#TrumpCongressSpeech
**Donald Trump's Addresses to Congress: Key Themes, Reactions, and Notable Moments**
**Overview**
Donald Trump delivered four major addresses to Congress during his presidency (2017–2020): one joint session speech in February 2017 and three State of the Union (SOTU) addresses in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These speeches emphasized his "America First" agenda, blending policy priorities with personal storytelling.
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**Key Themes**
1. **Economic Policies**:
- **Tax Reform**: Highlighted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017), claiming it spurred job growth and corporate investment.
- **Deregulation**: Promoted reducing regulations to boost industries like energy and manufacturing.
2. **Immigration**:
- Advocated for a border wall with Mexico and stricter immigration laws, often linking them to national security.
3. **Trade**:
- Celebrated the renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA (2018), framing it as a victory for American workers.
4. **Healthcare**:
- Pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), though legislative efforts stalled after the 2017 Senate vote.
5. **National Security**:
- Focused on defeating ISIS, increasing military spending, and launching the U.S. Space Force.
6. **Bipartisan Outreach**:
- Occasionally proposed unity, such as infrastructure investment and combating the opioid crisis (e.g., inviting a recovered addict as a 2018 SOTU guest).
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**Notable Moments**
- **2017 Joint Address**:
- Emotional tribute to Carryn Owens, widow of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, prompting a prolonged standing ovation.
- Struck a more conciliatory tone, earning rare praise from media outlets for his presidential demeanor.