President Joe Biden delivered a State of the Union address that diverged from recent norms, taking a direct aim at former President Donald Trump’s administration. In a speech spanning roughly 67 minutes, Biden criticized Trump’s handling of various issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration policies, gun control, and relations with China.

Seizing what could be seen as his largest audience ahead of the upcoming election, Biden used the platform to set the stage for a potentially contentious rematch, highlighting contrasts with his predecessor. Despite the high stakes, the address didn’t incur any costs for Biden’s campaign, given his substantial financial reserves compared to Trump.

Throughout the speech, Biden referred to “my predecessor” approximately a dozen times, eliciting visible reactions from some members of the audience, including eye-rolling and deep sighs from Speaker Mike Johnson. In response to occasional pushback from Republican attendees, Biden welcomed their reactions, engaging in verbal sparring over policy proposals such as tax cuts.

Biden’s deliberate attempts to provoke GOP responses were confirmed by his White House communications director, indicating that part of the strategy involved challenging Trump’s policies, particularly regarding taxation. The president didn’t hold back in his criticism of Trump, accusing him of neglecting his duty to care for the American people during the pandemic, which Biden described as “unforgivable.”

In response, Trump swiftly expressed his disdain for Biden’s speech, labeling it as “the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made.” Fellow Republicans echoed similar sentiments on social media platforms, with Senator Mike Lee describing the address as “the most disastrous” he had witnessed in his lifetime.

Biden also addressed Trump’s recent remarks regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting a firm stance against any potential aggression from Russia. Refuting Trump’s reported comments about encouraging Russian actions against NATO allies, Biden emphasized his commitment to standing firm and not yielding to external pressures.