By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Katie Britt referred to President Joe Biden as a “indecisive and weakened leader” in the Republican response to his State of the Union address on Thursday night.
The first-term Alabama Republican and the youngest female senator, delivered a strong critique of the president during an election year while sitting at her own kitchen table. She argued that “the country we know and love seems to be slipping away.”
Britt, a 42-year-old former congressional worker and mother of two, was elected to the Senate in 2022 with former President Donald Trump’s support. She vowed to come to Washington as a “momma on a mission” and has developed a unique role in the GOP conference as an adviser to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and a seasoned former aide on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
For the third consecutive year, Republicans have chosen a woman to address the nation after Biden concludes his speech — and Britt’s remarks convey the same bleak outlook for the future under Biden and Democrats as expressed by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023 and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2022.
“For years, the left has pampered criminals and reduced funding for the police — all while permitting repeat offenders to go free,” Britt stated in her response. “The outcome is sorrowful but predictable — from our small towns to America’s most famous city streets, life is becoming more and more perilous.”
She criticized Biden’s foreign policy, including his disorderly 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan and discussion of a renewed nuclear agreement with Iran. She did not mention Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, as Biden has vigorously urged the Republican-led House to consider a Senate-approved aid package.
Britt’s response came as her state has attracted national attention for a state Supreme Court ruling in February that classified frozen embryos as children under state law. That decision halted access to in vitro fertilization at clinics across the state, but some indicated that they would resume services after the state legislature passed a law on Wednesday protecting doctors from legal responsibility.
Britt has advocated for IVF services, contacting Trump after the judgment. Trump, the leading candidate for the GOP nomination, issued a statement hours later affirming his support for IVF.
In her response, Britt reiterated her backing for the practice, stating “we want to help caring moms and dads bring precious life into this world.”
Britt, who has prioritized immigration, also criticized the president on the border, labeling his policies as a “shame” that have resulted in increased numbers of border crossings during his presidency.
She mentioned that Biden referenced slain Georgia nursing student Laken Riley during his speech, but stated that he “refused to take responsibility for his own actions.” Police say Ruket was killed by an immigrant in the country illegally.
Britt said that the President should take responsibility for the deaths of innocent Americans and make changes to his policies to end the crisis and relieve the suffering.
Britt expressed that the world deserves better leadership and America deserves leaders who understand the importance of secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense.
She didn't mention Trump by name, but she implied that the country needs to make the right choice for the future, aligning with the Republican Party's stance.
