Joe Biden delivers State of the Union speech, vows ‘if China threatens, we will act’

US President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address to send a stern warning to Xi Jinping and urge unity on climate change and gun reform.

Joe Biden has unofficially kicked off his re-election bid with a State of the Union address spruiking his presidential record so far, declaring to the American people: “We’re just getting started.”

The oldest president in history – who is soon expected to confirm his plan to run in 2024 – was energetic and upbeat in the annual set-piece speech as he called for unity to tackle the biggest challenges facing the US.

At the top of that list, Mr Biden said, was “winning the competition with China”.

US President Joe Biden delivers the speech as US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy look on. Picture: AFP

Joe Biden has urged Congress to “finish the job”. AFP

While he said he was willing to work with Xi Jinping where it would benefit the world, the President sent a stern message to his counterpart after shooting down a spy balloon over the US.

“If China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country – and we did,” he said.

In front of an audience including Brandon Tsay, the hero who disarmed a gunman who killed 11 people in Los Angeles last month, Mr Biden pleaded for Republicans to team up with his Democrats and ban assault weapons “once and for all”.

He also pushed for police reform in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by Memphis police officers. Mr Biden quoted his mother RowVaughn Wells, another invited guest, who said she hoped “something good will come from this”.

Former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blows a kiss as US President Joe Biden acknowledges her during the State of the Union address. Picture: AFP

White House guests U2 frontman Bono and Paul Pelosi, husband of former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova. Picture: AFP)

Having lost control of the House of Representatives in last November’s midterm elections, the President faces an uphill battle to pass any legislation for the next two years, including lifting the US debt ceiling.

Failure to do so would see America default on its loans, prompting Mr Biden to challenge Republicans who he said wanted to “take the economy hostage” and call on them to ensure “the full faith and credit of the United States will never, ever be questioned”.

“Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict gets us nowhere.” he said.

Brandon Tsay, bottom left, the man who wrestled the gun away from a shooting suspect in Monterey Park, California. Picture: AFP

While he was warmly welcomed by new Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Mr Biden was heckled by some members during his speech on the border crisis and social security.

The President talked up his record in office including sweeping legislation to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, fast-track the clean energy revolution and protect same-sex marriage.

But despite those achievements, 71 per cent of Americans told a recent NBC News poll that they believed their country was heading in the wrong direction, capping the highest level of sustained pessimism in three decades.

In a separate Washington Post-ABC News poll, 62 per cent of voters said they believed Mr Biden had accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing” in office.