U.S. Rep. Max Miller leaves partway through President Joe Biden's State of the Union, calling it more of a 'campaign speech'

About 20 minutes into President Joe Biden's State of the Union on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Rocky River, decided to head back to his office as he felt it was more of a campaign speech than the State of the Union. "I came to the State of the Union wanting to hear solutions to the problems that we have within our country," Miller said. "Unfortunately, I didn't hear any of that." In his speech, Biden focused on issues like immigration, the tax code, health care and what he called "shrinkflation." He talked about Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war and the support the United States will provide. Access to abortion and fertility treatments was also a key component of Biden's speech, especially in light of a controversial ruling from Alabama's Supreme Court that threatened access to in vitro fertilization treatment in the state. Miller said that as he headed into the State of the Union, he wanted to hear Biden speak on the border, inflation and energy independence. "Continuously, this man does not own up to his own mistakes and his own wrongdoings as president of the United States," Miller said. Rather, Miller felt he focused on other issues like the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Biden directly referenced the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, calling out those who have played it down. "My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that," Biden said. "This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's a simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win." Throughout his speech, Biden referenced former President Donald Trump not by name, but by calling him "my predecessor." Prior to Biden's State of the Union address, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans in a private meeting Wednesday to show "decorum" during the speech, but he appeared to have limited success. As Miller left the room after about a third of Biden's State of the Union, he said he was not alone, as dozens of other members had left during Biden's speech. Others remained in their chairs and shook their heads, while Johnson didn't disguise his emotions, raising his eyebrows and occasionally rolling his eyes. "President Biden isn't going to work hard for you to fix the border, inflation or energy independence," Miller said. "You have a representative in the 7th (District) who has been and is going to continue to fight for those things to make this country a better and a safer place for all." Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.