Biden begins formulating second term vision

President Joe Biden will begin laying out his second-term agenda in his State of the Union address to Congress on Thursday night, as he moves into campaigning for his expected rematch with former President Donald Trump this November.

Among the expected announcements, Biden is expected to announce plans to add a port in Gaza that the U.S. and partner countries can use to bring aid into the country. He will also discuss the government’s efforts to free hostages still held by Hamas. And Biden is expected to announce a new border crossing in northern Gaza.

Once the pier is built, “we will be able to support hundreds of additional trucks every day,” a senior government official said.

The U.S. will coordinate with Israel, the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza through the port, but senior administration officials have said the operation will not involve the U.S. setting foot on the ground in Gaza. It was made clear that it was not included.

White House aides also said Biden would emphasize economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic and lay out his administration’s plans to reform the tax code, expand housing supply and reduce the federal deficit.

“Since the president took office, the economy has added nearly 15 million jobs. The unemployment rate has been below 4% for two full years, even as inflation has fallen by two-thirds. Wages are rising faster than prices before the pandemic, and there’s a boom in small business,” White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden said at a press conference. “Lowering costs for working families is his top economic priority.”

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But this speech, delivered in Biden’s official capacity as president, comes just two days after the Super Tuesday primaries in which Biden and Trump effectively secured the party’s nomination and their primary challengers dropped out. It cannot be denied that it has political implications.

Biden structured his speech around rhetorical questions about which side politicians are on, whereas he wants to portray himself as fighting for working Americans and democratic values. Opponents want tax cuts for the country’s wealthy and the abandonment of Ukraine to Russian dictator Vladimir. President Putin is abroad.

He will use the speech to remind voters of his legislative accomplishments, including the Inflation Control Act, which polls show many Americans are unfamiliar with or confused by. .

And since Democratic rhetoric so far about the election has been more focused on stopping President Trump, it will be a chance for him to make a positive case for what he will do for another four years in the White House. .

Biden will also seek to allay fears within his party about his political and physical health, as polls show Trump leading in key battleground states.

In today’s fractured media environment and polarized Washington, the State of the Union has less agenda-setting power than in the past.

But the event, which is expected to be watched by millions of people, will give Biden a valuable opportunity to speak to a segment of Americans who don’t really care about politics but are paying attention to key moments. It’s an opportunity.

One thing he won’t do is roll out new orders on immigration.

Mr. Biden is unlikely to announce any new executive action on immigration or the southern border, according to two administration officials and members of Congress who have seen the draft speech.

As NBC News previously reported, the Biden administration has been considering unilateral measures for weeks that would make it harder for migrants to pass the initial asylum screening at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a speech Thursday, Biden is expected to slam Republicans for failing to advance a bipartisan border deal this year, according to one administration and Congressional official. The tone will likely be similar to when Mr. Biden visited the southern border last week, criticizing the lack of action from Republicans in Congress and saying they needed to “show a little spine.”

Biden aides have consistently emphasized that any executive action pales in comparison to a bill that would provide the funding needed to implement some of his priorities, such as hiring more border personnel or implementing specific policy reforms. I’ve been doing it.