Third Parties and Independent Candidates React to President Biden’s State of the Union Address

President Joe Biden delivered the annual State of the Union Address this past Thursday, addressing both chambers of Congress in a speech outlining the condition of the United States. In addition to the Republican Party, several national third parties and independent candidates also delivered responses to Biden’s speech.

Independent Political Report has collected these official responses and has presented them in the order they were delivered, as well as the platform they were delivered on. Readers are also encouraged to share responses from other parties not listed.

• ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy delivered a response via YouTube on Thursday following Biden’s address. His full remarks can be viewed below:

• PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION: Party for Socialism and Liberation nominees Claudia de La Cruz and Karina Garcia shared a series of statements on their official X campaign account on Thursday. The ticket delivered their response in the form of several graphics. Readers can access the full thread of statements below:

• LIBERTARIAN PARTY: Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle delivered a response to the State of the Union Address on behalf of the Libertarian Party. Her response was streamed live over YouTube through the Libertarian Party’s official account on Friday, as well as on X. A recording of her full speech can be viewed below:

• DR. CORNEL WEST: Independent presidential candidate Dr. Cornel West delivered a response on X, briefly sharing his thoughts the following Friday. His remarks can be viewed below:

• SOCIALIST EQUALITY PARTY: Socialist Equality Party Chair David North published an official response on the Socialist Equality Party’s website, the World Socialist Web Site, on Saturday. In North’s remarks, he critiqued President Biden’s State of the Union address, condemning it for promoting war with Russia and perpetuating contradictions and falsehoods, particularly regarding the social and economic situation in the United States.

North also argued that Biden’s speech, aligned with Democratic Socialists of America rhetoric, serves the interests of corporate rule and war, contrasting it with a call for socialist leadership to oppose imperialism and capitalist exploitation through class struggle and social revolution. Readers can view North’s response on the World Socialist Web Site here.

• REFORM PARTY: Reform National Committee Chair Nicholas Hensley published the Reform Party’s official response on the Reform Party’s website on Saturday. In it, Hensley expressed support for President Biden’s emphasis on democracy and economic policies, such as building the economy from the bottom-up, but raised concerns about inflation, national debt, and tax policies, among other issues.

Hensley also called on both the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as their members, to refrain from making political attacks during the SOTU address. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of dissenting conversations as a means of strengthening the nation. Readers can view Hensley’s response on the Reform Party’s website here.