US President Barack Obama has delivered his final State of the Union of his Presidency. The speech addressed various issues, including foreign policy, the economy, security, climate change, education, and many others. He started with the economy.
"We’re in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history. More than 14 million new jobs; the strongest two years of job growth since the ‘90s; an unemployment rate cut in half. Our auto industry just had its best year ever. Manufacturing has created nearly 900,000 new jobs in the past six years. And we’ve done all this while cutting our deficits by almost three-quarters," Obama said.
Other issues covered included making education affordable for every American, and more efforts and investment to combat climate change. That includes accelerating the transition away from dirty energy. He also emphasized the importance of medical care, and thorough implementation of Social Security and Medicare. Stressing the need for stronger US leadership, he called for the next administration to do more to fight terrorism, including ISIL and making the country a safer place for all Americans.
"As we focus on destroying ISIL, over the top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages, they pose an enormous danger to civilians, they have to be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence," Obama said.
