On April 28, 2021 President Joe Biden gave his first joint speech to Congress to mark 100 days in office. Biden’s speech was different from previous Presidents, as he did not have the large crowds and flown-in audience as is typical. Due to the pandemic, the only people physically in attendance were a small number of socially distant and masked up lawmakers. However, this wasn’t the only change. The National Guard had a barricade set up a half-mile in every direction from the Capitol, a measure taken after the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
Many noted that Biden’s speech was a different tone from those of his predecessor, President Donald Trump. While Trump was often known for his loud, high-energy speeches, Biden’s speech was in stark contrast. He was more relaxed and calmer, but some described it as ‘low energy.’
It’s no doubt that for many, Donald Trump set a certain precedent when it came to speeches and everything from now on will be compared to them. One prominent moment was when Madame Vice President Harris and Madame Speaker Pelosi elbow-bumped each other behind Biden. Biden made note of this, stating, “Madame Vice President, Madame Speaker. No president has ever said those words.”
The speech focused mostly on policy, setting up what Biden plans to do over the next four years. Revealed on Wednesday before the speech was a $4 trillion spending plan. Biden is often not known for speech-giving, sometimes having trouble with his words or using too much ‘senate-ese’ that most people do not understand, however this speech was peppered with ad-libs that made it seem more natural.
One such notable ad-lib was when he spoke on restrictions on military-grade weapons, and stated that it wouldn’t offend responsible firearms owners stating, “What, do you think deer are wearing Kevlar vests?”
Another key point of his speech was the use of ‘we’. Where his predecessor preferred to talk about things ‘he’ did, Biden uses the collective ‘we’ to include everyone in the speech. Turning back to policy, he mentioned a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief law, and called for congress to implement $2.25 trillion in infrastructure as well as a $1.8 trillion expansion of the family safety net. To combat the costs of these programs, he suggested a tax increase on those households that make over $400,000 a year.
Most report that Biden’s speech was good, even bordering on great. The 100th day speech is a milestone that sets the tone for the next four years and it’s no doubt that Biden set the tone in his speech. While there is still room to grow, and it remains to be seen how these promises will turn out, Americans can feel secure in knowing their President has their best interests at heart.
Jeri Hensley
Creative Director