President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday took a confrontational turn as he directly addressed US Supreme Court justices regarding their decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade legislation. In an unscripted moment, Biden challenged the conservative-majority court’s ruling, emphasizing the significance of women’s political power.

Departing from his prepared remarks, Biden delivered a pointed message to the justices, asserting that women possess significant electoral and political influence. This direct address to the justices, a rare occurrence in presidential speeches, underscored Biden’s commitment to defending women’s rights in the face of judicial challenges.

Biden specifically referenced Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in the Roe v. Wade ruling, highlighting Alito’s assertion that women have electoral and political power, suggesting that the issue should be decided through democratic processes. Pushing back against this perspective, Biden warned of the impending backlash from female voters, implying that the justices would soon experience the consequences of their decision.

During Biden’s remarks, six of the nine attending justices, including three conservatives, remained impassive as nearby Democrats erupted into applause. The absence of Justice Alito from the event was noted, signaling a notable absence among the justices directly addressed by Biden.

Undeterred by the justices’ reactions, Biden pledged to pursue the restoration of Roe v. Wade if Democrats achieve significant electoral victories in the upcoming November election. Expressing his commitment to supporting the right to choose, Biden assured the American people that he would work to reinstate Roe v. Wade as the prevailing law of the land, provided that Congress aligns with this goal.