Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) says he isn’t looking forward to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union and is buckling down for a long and “boring” speech.
The Florida Republican, who, if some lawmakers had their way, would be the one sitting behind Biden on Tuesday as House speaker, said the president is too dull to justify the hourlong speech he gave last year and may give again. Donalds and many other Republicans have preemptively bashed Biden’s address as a way to critique his policies.
STATE OF OUR UNION: NOT MUCH CIVILITY OR UNITY TWO YEARS INTO BIDEN’S PRESIDENCY
“The President talks too long. He’s boring. He talks too long, and he’s boring,” Donalds told reporters Tuesday. “Last year’s speech was like an hour? And he’s boring. Like, at least be interesting. So, I’d rather be home.”
Donalds predicted that Biden would give a divisive speech in a tweet Monday.
BREAKING: The White House releases a preview of tomorrow’s State of the Union address by President Biden.
The Divider-in-Chief pic.twitter.com/N8OkORTIP0
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 6, 2023
Donalds also said he doesn’t plan to wear any symbolic pins to the event, which many lawmakers wear to indicate their alignment with certain causes or positions. For example, many attendees sported blue and yellow ribbons last year to show support for Ukraine shortly after Russia’s invasion. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) might try to bring a white helium balloon to troll the Biden administration about its handling of the apparent Chinese spy balloon’s incursion into U.S. airspace.
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Many of Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) detractors during the contentious speakership election voted for Donalds on several ballots, including Donalds himself. McCarthy wound up winning after four days and 15 rounds of voting and will sit behind Biden Tuesday next to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden’s speech is expected to focus on bipartisan issues such as cancer research and supporting veterans, though Republicans are ready to blast him for not addressing their priorities. McCarthy said he won’t “play games” and intends to respect the office of the president, implicitly knocking his predecessor Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for ripping up her copy of then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address.
