#TrumpCongressSpeech
Here are five takeaways from the speech — and how it sets up the rest of Trump's 2025.
Trump defends his tariffs
Trump defended the sweeping 25% tariffs he imposed Tuesday on products from Canada and Mexico, saying “now it’s our turn” after other countries have levied them against the United States.
“It’s very unfair,” Trump said as scores of Republicans stood to applaud his tariffs, which he said “are about protecting the soul of our country.”
Trump outlines his policy agenda
Trump spent significant time on issues from transgender athletes to the work of the Department of Government Efficiency. But the biggest thing Congress may work on this year will be a massive tax and spending bill, and Trump outlined his priorities.
Democrats heckle, wave signs and interrupt
Within minutes of Trump’s beginning, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, interrupted and heckled him, yelling, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.” He was escorted out after he refused to stop shouting. There were other unintelligible shouts from Democrats during the speech. At another point, several Democratic members walked out in protest.
Trump soaks in GOP adulation
It has been months since Trump played to the crowd at one of his signature political rallies. He got a hero’s welcome and a standing ovation from Republicans in the Capitol, who regularly leaped to their feet to applaud him.
Ukraine, Panama Canal and Greenland
Trump lamented the billions of dollars the United States has spent to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s incursion, drawing ironic and extended applause from Democrats who support the military and economic assistance.