When American presidents seem earlier than a joint session of Congress, and sometimes their largest tv viewers, to ship a State of the Union tackle — they’re vital benchmarks in not solely updating the nation however in setting political priorities.

And amid the typically predictable and forgettable rhetoric, these speeches even have produced some memorable moments — with many lately going viral on social media.

Tuesday’s speech comes at a vital juncture in Joe Biden’s presidency as he navigates the continuing battle in Ukraine, reignited requires policing and gun reform, and for the primary time in his presidency, a divided Congress. In the meantime, a mirrored image bid seems imminent.

Biden will perform the custom of all 45 presidents earlier than him, starting with in-person speeches by George Washington and John Adams earlier than Thomas Jefferson transitioned to solely written addresses. After President Woodrow Wilson in 1913 revived the custom of studying the tackle to Congress, the follow turned a definite platform for a president to mobilize help for his agenda.

Listed here are some moments that stand out:

Two girls behind a president

Final 12 months was the primary time in historical past People would see two girls seated within the Home dais, flanking a president throughout a State of the Union tackle: Vice President Kamala Harris and then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

(The 2 girls additionally sat behind Biden throughout his joint tackle to Congress in 2021, which was not an official State of the Union tackle.)

On Tuesday, Biden will stand in entrance of Vice President Kamala Harris and the brand new Republican Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, who turned second in line to the presidency in January.

Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump

Then-President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speeches in some ways displayed the deep rift between Democrats and Republicans throughout Washington throughout his presidency.

Most notably, on show was a mutual disdain he shared with Pelosi.

Maybe probably the most jarring second from Trump’s 2020 speech was when Pelosi, from her perch behind the president, dramatically ripped his speech in half simply after he completed.

“I tore it up,” she replied to a reporter who requested what she’d considered the speech.

Forward of his speech, Trump had made some extent of refusing to shake Pelosi’s hand.

Throughout the identical speech, Pelosi sarcastically clapped at Trump after he referred to as for People to “reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the widespread good.”

“The manifesto of mistruths introduced in web page after web page of the tackle tonight needs to be a name to motion for everybody who expects fact from the President and insurance policies worthy of his workplace and the American folks,” he wrote in a while Twitter. “The American folks anticipate and deserve a President to have integrity and respect for the aspirations for his or her youngsters.”

Rush Limbaugh awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

In an unprecedented transfer, Trump awarded conservative radio character Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the course of the State of the Union tackle in 2020, sooner or later after the discuss present host revealed he had superior lung most cancers.

“Tonight is a particular man, somebody beloved by hundreds of thousands of People who simply acquired a Stage 4 superior most cancers prognosis. This isn’t excellent news, however what is nice information is that he’s the best fighter and winner that you’ll ever meet, ” Trump stated throughout his speech.

A notably shocked Limbaugh had the medal positioned round his neck by first woman Melania Trump.

‘The state of the union will not be good’

President Gerald Ford shook custom in 1975, within the wake of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

“I need to communicate very bluntly. I’ve acquired dangerous information, and I do not anticipate a lot, if something, applause … the state of the union will not be good,” Ford stated.

“Hundreds of thousands of People are out of labor. Recession and inflation are eroding the cash of hundreds of thousands extra. Costs are too excessive, and gross sales are too gradual. This 12 months’s federal deficit will probably be about $30 billion; subsequent 12 months’s in all probability $45 billion. The nationwide debt will rise to over $500 billion.” It was the opening to an tackle that introduced measures he felt would “rebuild our political and financial power.”

Justice Alito mouths ‘not true’ to Obama’s assertion

In 2010, throughout President Barack Obama’s second State of the Union tackle, conservative Supreme Courtroom Justice Samuel Alito was seen mouthing the phrases “not true” after Obama criticized the Supreme Courtroom’s “Residents United” resolution on company political contributions.

“Final week, the Supreme Courtroom reversed a century of regulation to open the floodgates for particular pursuits — together with overseas companies — to spend with out restrict in our elections,” Obama stated. “Nicely I do not suppose American elections needs to be bankrolled by America’s strongest pursuits, or worse, by overseas entities. They need to be determined by the American folks, and that is why I am urging Democrats and Republicans to move a invoice that helps to proper this flawed.”

‘The period of huge authorities is over’

Throughout President Invoice Clinton’s 1996 State of the Union tackle, the Democrat, below Republican strain, declared, “The period of huge authorities is over.”

“I consider our new, smaller authorities should work in an old style American approach, along with all of our residents by state and native governments, within the office, in non secular, charitable and civic associations. Our aim should be to allow all of us folks to profit from their very own lives — with stronger households, extra academic alternatives, financial safety, safer streets, a cleaner surroundings in a safer world.”

His feedback precluded a surprising pivot for a Democrat who had lengthy backed authorities options to social issues. Within the coming months, he permitted a Republican-authored thought for welfare reform and extra spending cuts.

Lauren Boebert booed after Afghanistan interruption

Final 12 months, Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert shouted at President Biden, blaming him for the deaths of the 13 US service members killed in an assault on the Kabul airport in Afghanistan in 2021, as Biden spoke about veterans uncovered to burn pits creating “most cancers that will put them in a flag -draped coffin.”

“You place them in, 13 of them!” she yelled.

However her phrases got here out simply because the president was about to say the dying of his son, Beau Biden, an Iraq Warfare veteran who died from mind most cancers in 2015.

“I do know,” Biden started, trying to reference Beau. However earlier than he might get the sentence out, Boebert shouted.

Lawmakers within the chamber instantly booed her.

Boebert, alongside GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, additionally tried to start out a “construct the wall” chant when Biden spoke about border safety and immigration reform throughout his speech.

Ronald Reagan begins the custom of particular visitors

In January 1982, a couple of weeks earlier than President Ronald Reagan’s State of the Union tackle, an Air Florida jetliner crashed into Washington DC’s 14th Road Bridge and the Potomac River, killing 78 folks. Congressional Price range Workplace worker Lenny Skutnik jumped into the water to rescue a passenger.

Skutnik was then personally invited by Reagan to attend the joint tackle of Congress, the place he sat subsequent to the primary woman and was referred to as out by identify in the course of the speech for his heroism. Since then, each president has invited particular visitors for his or her remarks.

–ABC Information’ Mariam Khan contributed to this report.