Joe Biden delivers State of the Union address at critical moment in the election cycle

Joe Biden opened his State of the Union address with a robust defense of US allies abroad, calling on Congress to approve more funding for Ukraine amid its war against Russia and condemning Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Nato.

Biden compared this moment to 1941, when the US stood on the precipice on entering the second world war, and he repeatedly reminded Americans that “history is watching” how the nation will react to the crises unfolding around the world.

“Not since President Lincoln and the civil war have our freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” Biden said. “What makes our moment rare is freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time.”

Biden invoked Trump’s recent comments that he would allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to Nato nations that fail to make sufficient financial contributions to the alliance.

“A former president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. I think it’s outrageous. It’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable,” Biden said. “My message to President Putin, who I’ve known for a long time, is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down.”

The State of the Union address comes on the same day that Sweden formally joined Nato, and the prime minister of Sweden was in the audience as a guest of the White House to witness Biden’s speech. Biden welcomed Sweden to “the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen”.