President Donald Trump delivered a high-stakes address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, as financial markets reeled from his newly imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.
Adding to the political turbulence, his administration faced backlash over Elon Musk’s controversial push to slash federal spending and reduce the government workforce.
The speech followed a dramatic confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last Friday, culminating in Trump’s decision to temporarily halt US military aid to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Democrat Rep. Al Green interrupts Trump
Tensions flared early in the address when Texas Democrat Rep. Al Green interrupted the president.
Green was swiftly removed from the House chamber after refusing to yield the floor.
Meanwhile, a group of House Democrats silently protested by holding signs that read “Save Medicaid” and “Musk Steals.”
‘Golden Age of America’
Framing his speech around “the renewal of the American dream,” Trump declared, “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath this Capitol’s dome and proclaimed the dawn of the Golden Age of America.”
He emphasized that his administration had accomplished more in just 43 days than most do in four or even eight years, vowing that this was only the beginning.
Trump underscored his commitment to economic recovery, promising swift relief for working families and vowing to tackle inflation.
He pointed to the soaring price of eggs, blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden, for failing to control costs.
“The American Dream is unstoppable,” Trump proclaimed, “and our country is on the verge of a comeback unlike anything the world has ever seen.”
Throughout the speech, he reinforced his hardline stance on immigration, energy independence, and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government.
He also championed his latest trade policies, which saw fresh tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 20% levy on Chinese goods take effect that same day.
With bold rhetoric and sweeping promises, Trump painted a picture of an America poised for a historic resurgence—one that, he insisted, would redefine prosperity for generations to come
Trump’s key remarks on Ukraine, Greenland, trade, and more
Trump discusses Zelenskyy and Ukraine peace efforts
During his speech, President Donald Trump revealed that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the day. According to Trump, Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate for peace as soon as possible, emphasizing that no one desires peace more than the Ukrainian people.
“Ukraine stands ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to secure a lasting peace,” the letter reportedly stated. It also acknowledged America’s role in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and affirmed Kyiv’s readiness to sign agreements on minerals and security at a time of Trump’s choosing.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy’s message and noted that discussions with Russia had also indicated a willingness to pursue peace. “Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” he remarked.
Trump extends an invitation to Greenland
Revisiting a long-standing geopolitical interest, Trump once again spoke about Greenland, expressing his administration’s openness to incorporating the Arctic territory into the United States.
“We fully support your right to determine your own future,” Trump declared. “And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.” He stressed Greenland’s strategic importance for national and international security and affirmed ongoing efforts to make the proposal a reality.
“And I think we’re going to get it—one way or another,” he added confidently.
Trump on DOGE and government efficiency
Trump took a moment to praise Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), crediting the initiative with uncovering massive amounts of fraud within federal operations.
He asserted that Musk’s department had identified “hundreds of billions of dollars” in fraudulent activities—a claim exceeding previous estimates by the administration. Trump also noted that in just six weeks, DOGE had saved American taxpayers $105 billion by canceling unnecessary contracts, terminating employees, and eliminating wasteful spending.
Trump on China and trade policy
Turning to trade, Trump reassured American farmers that his economic policies would benefit them significantly.
“My new trade policy is going to be great for the American farmer. I love the farmer,” he stated.
He reflected on a trade deal with China from his first term, which had included commitments from Beijing to increase agricultural purchases—a promise he noted China had failed to fulfill.
Trump on illegal immigration
Addressing immigration, Trump claimed that 21 million people had entered the U.S. illegally under President Joe Biden’s administration, alleging that many posed security risks.
However, U.S. Border Patrol statistics indicate that approximately 7 million migrants were arrested for illegal crossings during Biden’s presidency, a figure that includes repeat offenders.
With bold statements and sweeping promises, Trump’s speech reinforced his vision for American leadership on global and domestic fronts, underscoring his commitment to economic growth, security, and efficiency.
‘Gold card’
Trump has reiterated his plan to introduce a “gold card,” a special immigration initiative that would grant a pathway to U.S. citizenship for foreigners willing to invest $5 million.
“We will welcome the world’s most successful job creators by allowing them to purchase a fast track to U.S. citizenship,” Trump stated. “Think of it as a green card—only better and more advanced.”
However, details on how the program would be implemented remain unclear, particularly since launching such an initiative would typically require congressional approval. Despite this, Trump insisted the gold card would be available “very, very soon.”
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