Protests have been held against the President's agenda across the United States, APA reports.
President Donald Trump is making his State of the Union address in the chamber of the US House of Representatives.
Trump’s entrance to the chamber was met with loud chants of “USA,” a sign of the enthusiasm among his supporters.
The President began by asserting that the United States is experiencing what he described as "the dawn of the golden age of America."
He wasted no time in outlining his administration’s achievements, emphasising what he believes to be an unparalleled level of success in a remarkably short period.
“America’s momentum, spirit, pride, and confidence are back,” Trump declared. “The American dream is surging bigger and better than ever before. It is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed.”
The president also reflected on the speed and scale of his accomplishments, stating that his administration had achieved more in just 43 days than most past administrations had in four or even eight years. “This has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action,” Trump said, underscoring his commitment to delivering results for the American people.
There was some disruption as Democratic Representative Al Green shouted "You have no mandate,” at the President, leading to his removal from the Chamber.
Some Democrats also quietly raised small signs in protest during Trump's joint address. The circular black signs featured bold white text with messages such as "Protect Veterans," "Save Medicaid," "False," and "Musk Steals."
The economy
The president has declared that one of his top priorities is to "rescue our economy" and provide "relief" for working families.
Trump placed the blame for the current economic situation on the previous administration, describing it as an "economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare" that he inherited.
He assured the public that he is "fighting every day" to reverse these challenges and "make America affordable again."
Trump also criticised his successor, President Joe Biden, for the soaring prices of eggs, calling them "out of control" and pledging to work hard to bring them down.
Tariffs
The President launched a sharp critique against the European Union, India, Mexico, and Brazil, claiming that "many other nations" also impose trade policies that are unfair to Americans.
“This is happening by both friends and foes,” he stated, adding that "reciprocal tariffs" would take effect on 2 April.
“Whatever they tax us, we will tax them,” he explained, outlining how the new tariffs would operate. Historically, the US has charged lower tariffs compared to many of its trading partners.
“We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before,” he proclaimed.
“We’ve been ripped off for decades by every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer,” he added.
Trump also touted the resurgence of car manufacturing plants across the United States, attributing the growth to both his election win and the impact of tariffs.
"That's a combination of the election win - and tariffs, it’s a beautiful word, isn’t it?" Trump remarked.
He said that the combination of tariffs and other policies from the White House would help the US auto industry "absolutely boom."
This week, the Trump administration imposed significant tariffs on both Mexico and Canada. In response, each country announced retaliatory tariffs, sparking concerns of a potential trade war that economists warn could lead to higher prices for consumers.
"Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn," Trump said.
He acknowledged that tariffs would create some "disturbance," but assured that the country would be "OK with that."
Trump did praise Mexico for extraditing cartel leaders to the US in recent days.
"But we need more from Mexico and Canada to stop fentanyl from crossing the border," he added, urging Congress to pass a bill aimed at enhancing border security.
"I've submitted a detailed funding request to Congress, outlining exactly how we will eliminate these threats, safeguard our homeland, and carry out the largest deportation operation in US history," he stated.
Earlier, he criticised Democrats for pushing a bipartisan immigration bill last year, arguing that the legislation wasn’t necessary and that "all we really needed was a new president."
Law and order
Trump has revisited his 'Law and Order' message that was prevalent on his campaign trail.
“As we reclaim our sovereignty, we must also bring back law and order to our cities and towns,” President Trump said. “In recent years, our justice system has been turned upside down by Radical Left lunatics.”
Trump, who has long championed a tough-on-crime approach, framed Democratic-led cities as overwhelmed by violence, even as crime statistics show a decline in violent crime following a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His remarks also mirror the rhetoric from his campaign, where he pushed for more aggressive policing. Last year, he suggested that a single “rough hour” of law enforcement action could curb retail theft and advocated for ensuring officers “have immunity from prosecution.”
Defence
Trump has proposed the creation of a "golden dome" missile defence shield, similar to Israel’s, as part of his national security strategy.
He also called for the resurrection of the American shipbuilding industry, both commercial and military, and announced plans to establish a new Office of Shipbuilding within the White House, offering tax incentives to encourage growth in the sector.
He also emphasised the importance of rebuilding the Panama Canal to further strengthen global trade and American influence.
Diversity and inclusion
Trump said his administration has rushed to ban diversity and inclusion programs in the federal government and dismiss workers charged with advancing such efforts.
“Our country will be ‘woke’ no longer,” he said.
His efforts have prompted private companies and other entities to similarly roll back efforts to promote diversity. They have also drawn a series of legal challenges, many of which are still in court.
This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
06:19
US President Donald Trump addresses Joint Session of Congress, APA reports citing White House.
"To my fellow citizens, America is back," Trump begins, to raucous cheers and applause from Republicans.
It's a stark contrast to the Democrats in the chamber, who are notably all sat down.
Six weeks ago he says, his inauguration "proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America".
So far there's been "nothing but swift and unrelating action", he says, adding that so far his administration has done more than others in their full four years.
"And we are just getting started," he says.
U.S. President’s address to Congress is an annual event
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