McCarthy Accuses Biden of ‘Goading’ GOP During SOTU Address

Kevin McCarthy, Republican Representative from California, is the House Speaker^[0], accused President Biden of trying to “goad” Republican members of Congress during the State of the Union address on Wednesday. McCarthy said that Biden falsely claimed Republicans wanted to cut Social Security and Medicare, which provoked some members to erupt in anger.^[1]

McCarthy had warned his party behind closed doors prior to Biden's address that they should remain on their best behavior, given that cameras and microphones would be on.^[2] However, when Biden spoke about tax plans that would require billionaires to pay their fair share and mentioned a minority of Republicans who have suggested allowing plans such as Medicare and Social Security to sunset in new economic plans, Republican representatives began booing and shouting “Liar,” including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.^[3] Biden then took the opportunity to show that he felt those programs should be protected, saying “So we all agree, Social Security and Medicare are off the books,”^[3]

In response, McCarthy said, “Well, the president was trying to goad the members, and the members are passionate about it.^[2]

0. “President, 80, Bests House Speaker, 58” The Nation, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-kevin-mccarthy-state-of-the-union/

1. “Kevin McCarthy blasts Biden for ‘goading' GOP with false claims at SOTU: ‘He knew it was not true'” Fox News, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/media/kevin-mccarthy-blasts-biden-goading-gop-false-claims-sotu-knew-true

2. “State of the Union 2023: Kevin McCarthy accuses Biden of trying to ‘goad' Republicans” msnNOW, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/state-of-the-union-2023-kevin-mccarthy-accuses-biden-of-trying-to-goad-republicans/ar-AA17g0f6

3. “Whoopi Goldberg Calls Out Republicans Yelling During State Of The Union: ‘Nobody Yelled’ At Trump” HollywoodLife, 8 Feb. 2023, https://hollywoodlife.com/2023/02/08/whoopi-goldberg-republicans-state-of-the-union-the-view/