Just six weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump arrived at a US Capitol under Republican control to take an extensive victory lap.
“In just 43 days, we’ve achieved more than most administrations do in four or even eight years, and we’re only getting started,” he declared during his address to Congress.
In typical Trump fashion, he claimed that “many” people view his presidency’s launch as the most successful in US history. He highlighted a shift in the national sentiment towards “pride” and “confidence,” drawing comparisons to George Washington while boasting about his electoral win.
The dynamic beginning of his presidency was fertile ground for Trump to delve into, and he embraced that opportunity.
He enumerated a comprehensive list of concrete accomplishments, including hundreds of executive actions, a halt on foreign aid, decreased levels of illegal border crossings, and exits from international agreements and organizations.
Trump also elaborated on his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports and initiatives aimed at eradicating “woke ideology” from American educational institutions and the military.
“Wokeness is a problem. Wokeness is harmful. It’s gone; it’s gone, and we all feel better for it, right?”
On the other hand, Democrats in the House chamber, occupying half the audience, remained stoically silent as the president repeatedly directed blame towards them, former President Joe Biden, and “radical left lunatics” for the nation’s issues.
In response, several dozen Democrats held up small black signs that read “false” and “lies.”
The president relished his role, putting the “bully” in his bully pulpit.
He taunted his political opponents, ridiculing their inability to applaud his statements, reviving his “Pocahontas” jibe aimed at Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and dryly remarking that any attempts to prosecute him “didn’t work out” for them.
However, Texas Congressman Al Green didn’t witness any of this.
At the beginning of Trump’s address, Green had interrupted the president with often inaudible shouts, punctuated by emphatic jabs of his cane. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson urged for decorum, leading to Green’s removal by the House Sergeant-at-Arms.
Outside the Capitol, Green explained to reporters that he was protesting proposed cuts to government-funded Medicaid for low-income individuals.
After around thirty minutes highlighting his recent initiatives, Trump shifted gears to the challenges that lay ahead. This constituted a significant portion of a speech stretching over one hour and forty minutes, veering towards conventional presidential address territory as his rhetorical embellishments began blending together.
He claimed that “small business optimism” was on the rise, yet attributed the current economic state – particularly soaring egg prices – to Biden. He vowed to “rescue” the economy and prioritize delivering “dramatic and immediate relief” to working families.
He singled out Elon Musk in the audience and asserted that his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) would curb inflation by eliminating wasteful spending and fraud, resulting in a lengthy list of alleged examples in foreign aid and various government programs.
Trump strongly reiterated his commitment to bolster immigration enforcement and animatedly defended his tariff policies, claiming they were “protecting the essence of our nation,” despite economists warning of increased prices for American citizens.
He acknowledged that imposing taxes on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China might cause a “disturbance” and that US farmers could experience a “period of indigestion.”
Nevertheless, his remarks left no indication of a retreat from a brewing trade conflict that has unsettled the stock market in recent days; on the contrary, he pledged to advance reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners in the upcoming month.
Trump once more assured the audience of his intent to balance the budget, drawing applause from Republican lawmakers, though he offered no specifics about the severe cuts such a promise would necessitate.
In fact, he quickly switched to discussing tax cuts he hoped Congress would implement, including campaign promises of no taxes on tips, overtime, or Social Security. Implementing any of these would add hundreds of billions to the ongoing nearly $2 trillion budget deficit.
Typically, foreign policy takes a backseat in presidential addresses, and this occasion was no exception, despite Trump having altered global politics in the initial weeks of his second term.
He reiterated his ambitions for American annexation of Greenland, asserted American control over the Panama Canal, and only briefly touched on Gaza and the Middle East.
The president dedicated more time to discussing negotiations with Russia concerning peace in Ukraine. He took satisfaction in reading a letter he claimed to have just received from Volodymyr Zelensky, which echoed a message the Ukrainian leader shared on X earlier that day.
“He stated: ‘My team and I are prepared to collaborate under President Trump’s robust leadership to achieve lasting peace. We truly appreciate all the support America has given Ukraine in maintaining its sovereignty and independence.’
Trump added that Zelensky mentioned he was ready to finalize an agreement on minerals and security “whenever it suits you.”
“I appreciate that,” Trump conveyed to the chamber, hinting at a potential reduction in hostilities between the two leaders.
By the time Trump finished his address, with Democrats nearly rushing for the exits, his speech had set a record as the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history. Much like the first six weeks of Trump’s presidency, it offered plenty for his supporters to cheer about, while simultaneously providing ample material for critics to deride – at least for those who were watching.
