President Biden delivers State of the Union address: WATCH LIVE

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is delivering his second State of the Union address, marking a pivotal moment as he lays out not only his accomplishments and agenda but makes the case for his leadership ahead of an expected announcement on running for reelection.

Unlike his first two years in office, Republicans now control the House of Representatives and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who will sit behind the president for the first time, has threatened to block Biden’s agenda.

Here’s how the story is developing:

Biden begins his SOTU remarks addressing McCarthy: “I look forward to working together.”

Feb 07, 9:19 PM EST

At the top of his State of the Union remarks, President Joe Biden acknowledged the changes that came with the 118th Congress, including offering congratulations to newly-elected Republican Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy.

“Speaker, I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you,” Biden said after turning around to shake the Republicans hand.

He then congratulated the new leader of the House Democrats and the first Black House Minority Leader in history, Hakeem Jeffries.

Biden then nodded to the longest serving Senate Leader in history, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer’s latest term as Senate Majority Leader, “this time with an even bigger majority.”

Biden ended his introduction by lauding Speaker-emeritus Nancy Pelosi, someone he said “will be considered the greatest Speaker in the history of this country.”

Biden arrives to expected applause

Feb 07, 9:10 PM EST

President Biden entered the chamber just after 9 p.m. ET to expected applause from the attendees.

He shook the hands of many lawmakers as he made his way to the podium.

Inside House chamber ahead of Biden’s SOTU address

Feb 07, 9:16 PM EST

Members began steadily streaming into the House chamber on Tuesday with Vice President Kamala Harris around 8:30 p.m. ET, including some former lawmakers who are also using floor privileges.

The realities of a divided government are on full display — little conversation between Democrats and Republicans across the aisle on the House floor.

The vice president has been making small talk with House Speaker McCarthy — overheard on the mics saying it’s a “packed house.”

Former Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., was seen joking to Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.– infamous for shouting “you lie!” at former President Barack Obama during a joint address of Congress — to “sit down, sit down Joe.”

Former Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is at the speech as one of the only former Trump officials spotted thus far.

Newly independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema made her way in, standing next to GOP Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and was then speaking with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

For some, the most coveted seats appear to be along the aisle. That’s where embattled Rep. George Santos chose to sit, in position to shake the president’s hand as he enters and exits the chamber. Santos still has time to switch seats.

Some of the president’s fiercest critics are also along the aisle: Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was carrying around a white balloon through the halls of Congress for much of the day to mock the administration’s handling of the suspected Chinese spy balloon — but decided to not bring it into the chamber.

Speaker McCarthy’s guest, Enes Freedom, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Cabinet secretaries Pete Buttigieg and Jennifer Granholm and pollster Frank Luntz have also filed into the room.

— ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and John Parkinson

Biden says union is in ‘great shape, getting better’

Feb 07, 8:51 PM EST

Biden told ABC News’ Ben Gittleson that he was feeling “good” as he departed the White House on Tuesday night for his second State of the Union address.

Asked what he feels is the state of the union, Biden responded: “Great shape, getting better.”

The president entered his motorcade just before 8:30 p.m. ET to travel to the Capitol.

In GOP response, Sarah Huckabee Sanders will highlight Democratic ‘failures’

Feb 07, 7:32 PM EST

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders plans to use the Republicans’ official State of the Union rebuttal to tear into President Joe Biden and the Democrats, focusing heavily on culture war issues while highlighting where she says the economy has failed.

According to excerpts of her speech shared by her office, Sanders, the country’s youngest governor and a White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, will pan Democrats as high taxers who “[light] your hard-earned money on fire.” But most of the highlights previewed by her office focused on labeling the Democratic Party as a “woke” group in almost religious terms.

“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. … And while you reap the consequences of their failures, the Biden administration seems more interested in woke fantasies than the hard reality Americans face every day,” she will say. “Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a left-wing culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight.”

“Every day, we are told that we must partake in their rituals, salute their flags, and worship their false idols … all while big government colludes with Big Tech to strip away the most American thing there is — your freedom of speech.”

Republicans like Trump and others are already preparing to challenge Biden ahead of his expected reelection bid, with party leaders divided over the best approach. Sanders, Trump and others have embraced social issues, while others have focused on inflation and government spending.

Feb 07, 7:08 PM EST

Often, those invited to a president’s State of the Union address represent the topics he is expected to focus on during his remarks.

First lady Jill Biden’s office announced Tuesday morning who will join her in her viewing box at her husband’s speech later in the day.

She won’t be the only one bringing guests. Here’s a look at some of the notable names:

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will join Jill Biden with his guest, Holocaust survivor Ruth Cohen of Rockville, Maryland.

The Congressional Black Caucus initially invited the family of Tyre Nichols — the Memphis, Tennessee, man who died after being attacked by police last month — and the White House announced that Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, and stepfather, Rodney Wells, will sit in the first lady’s box.

Also in the first lady’s box will be Brandon Tsay of San Marino, California, who disarmed the shooter in the Monterey Park, California, shooting; former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, who was attacked by an intruder last fall; U2’s Bono for his work fighting HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty; and Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S.

House Speaker McCarthy says he invited former NBA player Enes Freedom as his guest.

Freedom, an outspoken critic of China’s reported abuse of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, has met with House GOP several times this year. He wrote in a tweet that he was “deeply honored and humbled to attend the State of the Union address” and appreciates McCarthy’s “friendship, leadership and support.”

-ABC News’ Ben Gittleson and Lauren Peller

Biden to say America’s democracy is ‘bruised’ but remains ‘unbroken’

Feb 07, 6:30 PM EST

In his speech tonight, President Biden will speak about the state of American democracy as he addresses Congress and the nation.

“The story of America is a story of progress and resilience … We are the only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger than when we entered it. That is what we are doing again,” Biden is expected to say, according to excerpts of his prepared speech released by the White House, as has become a tradition.

Biden will specifically tout his administration’s response to the economic crisis, COVID-19 and attacks on democracy.

“Two years ago our economy was reeling,” he’s expected to say in the address. “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. Two years ago, COVID had shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much. Today, COVID no longer controls our lives.”

“And two years ago, our democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War. Today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken.”