President Biden Delivers 2024 State of the Union Address

President Biden is set to deliver his annual State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Watch Biden’s address live in the player above.

The annual speech is rooted in a Constitutional requirement and is formally requested by Congress. In modern times, it has become a televised, highly structured event. Here are details on where to watch and key themes to watch for:

When and Where to Watch

• Scheduled Time: Begins at 9 p.m. ET.
• How to Watch: Viewable in our player above or via YouTube. All major broadcast networks are expected to air it live.

What to watch for

• Biden’s age and acuity: At 81, Biden’s performance will be closely watched amidst concerns over age and mental acuity.
• Political dynamics: There will be a focus on freshly appointed House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, as he appears behind Biden during the address.
• Policy proposals: Biden is expected to bring up international initiatives, such as support for Ukraine and the Israel-Palestinian conflict, as well as stalled progress in bipartisan border solutions. He is also likely to underline strong domestic points, such as the strong economic signals he hopes to take credit for.
• Unscripted moments: The speech is highly structured and released to the public in advance. So any deviations from the speech are noteworthy, as are outbursts from lawmakers and attendees.
• GOP response: After the address, Sen. Katie Britt is scheduled to deliver the Republican rebuttal. Former President Donald Trump is expected to weigh in as well.
• Speech length: The lengths of State of the Union addresses have generally increased. Biden’s average of 63 minutes so far is roughly comparable to former President Barack Obama at 61 minutes and longer than George W. Bush’s speeches at 52 minutes. Both Former Presidents Clinton and Trump delivered some of the longer speeches in recent history, averaging over 73 minutes.