Donald Trump began his State of the Union speech—the longest ever delivered by a U.S. president before Congress—with the phrase “America is back!”, which liberal mainstream media journalists immediately declared plagiarism of a phrase Joe Biden had previously used in the same chamber.
If that phrase was perhaps a copy, everything else the U.S. president said last night certainly was not.
Trump spoke for more than 1 hour and 40 minutes, breaking the previous record set by Bill Clinton in 2000, which lasted 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds.
He promised changes in the executive branch, the work of government agencies and services, and even reducing his own presidential cabinet.
He confirmed the end of U.S. aid to Ukraine, the introduction of 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, and a 20% tariff increase on Chinese products.
And much more in a speech that strongly resembled a campaign rally and seemed like it would never end…
“I Received an Important Letter”
Trump announced, before reading aloud a letter he had received just hours earlier from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Zelensky stated his desire to return to the negotiating table after last week’s explosive Oval Office meeting had cut off peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
“We had serious talks with Russia and received strong signals that they are also ready for peace,” Trump said. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Death Penalty for Killing a Police Officer
Trump presented Congress with the family of a murdered American police officer and promised to protect all law enforcement officers in the future.
“I will propose that Congress mandate the death penalty for every police officer’s murder. We must help law enforcement do their job without fearing for their lives.”
Trump to Democrats: “You Forgot Kennedy”
“Our goal is to remove toxins from our environment, poisons from our food supply, and ensure that our children grow up healthy and strong.”
Trump said that reducing childhood cancer rates and studying autism cases in the U.S. would be top priorities for his Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate and environmental activist.
“You forgot his family, to whom you owe so much,” he told Democrats.
Trump Wants to “Take Back” the Panama Canal
Trump greeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio before detailing his plans to “take back” the Panama Canal.
“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama. We’re taking it back,” Trump said about the canal.
He then joked about his top diplomat:
“Good luck, Marco. Now we know who to blame if something goes wrong.”
Trump thanked Democrats for voting in Congress to confirm Rubio.
Democrats Applaud Trump’s Acknowledgment of U.S. Aid to Ukraine
Trump complained about the billions of dollars the U.S. had spent helping Ukraine defend against Russia’s invasion, prompting ironic, widespread applause from Democrats, who support military and economic aid.
“You want to keep this going for another five years?” Trump asked.
“Pocahontas says yes,” he added, using his mocking nickname for Senator Elizabeth Warren, which caused several Democrats to walk out of the chamber.
This was the only part of Trump’s speech where Democrats applauded more than Republicans, but their applause came after Trump acknowledged that the U.S. had sent billions in military aid to Ukraine.
Some Republicans also clapped, though more reservedly. However, GOP lawmakers gave a standing ovation when Trump stated that Ukraine is ready to negotiate a peace deal.
Trump: “We Need Greenland”
Trump said that America needs Greenland.
“I think we’ll get it. One way or another, we will get it.”
He claimed that while the U.S. supports Greenland’s right to determine its future, it would be welcomed as part of the United States for reasons of national security—and to make it rich.
Since his first term, Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and founding NATO member. The island is also home to a major U.S. military base.
Trump Calls for Criminalizing Child Gender Transitions
Trump urged Congress to criminalize gender transitions for minors.
“I want Congress to pass a law permanently banning and criminalizing child gender transitions, ending forever the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.”
Trump has already used executive actions to roll back Biden administration policies promoting transgender rights, and he vowed to eradicate “gender ideology.”
During his speech, he called on Congress to ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
Cancer Survivor Child Becomes Honorary Secret Service Member
A child cancer survivor was sworn in as an honorary Secret Service member during Trump’s address to Congress.
Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans in giving a standing ovation to Trump’s guest, a child diagnosed with cancer who had expressed a desire to become a police officer.
The child, named DJ, was held by his father as Republicans and gallery spectators chanted “DJ!”
Trump Praises Melania
Trump praised his wife, Melania, for lobbying Congress to pass a bill that criminalizes the online sharing of intimate images, both real and fake.
He thanked the Senate for passing the measure and called the practice a “horrible, terrible thing.”
Then, he jokingly suggested that he might use the law himself:
“No one has been treated worse than me online. No one,” Trump said.
Trump Vows to End “Critical Race Theory” in Schools
Throughout his campaign, Trump has promised to ban public schools from teaching “woke” content, including the vaguely defined concept of “critical race theory.”
He vowed to cut federal funding for schools that teach critical race theory and to eliminate diversity programs.
Democrats Shout at the President
At one point, Democratic Representative Gil Cisneros (CA) shouted:
“What about the $400 million Tesla contract!”
as Trump spoke about his cuts to the federal government.
Democrats groaned, yelling:
“That’s not true!” and “That’s a lie!”
as Trump listed the budget cuts he claims his administration made.
Trump Promises to Lower Egg Prices
“You inherited a total mess from the previous administration.”
Trump spoke about egg prices and other essential groceries, which remained high due to inflation.
He blamed Biden for letting egg prices spiral out of control and said he had ordered his cabinet to lower them, suggesting that the problem had started under the previous administration.
“I Eliminated Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives”
“Our country will no longer be woke.”
Trump boasted that his administration had rushed to ban diversity and inclusion programs in the federal government and had fired employees responsible for them.
Arrest and Extradition Related to Afghanistan Attack
Trump announced that the suspect in a deadly bombing at Abbey Gate during the Afghanistan withdrawal—which killed 13 U.S. soldiers—was being extradited to the U.S. from Pakistan to face charges.
Al Green Removed from Congress
House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the House Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Representative Al Green (TX) for disrupting Trump’s speech.
Republicans stood and cheered as Green left, chanting “Get out!” and “Goodbye!”
Green shouted:
“You don’t have the mandate to cut Medicaid!”
before being escorted out.
“The Golden Age Has Begun!”
“America’s golden age has just begun,” Trump declared as he ended his speech after nearly 100 minutes.
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Source: Antonije Kovacevic / AP