Thread by @jseldin

Follow along here for @VOANews's coverage of @POTUS' State of the Union address

And follow me here for coverage of national security issues as raised in #SOTU

voanews.com/t/60.html

"The story of America is a story of progress and resilience. Of always moving forward. Of never giving up" per @POTUS

"We are the only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger than when we entered it. That's what we are doing again"

"2 years ago, our democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War. Today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken" per @POTUS

"Let’s also come together on #immigration & make it a bipartisan issue again" per @POTUS

"We now have a record number of personnel working to secure the border, arresting 8,000 human smugglers, seizing over 23,000 pounds of fentanyl in just the last several months" per @POTUS

"We've launched our new border plan last month. Unlawful migration from #Cuba, #Haiti, #Nicaragua & #Venezuela has come down 97%" per @POTUS

"But American border problems won’t be fixed until Congress acts" on comprehensive immigration reform, he says

"Our strength is not just the example of our power, but the power of our example... remember the world's watching" per @POTUS

#Russia's invasion of #Ukraine "A murderous assault, evoking images of the death and destruction... a test for the ages. A test for America. A test for the world" per @POTUS

"Together, we did what America always does at our best" per @POTUS "We led"

"We united @NATO. We built a global coalition" he says "We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people"

To #Ukraine - "We're gonna stand with you as long as it takes" per @POTUS

On #China - "Before I came to office, the story was about how the People’s Republic of China was increasing its power and America was falling in the world" per @POTUS

"Not anymore"

"Today, we’re in the strongest position in decades to compete w/#China or anyone else in the world" per @POTUS

"Make no mistake about it: as we made clear last week, if #China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country" per @POTUS

re PRC's spy balloon

"In the past two years, democracies have become stronger, not weaker. Autocracies have grown weaker, not stronger" per @POTUS

"Name me a world leader who would change places w/Xi Jinping" he challenges "Name me one. Name me one"

"Those who bet against America are learning just how wrong they are" per @POTUS

"It’s never ever been good bet to bet against America. Never"

"For the last few years our democracy has been threatened, attacked, and put at risk" per @POTUS "Put to the test here, in this very room, on January 6th"

"We must all speak out. There is no place for political violence in America" per @POTUS

"We must give hate and extremism in any form no safe harbor"

"We have to see each other not as enemies, but as fellow Americans" per @POTUS

"We are a good people, the only nation in the world built on an idea"

"Because the soul of this nation is strong, bcs the backbone of this nation is strong, bcs the people of this nation are strong, the State of the Union is strong" per @POTUS

"I've never been more optimistic about our future...We just have to remember who we are"