Nia-Malika Henderson, Columnist

Biden Understood the Assignment With State of the Union

Democrats wanted to see Joe the fighter at the podium. They got that president.

March 8, 2024 at 10:00 AM UTC

Nia-Malika Henderson is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former senior political reporter for CNN and the Washington Post, she has covered politics and campaigns for almost two decades.

Joe the fighter.
Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images North America

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President Joe Biden arrived at his State of the Union podium Thursday with a very basic task. Facing a reelection bid with dismal approval ratings, a fraying base and questions about his stamina, he needed to prove to the millions of Americans who tuned in that he has the physical and mental strength to lead the nation, now, and for the next four years.

Biden, 81, forceful, combative, sharp and at times funny, delivered.