A Russian national was indicted for helping an oligarch evade US sanctions by financing multimillion dollar properties in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Florida -- the latest sign that prosecutors continue to put pressure on wealthy businessmen with ties to the Kremlin.

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The Biden administration told the Supreme Court Tuesday that its intent to let the coronavirus public health emergency expire in May will moot the ongoing case over a Trump-era border restriction.

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Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is the "designated survivor" during President Joe Biden's second State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

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Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar responds to news that Republicans are fundraising via email off of her removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee, calling the move a 'truly bigoted act.'

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President Joe Biden delivered his 2023 State of the Union address on Tuesday. Here's his speech as prepared for delivery and released by the White House.

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President Joe Biden delivered his second State of the Union address on Tuesday.

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A majority of Americans say he hasn't accomplished much and many Democrats aren't thrilled at the prospect of him running for reelection. But when President Joe Biden took to the House Chamber on Tuesday for his annual State of the Union address, his message was one of unadulterated optimism -- gloom be damned.

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US intelligence officials believe that the recently recovered Chinese spy balloon is part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, according to multiple American officials familiar with the intelligence.

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Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told GOP Rep. George Santos of New York: "You don't belong here," according to a member who witnessed the tense exchange in the House of Representatives chamber Tuesday night.

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Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, tweeted that President Joe Biden is "not well" as he delivered his State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Lee tweeted his take on Biden's speech as the president delivered his joint address to Congress.

"He’s not well," the Utah senator tweeted.

STATE OF THE UNION 2023: BIDEN TOUTS JOB CREATION, AMERICA'S ‘RESILIENCE’ FROM COVID

President Biden opened his State of the Union address with a gaffe, incorrectly calling Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the "minority leader."

GOP JEERS BIDEN AS HE CALLS FOR FENTANYL SOLUTION: ‘IT’S YOUR FAULT' THE BORDER ISN'T CLOSED

"And congratulations, Chuck Schumer, another you know, another term as Senate minority leader," said Biden.

The current Senate Minority Leader is Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"You know, I think, you know, this time you have a slightly bigger majority, Mr. Leader. You know, majority leader, but that much bigger," he clarified after.

Biden was booed by audience members after claiming the GOP wants to cut Medicare and Social Security. 

"Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security sunset," Biden said before clarifying, "I'm not saying it's a majority." 

The president was quickly called a "liar" by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who yelled towards the podium.

Fox News Digital's Kelly Laco contributed to this report.

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Likely Republican presidential contenders in 2024 took some early practice swings at President Biden Tuesday night, after a State of the Union speech that that was broadly criticized by the GOP for its promise of higher taxes and its failure to provide answers on issues like border security and inflation.

Among other things, Biden tweaked his GOP adversaries by repeating his debunked claim that Republicans are looking to cut Social Security and Medicare, claiming credit for job growth that the GOP says is overstated, and calling for new taxes on U.S. energy producers.

Former President Donald Trump, the only Republican to enter into the 2024 race so far, was active on his Truth Social account throughout the night and said Biden unfairly claimed success on issues that were won by the Trump administration.

JILL BIDEN, DOUG EMHOFF SHARE KISS AHEAD OF BIDEN STATE OF THE UNION

"Joe’s taking credit for many of the things that the Trump Administration started and did. They just happened to kick in during this period — but who can blame him!" Trump wrote in one post.

"He’s lying so much about Social Security, Medicare, and so many other things!" the former president wrote in another post.

BIDEN BOOED DURING STATE OF THE UNION FOR CLAIMING GOP WANTS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE

Nikki Haley, Former Ambassador to the United Nations, said Biden's performance shows that America needs new leadership.

"America deserves better than Joe Biden. It's time for a new generation of leadership," Haley, who is expected to jump into the 2024 race soon, wrote Tuesday night after the speech.

"I'm not sure Joe Biden understands what capitalism means," Haley stated in another post.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also dinged Biden and hinted at his own possible run in 2024.

"Tonight’s #SOTU showed one thing: That it is time for new Republican leadership to get our Nation back to the strength and prosperity we had under the Trump-Pence Administration," Pence stated.

"The Real State of the Union: 87,000 new IRS agents. #SOTU," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a former candidate and possible 2024 contender, wrote on Twitter.

"President Biden promised the IRS would crack down on millionaires & billionaires who cheat on their taxes… Can he tell us why they’re cracking down on $600 Venmo payments? #SOTU," Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter during the speech.

"Hate to burst your bubble, @JoeBiden, but that national security threat from China should have been addressed as soon as it crossed our border," Scott added, referring to the Chinese spy balloon that floated over the United Stated for days before Biden shot it down.

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President Biden appeared to go off script during his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, saying that the U.S. would need oil and natural gas for many years to come.

"We are still going to need oil and gas for a while," Biden said during his speech.

Biden's comments were quickly met with a mixed reaction as some Republicans appeared to cheer the remarks. 

The president then told an anecdote in which an oil executive asked him why his company should invest in fossil fuel projects in light of the negative business atmosphere for oil and gas projects. Biden said he responded that oil and gas would be needed for years to come.

FOUR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ABSENT FROM BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION

"They said, 'well, we're afraid you're going to shut down all the oil wells and all the oil refineries. So, why should we invest in them?' I said, 'we're going to need oil for at least another decade and beyond,'" Biden added.

Republican lawmakers in the chamber were then heard loudly laughing at the remark, likely because most estimates suggest oil and gas will be required for several more decades before they can be phased out and replaced by green alternatives.

BIDEN BOOED DURING STATE OF THE UNION FOR CLAIMING GOP WANTS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE

Biden's comments on oil and gas, though, were notably not included in the official copy of his speech shared by the White House. The only mention of oil in the official transcript was a comment about Big Oil reporting record profits last year.

"Last year, they made $200 billion in the midst of a global energy crisis," he said. "It’s outrageous."

The Biden administration has repeatedly taken aim at oil and gas production as part of its climate agenda that it has aggressively pushed in an effort to stave off global warming.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Newly-elected Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Biden's second State of the Union address Tuesday, calling for a "new generation of Republican leadership" and describing the choice between Democrats and Republicans as a choice "between normal or crazy."

"Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you," Sanders said.

"It’s time for a change. Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people. Democrats want to rule us with more government control, but that is not who we are," she added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Sanders noted that she and Biden didn't have a lot in common because she is "for freedom" and he's "for government control," and went on to note the four decades difference in their ages.

"At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, he’s the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is," she said.

"In the radical left’s America, Washington taxes you and lights your hard-earned money on fire, but you get crushed with high gas prices, empty grocery shelves, and our children are taught to hate one another on account of their race, but not to love one another or our great country," she added.

She described the Biden administration as "completely hijacked by the radical left," and said that America's "dividing line" was no longer a separation between right and left.

"The choice is between normal or crazy," she said. "It is time for a new generation of Republican leadership."

She went on to tout her efforts in Arkansas to combat indoctrination and other Democratic policies like critical race theory and shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that Americans wanted common sense from their leaders, but that Biden was busy "doubling down on crazy."

"President Biden inherited the fastest economic recovery on record. The most secure border in history. Cheap abundant, home-grown energy. Fast-rising wages. A rebuilt military. And a world that was stable and at peace. But over the last two years, Democrats destroyed it all," Sanders said.

"Despite Democrats’ trillions in reckless spending and mountains of debt, we now have the worst border crisis in American history," she added.

Sanders expressed the need to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, a drug responsible thousands of deaths every month, railed against Democratic calls to defend the police, and blasted Biden's "weakness" on foreign policy, especially China.

"Make no mistake: Republicans will not surrender this fight. We will lead with courage and do what’s right, not what’s politically correct or convenient," she said.

"Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities. Where jobs are abundant, and paychecks are rising. Where the freedom our veterans shed their blood to defend is the birthright of every man, woman, and child," she said.

Sanders vowed that under the leadership of Senate Republicans and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans would hold the Biden administration accountable.

"America is great because we are free. But today, our freedom is under attack, and the America we love is in danger. President Biden and the Democrats have failed you. It’s time for a change. A New Generation of Republican leaders is stepping up… not to be caretakers of the status quo, but to be change makers for the American people," she said.

"We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands. And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reins and liberty will never die," she added.

Sanders, who served as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump, never held elected office prior to being elected as Arkansas' governor. She is also the daughter of the state's former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.

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President Biden on Tuesday paid tribute to Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was injured during a home invasion last year and was present at the State of the Union address.

Biden used the State of the Union address to condemn political violence, noting specifically the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He then linked the attack on Pelosi in the fall of 2022.

"And then just a few months ago, an unhinged Big Lie assailant unleashed political violence in the home of the then speaker of the House of Representatives, using the very same language insurrectionists used as they stalked these halls and chanted on January 6th," he said.

The suspected intruder -- Canadian illegal immigrant David DePape -- admitted in an interview with San Francisco Police that he asked to see then-House Speaker Pelosi.

PRESIDENT BIDEN HOSTS PAUL PELOSI AT STATE OF THE UNION

Police bodycam footage showed Pelosi answering the door next to DePape, who began to beat him with a hammer before police separated the two.

"What's going on, man?" an officer asked in bodycam footage recently released.

"Everything is good," DePape responded as he and Pelosi each had one hand on a hammer.

"Drop the hammer!" the officer said.

PAUL PELOSI VIDEO SHOWS HAMMER ATTACK AFTER POLICE ARRIVE

"Umm, nope," DePape responded before pulling the hammer away from Pelosi. DePape then took a swing at Pelosi with the hammer and knocked him down.

"Here tonight in this chamber is a man who bears the scars of that brutal attack," Biden said on Tuesday. "But he is as tough and as strong and as resilient as they get. My friend Paul Pelosi."

PAUL PELOSI DUI DASHCAM VIDEO RELEASED AFTER CALIFORNIA GUILTY PLEA

Pelosi was then met with a standing ovation from lawmakers in the chamber -- as well as a wave from the former speaker.

"Such a heinous act should have never happened, we must all speak out," Biden said of the attack.

DePape pleaded not guilty to all state charges in the case, which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse. He also pleaded not guilty to federal charges, which include assaulting an immediate family member of a federal official and attempted kidnapping of a federal officer.

Fox News' Patrick Hauf contributed to this report.

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President Biden, in his second State of the Union address, laid out his economic plans for the year ahead by calling for bipartisanship—while simultaneously jabbing at Republicans and their proposals. And in the wake a Chinese surveillance balloon that passed over the nation just before his speech, he warned he will take action if Beijing "threatens" U.S. sovereignty.

Biden on Tuesday began his remarks by congratulating the 118th Congress and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"Speaker, I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you," the president began Tuesday night, touting the hundreds of bipartisan pieces of legislation he has signed since taking office.

"We could work together in the last Congress—there’s no reason we can’t work together and find consensus on important things in this Congress as well," Biden said.

BIDEN BOOED DURING STATE OF THE UNION FOR CLAIMING GOP WANTS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE

But shortly after, the president echoed a familiar claim—one the White House has been parroting for months—that Republicans in the House of Representatives plan to sunset Medicare and Social Security.

Republican lawmakers erupted, even shouting "liar" at the president. McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have repeatedly said sunsetting Social Security and Medicare is not on the table for congressional Republicans—as recently as Monday.

The president used his address to tout economic progress under his administration—despite inflation hitting record highs in 2022—highlighting the unemployment rate at a "50-year low," and job creation.

The president claimed he created "800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs," but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under the Biden administration, the economy "added back" all of the manufacturing jobs lost during the COVID pandemic. Biden has "created" 214,000 manufacturing jobs since taking office.

Biden echoed another familiar claim— that Russian President Vladimir Putin is to blame for inflation in the United States, pointing to his "unfair and brutal war in Ukraine" which disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies.

"Inflation is coming down here at home," Biden said. "Gas prices are down, food inflation is coming down—not fast enough, but coming down. Inflation is falling every month for the last six months." 

FOUR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ABSENT FROM BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION

Biden addressed the supply chain, which has seen continuing issues since the COVID pandemic, and led to a nationwide shortage of baby formula.

"We’re going to make sure the supply chain for America begins in America," Biden said.

Biden also touted the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Calling it his "Blue collar blueprint to rebuild America," Biden announced that all construction materials used for infrastructure projects will be "made in America."

Meanwhile, the president pointed to the Inflation Reduction Act, which House Republicans have called to repeal.

"It is the most significant investment ever in climate change ever," Biden said. "Lowering utility bills, creating American jobs, leading the world to a clean energy future." 

"Let’s face reality—the climate crisis doesn’t care if you’re in a red or blue state. It is an existential threat," Biden continued. "We have an obligation not to ourselves, but our children and grandchildren to confront it."

He added: "I’m proud of how America, at last, is stepping up to the challenge." 

US INTEL ASSESSES CHINESE SPY BALLOONS TRANSITED US SEVERAL TIMES, WENT 'UNDETECTED': SENIOR ADMIN OFFICIAL

But Biden waited until the very end of his speech to address the Chinese spy flight that transited across the continental United States from Jan. 28 until Feb. 4, when it was shot down by the U.S. military off the coast of South Carolina.

While Biden used his State of the Union address to warn that climate change is an "existential threat," his own administration’s national security strategy says China poses the greatest threat to the United States.

Members of his administration, like FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director William Burns, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines have said China is the greatest threat to U.S. national security. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley have also sounded the alarm on the threat China poses.

CHINA POSES 'BIGGEST LONG-TERM THREAT TO ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY,' FBI DIRECTOR WRAY WARNS

But during his address, Biden, instead of outlining the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party, said he is "committed" to working with China.

"I’ve made clear with President Xi that we seek competition, not conflict," Biden said. "I will make no apologies that we are investing to make America strong. Investing in American innovation, in industries that will define the future, and that China’s government is intent on dominating."

"Investing in our alliances and working with our allies to protect our advanced technologies so they’re not used against us," Biden continued. "Modernizing our military to safeguard stability and deter aggression."

Biden said that the U.S. today is "in the strongest position in decades to compete with China or anyone else in the world."

"I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world," Biden said.

Finally addressing the spy flight, Biden said: 

"But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did," Biden said.

MILITARY EXPERTS PROVIDE FRANK ASSESSMENT OF US SHORTCOMINGS IN POTENTIAL CHINA CONFLICT

He added that "winning the competition with China should unite all of us."

"We face serious challenges across the world," Biden said. "But in the past two years, democracies have become stronger, not weaker. Autocracies have grown weaker, not stronger."

He added: "America is rallying the world again to meet those challenges, from climate and global health, to food insecurity, to terrorism and territorial aggression."

And Biden’s administration has been rocked by a migrant crisis at the southern border now into its third year, with a record 2.3 million migrant encounters and nearly 600,000 "gotaways" in FY 2022. In December there was a record 251,000 migrant encounters alone.

Biden used his State of the Union address to again call for Congress to pass a mass amnesty for illegal immigrants, while touting a recent drop in migrant numbers at the southern border from the historic highs seen during his administration – and was met by yells to "secure the border" by some Republicans.

"Let’s also come together on immigration and make it a bipartisan issue once again," he said. "America’s border problems won’t be fixed until Congress acts."

"If you won’t pass my comprehensive immigration reform, at least pass my plan to provide the equipment and officers to secure the border," Biden said. "And a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those on temporary status, farm workers, and essential workers." 

Later in the address, Biden highlighted the fentanyl crisis that is killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. Officials have said that fentanyl is produced in Mexico using precursors from China and then transported into the U.S. across the land border.

"Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year. Let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border," Biden said, before calling for cooperation with couriers and increased trafficking penalties.

The mention of fentanyl led to renewed calls from some Republicans to "secure the border."

"You got it," Biden said.

Meanwhile, Biden called on Congress to act on a number of proposals, including to protect Americans from "junk fees," or hidden surcharges businesses use "to make you pay more."

Biden also called to restore the full child tax credit, and ensure that working parents have sick days, paid family and medical leave, affordable child care and housing.

STATE OF THE UNION 2023: BIDEN RE-UPS AMNESTY CALL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, GOP REPS YELL 'SECURE THE BORDER'

Biden also called for police reform, to give law enforcement the "training they need," to help them to "succeed in keeping everyone safe." 

Biden called for law enforcement to be given the "training they need, hold them to higher standards, and help them succeed in keeping everyone safe." 

Biden, though, said that when police officers "violate the public’s trust, we must hold them accountable."

Biden also called for Congress to "ban assault weapons once and for all."

Biden also called for Congress to pass the bipartisan Equality Act to "ensure LGBTQ Americans, especially transgender young people, can live with safety and dignity." 

The president also addressed the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 during his address, saying that democracy is "bruised," but is "unbroken." 

"For the last few years our democracy has been threatened, attacked, and put at risk--put to the test here, in this very room, on January 6th," Biden said. 

Biden also reflected on the attack against former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi. Biden said the assailant was "unhinged by the Big Lie" and "unleashed political violence in the home of the then-Speaker of this House of Representatives. Using the very same language that insurrectionists who stalked these halls chanted on January 6th." 

Paul Pelosi was in the chamber for the address Tuesday night. 

"There is no place for political violence in America. In America, we must protect the right to vote, not suppress that fundamental right. 

Biden said that democracy "must not be a partisan issue," but instead, "an American issue." 
 
"Every generation of Americans has faced a moment where they have been called on to protect our democracy, to defend it, to stand up for it," Biden said. "And this is our moment." 

The president, in closing, said the country is "at an inflection point." 

"One of those moments that only a few generations ever face, where the decisions we make now will decide the course of this nation and of the world for decades to come," Biden said. "We are not bystanders to history."

He added: "We are facing the test of our time and the time for choosing is at hand." 

Biden said the United States must be a nation "that embraces, light over darkness, hope over fear, unity over division. Stability over chaos." 
 
"So I have come here to fulfil my constitutional duty to report on the state of the union. And here is my report: because the soul of this nation is strong, because the backbone of this nation is strong, because the people of this nation are strong, the State of the Union is strong," Biden said. 
 

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Former President Trump accused President Biden of leading the United States to "the brink of World War III," and vowed to reverse every "disaster" created by his policies and "complete the unfinished business of making America great again" if re-elected to the White House in 2024.

Responding to Biden’s second State of the Union address, Trump laid out "the real state of the union" in a video message.

"Over the past two years under Biden, millions and millions of illegal aliens from 160 different countries have stormed across our southern border," Trump said, adding that "drug cartels are now raking in billions of dollars from smuggling poison to kill our people and to kill our children."

Trump said on crime, "savage killers, rapists and violent criminals are being released from jail to continue their crime wave."

"Under Biden, the murder rate has reached the highest in the history of our country," Trump said.

DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCES 2024 RE-ELECTION RUN FOR PRESIDENT

He blasted Biden and the "radical Democrats" for wasting "trillions of dollars," and for having "caused the worst inflation in half a century." He said they have also weaponized the government against its own citizens.

"Joe Biden’s weaponized justice department — and I’m a victim of it —is persecuting his political opponents," Trump said.

Trump is currently under special counsel investigation for holding classified records from his presidency at Mar-a-Lago. Biden, too, is separately under special counsel investigation for his retention of classified records.

BIDEN, TRUMP, PENCE UNDER SCRUTINY FOR CLASSIFIED RECORDS, POTENTIALLY COMPLICATING 2024 WHITE HOUSE BIDS

Trump said the Biden administration is "waging war on free speech."

"They’re trying to indoctrinate and mutilate our children," Trump said.

As for foreign policy, Trump said Biden is "leading us to the brink of World War III."

"And on top of all of that, he is the most corrupt president in American history and it is not even close," Trump said.

"But the good news is, we are going to reverse every single crisis, calamity and disaster that Joe Biden has created," Trump said. "I am running for president to end the destruction of our country and to complete the unfinished business of making America great again."

TRUMP, TOP NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS REFUTE CLAIM THAT CHINESE SPY BALLOONS TRANSITED US UNDER HIS ADMIN

BIDEN WON'T MAKE 2024 ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL AFTER STATE OF THE UNION: SOURCES

"We will make our country better than ever before and we will always put America first."

On November 15, Trump announced he will run for president again. Sources said Biden would not make an announcement on whether he will run for re-election in 2024 until after his State of the Union address.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said that the discovery of classified documents wouldn't impact Biden's timing on the decision.

"The president is honoring his promise to respect the independence of the Department of Justice and divorce it from politics. You’ve heard from him directly, including after his agenda resulted in the best midterms for a Democratic president in 60 years, that he intends to run," Bates said.

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President Biden repeated a misleading claim during his State of the Union address Tuesday about the number of total jobs and manufacturing jobs that his administration has "created" since he took office two years ago.

"Two years ago, our economy was reeling," Biden remarked. "As I stand here tonight, we have created a record 12 million new jobs, more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years."

"We’ve already created 800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs, the fastest growth in 40 years," he continued. "Where is it written that America can’t lead the world in manufacturing again?"

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE SPEECH 

Biden later again added that he had "created 800,000 manufacturing jobs" even before the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, legislation the White House has said will create thousands more manufacturing jobs, was enacted last year.

However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the economy under Biden has actually added 2.7 million overall jobs. The other roughly 9 million jobs had been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic when the economy was forced to shut down.

And rather than 800,000 manufacturing jobs, the economy has really created just 214,000 manufacturing jobs since Biden took office, BLS data showed.

The speech marked the second State of the Union address that Biden has delivered since taking office in January 2021. It is the first such speech that he has given since Republicans won back majority control of the House.

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Republicans jeered at President Biden Tuesday night after he used his State of the Union speech to call for an answer to America's fentanyl problem, which prompted some lawmakers to yell "border!" in the House chamber to indicate he should close the southern border, and one Republican to shout, "It's your fault."

"Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year," Biden said before he was interrupted.

When Republicans indicated Biden needs to close the border, Biden replied, "You got it," but didn't follow up with any details.

"So let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border," Biden continued.

Biden's comments came after he announced one of his guests, Doug Griffin, who has worked as a drug overdose awareness activist since his daughter died of a fentanyl overdose. Overdose deaths increased 15% in 2021 to 106,699, which marked the highest total in history.

LAWMAKERS ASK BIDEN TO ADD OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY TO CABINET AMID RECORD OVERDOSES

Immigration hawks slammed President Biden for his decision to highlight fentanyl overdoses, which they said is caused in large party by his open border policies.

"It’s simply incredible that the Biden administration has the audacity to highlight fentanyl poisonings and other drug overdoses as a national crisis, when their policies have been central to causing that crisis in the first place," Tom Homan, the former acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told Fox News Digital. "A tidal wave of these drugs is flooding into our communities every single day, but Joe Biden, DHS Secretary Mayorkas and the rest of the Biden administration continue to double down on policies that now have a two-year track record of failure."

Charles Lehman, a fellow for the Manhattan Institute who works on criminal justice policy, said the Biden administration’s National Drug Control Strategy is not helping reduce fentanyl overdoses.

"It’s not obvious to me that they’re treating this as a crisis in so far as they are not addressing a new strategy," Lehamn told Fox News Digital. "There was very little in there that was original or innovative."

KIDS UNDER 14 ARE DYING OF FENTANYL POISONING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP: ANALYSIS

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced in December that it seized more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2022.

"DEA’s top operational priority is to defeat the two Mexican drug cartels — the Sinaloa and Jalisco (CJNG) Cartels — that are primarily responsible for the fentanyl that is killing Americans today," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

Derek Maltz, a retired DEA agent of 28 years, said the historical level of overdoses shows the agency was only able to capture a portion of the poisonous drug, which he attributed in part to the mass migration to the southern border that is often used by the cartel as a distraction to smuggle product. He said if Biden were serious about countering fentanyl deaths, he would secure the southern border and take aggressive action against the cartel.

"We need to shut down the supply so we can deal with the poison," Maltz told Fox News Digital. "If you ever have a leak of water in your house, and you call the plumber, he shuts down the main valve. Then you can deal with all the issues in the house. We need aggressive approaches. We don’t need ‘soft on crime.’"

CRACK PIPES FOUND IN 'SAFE SMOKING KITS' POTENTIALLY FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS: REPORT

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The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow for the Center for Immigration Studies and a former immigration and national security official at the Department of Justice, said Biden must shift his drug policy focus to ensuring fentanyl does not reach the streets of the U.S.

"If the White House is focused on demand reduction, good luck," Arthur told Fox News Digital. "Anybody who has had a loved one who had an addiction issue knows that it’s very difficult to just say no when the drugs are available."

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President Biden on Tuesday used his State of the Union address to double down on calls for Congress to pass a mass amnesty for illegal immigrants, while touting a recent drop in migrant numbers at the southern border from the historic highs seen during his administration – and was met by yells to "secure the border" by some Republicans.

"Let’s also come together on immigration and make it a bipartisan issue once again," he said.

Biden’s administration has been rocked by a migrant crisis at the southern border now into its third year, with a record 2.3 million migrant encounters and nearly 600,000 "gotaways" in FY 2022. In December there was a record 251,000 migrant encounters alone.

Republicans have battered the administration over the crisis, blaming the administration’s rolling back of Trump-era border security policies and interior enforcement. But the administration has blamed a hemisphere-wide crisis and has hit out at Republicans for not agreeing to funding and reform measures proposed by the administration.

LIVE UPDATES: STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS 2023

On Tuesday Biden touted increases in Border Patrol staffing and also increased fentanyl seizures at the border, which officials have said shows that apprehension is getting better. 

"We now have a record number of personnel working to secure the border, arresting 8,000 human smugglers and seizing over 23,000 pounds of fentanyl in just the last several months," he said.

He also noted border measures introduced last month, which extended a humanitarian parole program for Venezuelans to include Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans nd would allow 30,000 in a month if they did not cross illegally, had a sponsor already in the U.S. and met other conditions.

That was accompanied by an expansion of Title 42 expulsions to include those nationalities.

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS DROP TO 150,000 IN JANUARY, LOWEST SINCE EARLY 2021: SOURCES

Sources tell Fox News that there were approximately 150,000 encounters in January, which would mark the lowest number since Feb. 2021. Biden cited additional statistics showing a drop in encounters since the measures were announced.

"We've launched a new border plan last month, unlawful migration from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has come down 97%."

But Biden repeated his prior appeals for Congress to pass a sweeping immigration reform bill. The bill was unveiled on Biden’s first day in office in 2021. At the core of the bill is an eight-year path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S. before Jan. 1 2021 -- as well as immediate green card eligibility for farmworkers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, and some who came to the U.S. as minors, who activists refer to as "Dreamers."

The bill would also set up refugee processing locations in Central America, increase the number of immigration judges and open up a number of additional avenues for legal immigration -- including "recapturing" unused visas from prior years, clearing visa backlogs, and expanding the diversity lottery visa program. The legislation would also provide additional funding for technology at the border and expand anti-smuggling efforts in Central America.

BIDEN ADMIN CITES DATA SHOWING NEW BORDER MEASURES ‘ARE WORKING’ AS NEW LAWSUIT LOOMS

Republicans balked at the legislation due to the inclusion of an amnesty for illegal immigrants, and it has shown no sign of picking up Republican support -- but the administration has continued to push the bill.

Biden reiterated those calls on Tuesday, although he said he would accept a smaller plan -- but one that would still include at least a partial amnesty and funding for the border.

"America’s border problems won’t be fixed until Congress acts. If we won’t pass my comprehensive immigration reform, at least pass my plan to provide the equipment and officers to secure the border. And a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those on temporary status, farmworkers, and essential workers," he said.

In response to the remarks, some Republicans were heard yelling "secure the border." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy appeared to shush the raucous members.

Later in the address, Biden highlighted the fentanyl crisis that is killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. Officials have said that fentanyl is produced in Mexico using precursors from China and then transported into the U.S. across the land border.

"Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year. Let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border," Biden said, before calling for cooperation with couriers and increased trafficking penalties.

The mention of fentanyl led to Republicans yelling, "It's your fault" and renewed calls from some Republicans to "secure the border."

"You got it," Biden said.

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

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