How much can change in just one year.

In 2022, US President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union (SOTU) address flanked by fellow Democrats — Vice-President Kamala Harris and then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

This year, he again used the speech to Congress, which aired live in prime-time from Washington DC, to call for unity. 

But the embodiment of the disunity that's likely to disrupt the final half of his first term as president was standing right behind him: Kevin McCarthy, Pelosi's Republican replacement. 

After vowing not to "play games", McCarthy greeted the president with a smile. 

Meanwhile, Pelosi, who is still a member for California, sat in the gallery with her colleagues — but still stood out from the crowd in a hot pink suit. 

For the first time since taking office, Biden presides over divided government, something he seemed unfazed by while delivering his plan for the next two years, laying the groundwork for a second run for the presidency in 2024. 

These were the biggest moments from Biden's second SOTU address. 

Something went down between Mitt Romney and George Santos

The drama began before Joe Biden even entered the chamber. 

As senators and members of congress filled the chamber, the new representative for New York, George Santos, took a coveted aisle seat. 

The 34-year-old, who was elected in last November's midterms, is facing growing calls to resign after he admitted fabricating parts of his resume. 

He is also facing multiple investigations over his campaign spending and financial reports, but he denies any wrongdoing. 

He is so far refusing to step down, even as dozens of his constituents stood outside his office earlier today calling for his resignation. 

As he made his way into the chamber, Republican senator Mitt Romney passed Santos and started talking to him. 

Witnesses who were standing nearby said Romney repeatedly told Santos: "You don't belong here." 

Romney then calmly took his seat and waited for the president's arrival. 

Biden called for unity in divided government 

Joe Biden began his speech by reaching across the aisle to Republicans, citing the 300 bipartisan laws he's signed as president, including the trillion-dollar infrastructure package. 

"We're often told that Democrats and Republicans can't work together," he said. 

"But over these past two years, we proved the cynics and the naysayers wrong.

"Yes, we disagreed plenty. And yes, there were times when Democrats had to go it alone. But time and again, Democrats and Republicans came together." 

As he approached the House rostrum, he was greeted warmly by one of the major obstacles he'll face in passing future laws: newly elected Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy. 

Ahead of the speech, McCarthy promised to abstain from the viral theatrics his predecessor — who once tore up a copy of president Donald Trump's speech — was known for. 

But despite the smiles and handshakes, which vanished as Biden laid out his economic priorities, Republicans are already causing headaches for Democrats since flipping the House in November's midterm election, albeit by a slim margin. 

Hecklers rejected Biden's economic vision 

As Joe Biden began sharing his vision for what he called a fairer economy, the mood in the room became noticeably frostier. 

When he called to close tax loopholes for billionaires and big corporations, McCarthy pointedly stayed seated as his colleagues heckled from the crowd. 

The speaker shook his head in response to a pointed comment from the president about raising the US debt ceiling — a procedural task Republicans have threatened to tie to government spending cuts.

"Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage unless I agree to their economic plans," Biden said, only to be met by a wave of jeers. 

American politics can be a brutal business, but the annual SOTU speech is almost always a respectful affair. 

So it's a bit unusual to hear shouts of "liar" and "bullshit!" echo through the chamber. 

But Biden did not back down. 

"All of you at home should know what their plans are," he said. 

"Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years. 

"That means if Congress doesn't vote to keep them, those programs will go away." 

Social Security and Medicare are America's pension and healthcare programs. 

Some Republicans have expressed interest in cutting both programs in the past, but McCarthy said that's "off the table" in debt ceiling negotiations. 

Biden also pledged to create manufacturing jobs, invest in climate change solutions, and fight for more affordable childcare and prescription drugs, a cap on insulin prices, and reductions to student debt.

Marjorie Taylor Green's balloon stunt was popped

Joe Biden may have hoped to spruik a slight thawing in relations between the US and China in his address tonight.