Trump’s first address to Congress following re-election creates further division
US president Donald Trump delivered the joint address to the members of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Washington DC on Tuesday evening.
Just 44 days into his presidency, he has already implemented rapid and controversial change. In the nearly two-hour speech, Trump touched on inflation, the ongoing tariff war, immigration and Ukraine, among other topics.
Flanked by vice president JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Trump opened his address to a joint session of Congress by applauding the “swift and unrelenting action” taken by his administration in the past six weeks and said his administration was “just getting started”.
Dissent from democrats
During his record-breaking length speech, there was audible pushback from Democratic members of the House. Approximately five minutes into the address, Democratic congressman Alexander Green was forcibly removed by the sergeant in arms at the behest of Johnson.
Green, who has long pushed to impeach Trump dating back to his previous term in office, stood and shook his cane toward the president in the opening minutes of his speech. “He doesn’t have a mandate to cut healthcare from poor people," Green said after being escorted out.
Democrats were visibly shaken by the spectacle and held signs that read “False”, shouting back in response to comments and claims made by Trump. Former speaker Nancy Pelosi wept as Trump asked Democrats to put their differences aside and work together.
Other forms of dissent from the left ranged from coordinated colours to show support for Ukraine to walk-outs during the session. When Trump acknowledged Elon Musk and his creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, the billionaire was met with both cheers and boos.
Inflation and tax policy
"We suffered the worst inflation in 48 years," said Trump. "But perhaps even in the history of our country, they’re not sure." He has pledged significant tax cuts, including eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay and social security benefits - key promises from his campaign. However, critics point out that his first term added approximately 8 trillion USD to the national debt, and his proposed tax cuts could add trillions more.
Additionally, Trump has doubled down on his aggressive trade policies, aiming to implement a series of tariffs and reciprocal taxes. From 2 April, the US will introduce “reciprocal taxes”, imposing equivalent tariffs on any country that taxes American goods.
Trump argues this measure will prevent other nations from “ripping off” the US, citing tariff disparities with India, China and South Korea.
Trade and tariff measures
Defending his tariff agenda, Trump claims it will “make America rich again” by supporting domestic industries such as steel and agriculture. However, businesses and global trade organisations have warned these policies could drive up inflation, shrink profits and trigger a global economic downturn.
Markets have already reacted negatively, with the Dow dropping 1,300 points in two days, the S&P 500 falling 4 per cent since Trump took office and the Nasdaq plunging 7 per cent due to concerns over inflation and declining consumer spending.
Trump also announced that Japan and South Korea are seeking to partner with the US on a 44 billion USD project to transport natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to Asia. The plan involves constructing a new pipeline and gas-export terminals, with Trump claiming it will attract “trillions of dollars each” in investments.
Trump has intensified his hardline stance on immigration, calling for swift deportations and stricter border policies. Referring to undocumented immigrants as “savage monsters”, he urged Congress to approve funding for his deportation plans “without delay”.
Trump also proposed a controversial 5 million USD “gold card” programme, allowing individuals to buy US citizenship. He blamed Democrats’ “insane open border policy” for the current immigration challenges, positioning his plan as a solution to what he sees as a national crisis.
Support for Ukraine
Following last week’s contentious White House meeting, Trump reiterated his concerns over US aid to Ukraine, noting that “hundreds of billions of dollars” have been sent to bolster its defence. He criticised Europe for spending more on Russian oil and gas than on supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
Trump acknowledged receiving a letter from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and suggested that Ukraine is prepared to sign a new mineral deal, hinting at potential economic cooperation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Following Trump’s address, Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin delivered the traditional rebuttal. The first-term senator, who took office in January, gave a concise speech focusing on how Trump’s actions and agenda would increase costs for everyday Americans.
"Your premiums and prescriptions will cost more because the math on his proposals doesn’t work without him going after your healthcare," she warned. She also referenced Musk’s recent statement, noting that “Elon Musk just called Social Security the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time”.
“Change doesn’t need to be chaotic or make us less safe"
Slotkin highlighted the need for a balanced approach to change, saying: “Change doesn’t need to be chaotic or make us less safe.” She stressed that securing the border was impossible without fixing the immigration system and called for bipartisan agreement on knowing who is entering the country.
Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez livestream their reactions on social media, with Sanders accusing Trump of making statements that were “grossly false”.
(MOH)
US vice president JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson applaud as president Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol, 4 March 2025 © PHOTO WIN MCNAMEE / POOL VIA CNP
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