaBolt said. 

In the days following the State of the Union, Biden is expected to travel to Philadelphia and Atlanta, and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Arizona and Nevada. 

The White House will also send cabinet secretaries to states across the nation, including Colorado, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, South Carolina, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan and other states to highlight the Biden administration’s agenda. 

Following Biden’s address Thursday night, Alabama Republican Sen. Katie Britt is expected to deliver the GOP response. 

Fox News' Adam Shae contributed to this report. 

Jean-Pierre v Sanders: Current, former WH press secretaries battle over Biden’s SOTU

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday dismissed Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union as an attempt to stir up "fake conspiracies."

Sanders' rebuttal speech emphasized the GOP effort to restrict abortion and ban the presence of gender ideology and critical race theory in schools. Sanders, who served as former President Donald Trump's press secretary until 2019, said Democrats' priorities show that the choice between Republicans and Democrats is a choice between "normal or crazy."

Jean-Pierre rejected Sanders' comments and accused Republicans of whipping up "fake" issues.

"The way we see it is the choice is between political fighting over fake conspiracies and delivering for the American people," Jean-Pierre said Wednesday when asked about Sanders' speech. "The president is focused on the latter."

SARAH SANDERS DELIVERS GOP REBUTTAL TO BIDEN SOTU, SAYS AMERICANS HAVE A CHOICE 'BETWEEN NORMAL OR CRAZY'

In a briefing with reporters as Biden traveled to Wisconsin to deliver a speech on his economic agenda, Jean-Pierre said it's the Republicans who are pursuing a crazy agenda.

"But what is not normal is some politicians’ obsession over some of our most vulnerable kids or taking away women’s rights to make their own health care decisions or even teaching America’s history," she said.

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Sanders used her remarks to promise that Republicans will lead with courage on issues that regular American voters care about.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," Sanders said.

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"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight," Sanders said. "We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient."

Sarah Sanders delivers GOP rebuttal to Biden SOTU, says Americans have a choice ‘between normal or crazy’

Newly-elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's second State of the Union address Tuesday, calling for a "new generation of Republican leadership" and describing the choice between Democrats and Republicans as a choice "between normal or crazy."

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you," Sanders said.

"It’s time for a change. Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people. Democrats want to rule us with more government control, but that is not who we are," she added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Sanders noted that she and Biden didn't have a lot in common because she is "for freedom" and he's "for government control," and went on to note the four decades difference in their ages.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," she said.

"In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country," she added.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECRETARY MAYORKAS AHEAD OF STATE OF THE UNION

She described the Biden administration as "completely hijacked by the radical left," and said that America's "dividing line" was no longer a separation between right and left.

"The choice is between normal or crazy," she said. "It is time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

She went on to tout her efforts in Arkansas to combat indoctrination and other Democratic policies like critical race theory and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Americans wanted common sense from their leaders, but that Biden was busy "doubling down on crazy."

"President Biden inherited the fastest economic recovery on record. The most secure border in history. Cheap abundant, home-grown energy. Fast-rising wages. A rebuilt military. And a world that was stable and at peace. But over the last two years, Democrats destroyed it all," Sanders said.

"Despite Democrats’ trillions in reckless spending and mountains of debt, we now have the worst border crisis in American history," she added.

BIDEN PLAGUED BY NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATINGS AHEAD OF SECOND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Sanders expressed the need to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, a drug responsible thousands of deaths every month, railed against Democratic calls to defend the police, and blasted Biden's "weakness" on foreign policy, especially China.

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight. We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient," she said.

"Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities. Where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Where the freedom our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman, and child," she said.

Sanders vowed that under the leadership of Senate Republicans and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans would hold the Biden administration accountable.

"America is great because we are free. But today, our freedom is under attack, and the America we love is in danger. President Biden and the Democrats have failed you. It’s time for a change. A New Generation of Republican leaders is stepping up… not to be caretakers of the status quo, but to be change makers for the American people," she said.

"We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands. And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reins and liberty will never die," she added.

Sanders, who served as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump, never held elected office prior to being elected as Arkansas' governor. She is also the daughter of the state's former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Sarah Sanders delivers GOP rebuttal to Biden SOTU, says Americans have a choice ‘between normal or crazy’

Newly-elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's second State of the Union address Tuesday, calling for a "new generation of Republican leadership" and describing the choice between Democrats and Republicans as a choice "between normal or crazy."

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you," Sanders said.

"It’s time for a change. Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people. Democrats want to rule us with more government control, but that is not who we are," she added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Sanders noted that she and Biden didn't have a lot in common because she is "for freedom" and he's "for government control," and went on to note the four decades difference in their ages.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," she said.

"In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country," she added.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CALL FOR IMPEACHMENT OF HOMELAND SECRETARY MAYORKAS AHEAD OF STATE OF THE UNION

She described the Biden administration as "completely hijacked by the radical left," and said that America's "dividing line" was no longer a separation between right and left.

"The choice is between normal or crazy," she said. "It is time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

She went on to tout her efforts in Arkansas to combat indoctrination and other Democratic policies like critical race theory and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Americans wanted common sense from their leaders, but that Biden was busy "doubling down on crazy."

"President Biden inherited the fastest economic recovery on record. The most secure border in history. Cheap abundant, home-grown energy. Fast-rising wages. A rebuilt military. And a world that was stable and at peace. But over the last two years, Democrats destroyed it all," Sanders said.

"Despite Democrats’ trillions in reckless spending and mountains of debt, we now have the worst border crisis in American history," she added.

BIDEN PLAGUED BY NEGATIVE APPROVAL RATINGS AHEAD OF SECOND STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Sanders expressed the need to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, a drug responsible thousands of deaths every month, railed against Democratic calls to defend the police, and blasted Biden's "weakness" on foreign policy, especially China.

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight. We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient," she said.

"Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities. Where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Where the freedom our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman, and child," she said.

Sanders vowed that under the leadership of Senate Republicans and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans would hold the Biden administration accountable.

"America is great because we are free. But today, our freedom is under attack, and the America we love is in danger. President Biden and the Democrats have failed you. It’s time for a change. A New Generation of Republican leaders is stepping up… not to be caretakers of the status quo, but to be change makers for the American people," she said.

"We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands. And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reins and liberty will never die," she added.

Sanders, who served as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump, never held elected office prior to being elected as Arkansas' governor. She is also the daughter of the state's former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

House Republicans call for impeachment of Homeland Secretary Mayorkas ahead of State of the Union

House Republicans echoed calls for the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday ahead of President Biden's State of the Union address. 

Lawmakers spoke to Fox News Digital on a possible Mayorkas impeachment ahead of Biden's speech, during which they said he must pledge to work with his administration to secure the border and protect Americans.

"Unfortunately Secretary Mayorkas has shown a complete disregard for the laws that are in place right now," said Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who says he supports the resolution to remove Mayorkas from office.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, a cosponsor of the bill to impeach the secretary, says her district sees the effects of the open border in upstate New York. Tenney sent a letter to the Biden administration demanding transparency on their handling of the border.

"My perspective right now is we're going to do some significant oversight. And when we're done, if the information that we gather shows that he's worthy of being impeached, we'll pass that off to [House Judiciary Chairman] Jim Jordan," said Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green. 

LIVE UPDATES: STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS 2023

Rep. Andy Biggs introduced a new resolution to impeach Secretary Mayorkas last week that 28 House lawmakers have signed on to so far. Biggs was the first House Republican to introduce articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in August 2021. 

Secretary Mayorkas' policies have "incentivized more than 5 million illegal aliens to show up at our southern border—an all-time figure. Instead of enforcing the laws on the books and deporting or detaining these illegal aliens, the vast majority of them are released into the interior and never heard from again," Biggs said in a statement last week. 

Mayorkas is "implicit in all the human trafficking, sex trafficking and drug trafficking that is going on in the United States," said Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., a cosponsor of Biggs' latest bill to impeach the secretary. 

DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS HIT WITH NEW IMPEACHMENT ARTICLE OVER 'RECKLESS ABANDONMENT' OF BORDER SECURITY

Homeland Security Committee member Rep. August Pfluger says he plans to explore the matter further with his committee. 

Illinois Rep. Mike Bost said he sees better alternatives than impeachment to hold the administration accountable for the border crisis, but would vote in favor of impeachment if the vote came to the floor. 

The White House has said Biden is expected to explain in his address a strategy to "reassert America’s leadership around the world," as his administration grapples with the fallout from the spy balloon.

The president's remarks will be followed by a speech from newly-elected GOP Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders who will deliver the Republican response.

Majority Whip Emmer blasts Biden’s response to the Chinese spy flight as ‘ludicrous’ ahead of State of Union

FIRST ON FOX: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., blasted President Biden’s response to the Chinese spy flight, saying he doesn’t believe the president’s response was swift enough.

Emmer spoke with Fox News Digital on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the president’s State of the Union address, where he laughed out loud at the question regarding Biden’s speed of response to the spy balloon that traveled over the continental U.S.

"Ha!" Emmer said in response to a question on whether Biden's response was quick enough to satisfy Congress. "Absolutely not."

STATE OF THE UNION 2023: SCHUMER RIPS GOP AGENDA AHEAD OF BIDEN ADDRESS

"And now, to the president’s defense, apparently the defense industry that is part of our government, the people that are charged with the responsibility for protecting the homeland and Americans’ safety, they didn’t bother to tell anybody about it," Emmer said.

"It was somebody in Montana that saw it and brought it to light," the House majority whip continued. "Otherwise, you and I, the president may never have known that this thing existed."

Emmer said Biden "should’ve taken action immediately" after learning about the balloon last Wednesday and that "this argument that they didn’t know what to do, or that he gave authority to somebody, and they waited until it completed its mission across the United States, is ludicrous."

"It’s inexcusable, and actually the American people should hold them accountable for that," Emmer said.

"This should never be allowed to happen again. There should immediately be an investigation as to why the leaders of our military did not immediately advise the commander-in-chief when that spy balloon was over the Pacific. Why didn’t they advise him so that they could’ve taken action there? Better yet, if they weren’t going to tell the president, why didn’t they take action while it was over the Pacific?"

"The fact that it took them several days afterward, and literally allowed the Chinese to complete their mission, is pathetic, inexcusable, and it should’ve been dealt with immediately," Emmer said.

Emmer also said, while he wouldn’t "speculate" as to whether first son Hunter Biden’s business dealings with China influenced the administration’s decision to take down the balloon, he has "confidence" in Republican committee leaders "to do their job" and "make sure we get to the bottom of this."

Emmer also said that he’d love to hear Biden "address energy independence," the "open" southern border crisis, and addressing crime in major cities in his Tuesday night speech.

"I’d love to hear him address the southern border and how we’re going to make sure that this, literally, the open border that his administration has created over the last two years, how they’re going to reverse course and solidify the southern border and protect Americans across the country from the fentanyl crisis that we’re dealing with," Emmer said.

US INTEL ASSESSES CHINESE SPY BALLOONS TRANSITED US SEVERAL TIMES, WENT 'UNDETECTED': SENIOR ADMIN OFFICIAL

"I think those would be just three quick ones that he could reach across the aisle and say, ‘I’m ready to get to work with the new Republican majority to help Americans in their daily lives," he continued.

Emmer said that GOP Reps. Pat Fallon of Texas and Andy Biggs of Arizona were in their rights as lawmakers to introduce the two impeachment resolutions against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

"But I think the committees now are going to do their work. It’s about raising this issue for the American people," Emmer said. "Because, quite frankly, the left-wing media hasn’t seen fit to report it."

Emmer torched Biden for his "choreographed" border trip to El Paso, Texas, and said that he believes "the more this issue is brought to light for the American people to see and understand that this is a crisis on our southern border, it is a crisis created by this administration, and it’s one that can quickly be remedied by this administration by returning to enforce the laws that were in place and were being enforced before they took office."

"Whether or not that creates grounds for the articles that have been filed, we’ll have to see, but I think it’s really important this case get tried in the court of public opinion," Emmer said.

"I think Americans that are directly impacted by the open southern border, with up to 300 Americans dying of fentanyl overdoses every day, I think that’s really where that trial is going to take place," he added.

GOP introduces resolution to condemn Pelosi for ripping up Trump’s State of the Union speech

Just hours after their colleagues in the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on the two articles of impeachment brought against him, Republican lawmakers in the House introduced a resolution to condemn House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up a copy of Trump’s State of the Union address.

Trump aims for ‘optimistic’ State of the Union on eve of final impeachment vote: ‘Success is the best revenge’

EXCLUSIVE: President Trump will deliver an “optimistic, inspirational, forward-looking” State of the Union address on the eve of the Senate's final impeachment vote, according to presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway, who quipped that “success is the best revenge.”

Senate impeachment punt sets up jampacked, unprecedented week in Washington

The GOP-led Senate may have blocked new witnesses from testifying, but a deal struck with Democrats to delay the ultimate impeachment acquittal vote of President Trump until Wednesday sets up a wild week ahead in politics.