In a major address to the US Congress, President Donald Trump outlined his vision for his second term, sparking both praise and controversy with key moments emerging from his speech.
President Donald Trump declared ‘the American Dream is unstoppable’ as he addressed a raucous joint session of the US Congress for the first time since he returned to power. In his longest presidential speech to lawmakers on record, he outlined his vision for his second term.
Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States.
Before entering politics, he was a successful businessman and real estate developer.
Trump took over his father's company, Elizabeth Trump & Son, and expanded it into a global brand.
He gained fame with his reality TV show 'The Apprentice.'
Trump won the Republican nomination in 2016 and defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.
He served as President from 2017 to 2021.
Tariffs: A Bumpy Ride Ahead?
Trump played down the potential economic fallout from a trade war he ignited this week, including 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% on Chinese imports. He stated that ‘tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again’ and claimed it will happen quickly with only a little disturbance.
Ukraine: A Turning Point?
Trump received an important letter from Volodymyr Zelensky, which appeared to match what he posted publicly on social media. Zelensky offered the olive branch a day after Trump paused all military aid to the beleaguered US ally. This move was seen as a sign of improvement in their relationship.
Greenland: A New Frontier?
Despite focusing on domestic issues, Trump‘s worldview came more sharply into focus during his speech. He repeated his desire for the US to acquire Greenland and vowed ‘we’re going to get it – one way or the other’.
Energy: The Key to Tackling Inflation?
Trump pledged to reduce the cost of energy by opening up the country to new oil and gas drilling, saying ‘we have more liquid gold under our feet than any nation on earth’. He also made clear that he blames his predecessor Joe Biden for letting egg prices get out of control.
A Divided Congress
The speech was marked by heckling from Democrats, who were largely leaderless in their attempts to counter the Trump administration’s activity. Many Democratic women arrived in the House chamber wearing pink pantsuits in protest, and dozens exited during the speech.
- bbc.com | Six takeaways from Trumps big speech
- www.bbc.co.uk | Seven takeaways from Trumps big speech to Congress BBC News
