Biden stumbles as he opens State of the Union trends now
Republicans booed President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night after he called on Congress to raise taxes on the wealthy and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called him a 'liar' after he blamed the nation's debt on Donald Trump.
The evening started off with a smile – Speaker Kevin McCarthy made small talk with Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden started off his speech with some bad improvised jokes, and there was a standing ovation for infrastructure.
But it quickly turned contentious with Republicans yelling, pointing, and shouting 'liar' while McCarthy sat back behind Biden, taking in the scene. Harris was quick to jump up and applaud the president.
Biden pushed back as Republicans yelled.
It started when he said 'under the previous administration the American deficit went. .. No president added more to the national debt in any four years than my predecessor.'
Republicans went wild, standing and yelling. Greene shouted 'liar' a couple of times, standing up and pointing at Biden.
President Biden got into verbal fistcuffs during his State of the Union Address
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stood and shouted 'liar' at President Biden
'Anybody who doubts it contact my office. I'll give you a copy,' Biden said.
The dark mood continued as Biden claimed some Republicans want to end Medicare and Social Security, provoking another round of shouts.
Biden responded: 'I'm glad to see it, I enjoy conversion.'
'Social Security and its bookend, Medicare, are off the books now, right?,' he added. 'We have unanimity!'
Lingering in the backdrop of Biden's remarks is the fight to raise the debt limit. Republicans want to slash federal spending in exchange for increasing the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing limit. Biden wants it raised with no conditions attached.
But Republicans have said they don't want to cut Medicare and Social Security - two entitlement programs important to older voters.
The battle is shaping up to be Biden's first major policy fight with Republicans since they took control of the House. The two sides have until the end of June to come to an agreement.
The president fumbled his State of the Union speech at the top, attempting to make a joke about wife Jill going to the Super Bowl without him, messing up Chuck Schumer's title in the Senate and complimenting Kevin McCarthy after previously slamming Republicans as MAGA extremists.
The president tried his hand at a little improv when he took the podium in the House chamber to address the nation.
After greeting Jill Biden, who sat in a box overlooking the House floor, Biden tried to joke to Chief Justice John Roberts about the first lady's upcoming trip to the Superbowl, where her Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Kansas City Chiefs.
'By the way Chief Justice - I may need a court order,' he said, deviating from his prepared remarks. 'She gets to go to the game next week. I got to stay home. I got to work something out here.'
He also gave McCarthy, who was presiding over his first State of the Union address as speaker, a backhand compliment.
'Mr. Speaker I don't want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you,' the president said.
In other sittings Biden has blasted Donald Trump supporters like McCarthy as 'extremists' in the Republican Party. 'This is not your father's Republican Party,' he has said repeatedly in the past.
McCarthy, for his part, appeared to be mentally wandering off during Biden's remarks, often seeming to struggle to pay attention. Seated directly behind the president, the speaker was on camera for the majority of Biden's remarks.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy shakes President Biden's hand at the start of the State of the Union
The president, who struggles with a stutter, also fumbled to greet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who he called minority leader, which was Schumer's old title.
'Chuck Schumer - another, you know, another term is, was this Senate Minority Leader. You know, I think you always time you have a slightly bigger majority. Mr. Leader,' he said.
Seated in the House chamber, Schumer held up one finger, indicating the one-seat majority that Democrats have in the Senate.
'You're the majority leader,' Biden said, finally getting his title correct. 'But that much bigger.'
During his speech, Biden used some of his favorite tactics to make a point - whispering at times and raising his voice to a shout at others.
But, at several points, he struggled to get his words out.
He fumbled as he tried to warn Republicans not to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act - his billions of dollars in social programs - passed when Democrats controlled Congress.
'Now some members here threatening - and I know it's not an official party position - So I'm not
