Last week, Newt Gingrich, former Senator who also served as the Speaker of the House, spoke out against President Joe Biden’s latest State of the Union speech. This speech was especially crucial as Biden aims for reelection. He had a lot to cover: he wanted to highlight his accomplishments in office, share his plans if he gets a second term, allay concerns about his age and fitness, and show how he’s different from the Republicans, especially Donald Trump.
On Trump
Even though Biden didn’t directly say Trump’s name during his speech, it was clear Trump was a main topic. This made Biden’s speech one of the most politically charged ones we’ve seen in a while. Right from the start, Biden was on the offensive, setting a tone that continued throughout. Whether he was talking about abortion, immigration, or taxes, Biden kept bringing up how he differed from Trump. He referred to Trump as “my predecessor” 13 times in a speech that went on for over an hour.
About the speech
The atmosphere in the House chamber during the speech was lively, with Democrats often cheering loudly and some Republicans shouting back. It felt more like what you’d see at a political rally than a State of the Union, which is traditionally more about ceremonial show and policy details. Since it’s an election year, the pressure was on for Biden, who came across as bold and ready to challenge his opponents. Gingrich saw this approach as a big mistake for Biden.
Former Senator finds the speech partisan
Gingrich didn’t like Biden’s approach on the speech. Gingrich expressed his negative opinion on X, the social media network formerly known as Twitter, finding the speech to be too partisan and fracturing. Among all the negative comments, Gingrich also commented that ‘Biden never ceases to amaze him with his pettiness, nastiness and dishonesty.”
“Last night we learned we have a Democratic in Chief rather than a Commander in Chief and a Democratic National Chairman rather than a President of the United States. It was the most destructive, hateful and divisive state of the union in our history,” reads Gingrich’s tweet. “Read Truman’s 1948 speech for a patriotic, unifying, presidential speech as a contrast.”
Last night we learned we have a Democratic in Chief rather than a Commander in Chief and a Democratic National Chairman rather than a President of the United States. It was the most destructive, hateful and divisive state of the union in our history. Read Truman’;s 1948 speech…
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) March 8, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson
“Speaker Johnson showed great discipline and was effective in communicating quietly at some of Biden’s more outrageous moments. Having been in that role I admired how well he handled his first State of the Union. It is difficult to sit behind a partisan liar and not jump up and yell at him,” Gingrich wrote in another post on X. “Speaker Johnson rose to the occasion. And remained more dignified than the President,” he added.
Gingrich comments backfired
Gingrich, who ran for president had gained infamy when he spearheaded the impeachment effort against President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, as well as causing a government shutdown in the 1990s, faced harsh criticism online. After he tweeted about President Biden, someone shot back with a cutting remark about his ailing wife saying, “How’s your sick wife in the hospital doing again?”
This comment digs up a painful part of Gingrich’s past when, having been married three times, he began divorce talks with his first wife, Jackie Battley, while she was recovering from cancer surgery.
Others blamed Gingrich for the contradictions.
“It is the likes of you who are divisive and lie like a rug in a barn,” tweeted @BaddCompani. “You do not speak for Americans, you lie to them. Nothing you said is truthful, nothing you do is honest, nothing you say matters. It is pure agitprop.”
“What a giant hypocrite you are. For those that don’t know Newt, Newt was and is one of the most divisive republicans out their,” @jaf7 commented, adding “He led the attack on Bill Clinton for his affair in the white house while conducting his own affair.”
