Joe Biden seeks to draw sharp contrast with Donald Trump in State of the Union speech

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Joe Biden will vow to reject “resentment, revenge and retribution” as he hails America’s “comeback” in the annual speech to Congress on Thursday night and lays out the battle lines for his election fight against Donald Trump.

According to excerpts of Biden’s State of the Union address released by the White House, the president will say he embraces “freedom and democracy” and “core values” including “to “respect everyone and “give hate no safe harbour”.

“Some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me,” the US president will say in a thinly-veiled swipe at his likely Republican rival in November’s presidential election. While Biden is 81, Trump is 77.

The speech marks a high-stakes moment for Biden, who seeks momentum in his re-election bid despite low approval ratings, a backlash against inflation and immigration, and questions about his physical and mental capacity to serve another four years in office.

Biden is also navigating anger on the left of the Democratic party at his support for Israel’s war with Gaza. Protesters calling for a ceasefire demonstrated outside the Capitol building as he arrived to give his speech on Thursday.

But the president is also presiding over a booming economy and strong labour market, following a string of legislative accomplishments designed to boost domestic manufacturing. Biden will tout an “American comeback” that he believes has not been sufficiently told throughout the country.

“I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. And we have,” the president will say.

“America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and…