Jan 6, 2024 - Politics & Policy

House Speaker Johnson invites Biden to deliver State of the Union address on March 7

Erin Doherty

President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College January 5, 2024 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. — President Biden speaks during a campaign event at Montgomery County Community College on Jan. 5 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has invited President Biden to deliver the State of the Union address on March 7, days after Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states will hold nominating contests.

Why it matters: It's a month later than last year's Feb. 7 State of the Union and is set to follow two critical government shutdown deadlines.

Driving the news: "In this moment of great challenge for our country, it is my solemn duty to extend this invitation for you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, March 7, 2024, so that you may fulfill your obligation under the U.S. Constitution to report on the state of our union," Johnson wrote in his letter to Biden.

It will be the first State of the Union address for Johnson, who became House speaker in October after a drawn-out and bitter battle for the chair.

Flashback: Biden, who is seeking re-election, during last year's address highlighted the need for national unity.

He also went off script and urged Republicans to agree to protect Medicare and Social Security as Congress weighed budget cuts.

Go deeper: Biden says Trump's "lies brought a mob" to D.C. on Jan. 6

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House Speaker Johnson invites Biden to deliver State of the Union address on March 7

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