Trump Addresses Congress, Vows “Greatest Era” Amidst Controversy, Policy Unveiling
In a highly charged address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared “America is back” and promised a new era of prosperity and freedom, Fox News reports.
The speech, reminiscent of a State of the Union address, was punctuated by partisan clashes, policy announcements, and bold pronouncements.
Trump’s address opened with immediate partisan division. While Republicans chanted “USA,” Democrats initially booed. The tension escalated when Al Green, D-Texas disrupted the proceedings, leading to his removal from the chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.
“I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy,” Trump remarked, referencing the Democratic lawmakers.
Despite the interruptions, Trump unveiled a range of policy proposals and outlined significant achievements during his administration’s first six weeks. He boasted of a sharp decline in illegal immigration, crediting a “sweeping border and immigration crackdown,” and pledged a “war” on drug cartels. He requested substantial funding from Congress for border security, including wall construction and deportations, calling it the “largest deportation operation in American history.”
A notable policy shift was Trump’s announcement of a $5 million “gold card” for legal citizenship, targeting “successful, job-creating people.” He framed this as a superior alternative to the green card system.
Economically, Trump painted a stark contrast with his predecessor’s administration, blaming the Biden era for an “economic catastrophe” and soaring egg prices. He vowed to fight inflation and make America “affordable again.” These statements come as the US recently imposed tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada and a pending response from Mexico. Public opinion on the economy remains sharply divided along party lines, with Republicans significantly more optimistic than Democrats, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
On foreign policy, Trump announced that Ukraine is prepared to sign a rare-earth minerals deal and resume peace negotiations with Russia. He cited a letter from Ukrainain leader Zelensky confirming this readiness and stated that it’s time to “end this senseless war.” He also revealed plans for a “Golden Dome” defense shield initiative for the US, modeled after Israel’s system.
Further bolstering his claims of success, Trump announced the capture of the terrorist responsible for the attack in Afghanistan that killed 13 US troops. He stated the perpetrator was en route to face justice.
The speech included several special guests, such as Trump’s border czar Tom Homan and Noa Argamani, a victim of the recent Hamas attacks in Israel. However, several prominent Democrats boycotted the address. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) is scheduled to deliver the Democratic response.
