Barack Obama, who is serving the last year of his second term as US president, will on Tuesday deliver his last State of the Union Address "differently", the White House has said.
"Instead of laying out a laundry list of policy proposals for 2016, he'll look beyond the next election and instead talk about some of the most important issues that will shape our country for generations to come," White House Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman said.
Obama will address a joint session of the United States Congress on Tuesday, 12 January, at 9 pm EST (7:30 am IST, Wednesday). The speech will be live-streamed on the official website of the White House and its YouTube channel.
The White House has ensured that they "reach people where they are" when Obama delivers his 2016 State of the Union Address.
"We'll be reaching people where they are — and making it possible for them to engage, respond, and share the president's speech themselves in new and different ways," Goldman said.
Amazon has partnered with the White House this year to make Obama's last State of the Union Address available on its video site by Wednesday morning for up to a week.
"Beginning Wednesday through the end of the week, Amazon will make the speech available across all devices for Americans to watch the State of the Union. So, for those who've cut the cord from cable and network TV: Whether you use a smart TV, web browser, mobile device, or tablet there's a way for you to watch the President's speech asit happens and on-demand," Goldman said.
Meanwhile, they have uploaded the "trailer" of the State of the Union Address, where Obama talks about being "optimistic about a year ahead". "This address will be for you," he said.
What will Obama's address be about?
Unlike his other addresses, Obama will focus on the future and opportunities for the coming generations.
"In this case, he wants to focus most of his time on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the country, and how the choices that we make today will have a significant impact on the success of future generations of Americans," USA Today quoted White House press secretary Josh Earnest as saying.
Although Obama has decided to make his last address "different", his speech will include policy proposals, according to report. The US president will also discuss the proposed changes to US gun law. Besides, he is also expected to cover the issues of climate change, immigration and income inequality, according to The New York Times.
Guests at the union address
US First Lady Michelle Obama has invited Dr Jill Biden and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the president, for the State of the Union Address. They will be seated in First Lady's State of the Union Guest Box, the White House said in a press release.
One seat in the box will be left vacant "for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice — because they need the rest of us to speak for them. To tell their stories," the release said.
Guests attending Obama's State of the Union Address include Syrian refugee Refaai Hamo, Sue Ellen Allen of Criminal Justice Reform, community college student Jennifer Bragdon, Greenwood County Council member Edith Childs, Connecticut Governor Dannel P Malloy, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, activist Jim Obergefell and US Army veteran Naveed Shah.
