Associated Press
A President’s speech to Congress — even without the formal gloss of a State of the Union address — is typically a time for a call to national unity and predictable claims about the country being strong.
But that wasn’t President Donald Trump’s plan. His speech on Tuesday night was relentlessly partisan, boasting about his election victory and criticizing Democrats for failing to recognize his accomplishments.
The hard edge reflected Trump’s steamroller approach to his second term, brushing aside opposition and demanding loyalty throughout the federal government.
Trump airs grievances and inflates achievements
Trump set a tone of division almost from his first words, calling his predecessor Joe Biden the worst President in history and chiding Democrats as so stinting in their praise of him they would not even grant him perfunctory applause.
He placed himself alongside the country’s first President, George Washington, when discussing what he said were the flood of early achievements of his second term.
He was speaking to a house divided. Republicans stood and cheered. For Democrats, it was silence, with occasional shouts of protest, with the only applause when he announced that Ukraine wanted to restart peace negotiations.
Trump leaned hard into cultural flashpoints — his opposition to affirmative action, diversity programs and transgender rights.
He inflated the scale of his victory in November, the margin of which was actually among the smallest in American history. The tenor was more that of a campaign speech than an address to Congress.
In a stunning breach of protocol and a measure of the fractious politics, one Democrat, Rep. Al Green of Texas, stood up and shouted at Trump, gesturing toward the President with his cane. He refused to sit when asked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, who ordered him removed.
Trump described Democrats as a lost cause. “There is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy,” he said.
Trump warms on Ukrainian leader
Trump has been unsparing in his criticism of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But towards the end of his address, Trump read from a letter from Zelenskyy he had received earlier in the day.
“The letter reads Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” Trump said. “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians … My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
It remains to be seen if the letter will mark a detente in the long-complicated Trump-Zelenskyy relationship.
Late last week, Trump and Vice President JD Vance used an Oval Office meeting to rip Zelenskyy for being insufficiently grateful for the billions of dollars in U.S. aid poured into Ukraine. Trump then abruptly ended the White House meeting where the deal — designed to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s deposits of titanium, lithium, manganese and more — was supposed to be signed.
On Monday, Trump ordered a “pause” in U.S. assistance to Ukraine as he looked to dial up the pressure on Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia.
Trump blames price of eggs on Biden, not bird flu
The President gave voice to a frustration of many Americans over rising costs of groceries — particularly the skyrocketing cost of eggs, but blamed Biden instead of the bird flu.
“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control — and we are working hard to get it back down,” Trump said.
His Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, said last week that egg prices could still soar more than 40% this year.
The main reason egg prices have increased to a record average of $4.95 per dozen this month is that more than 166 million birds have been slaughtered to limit the spread of bird flu that has overwhelmed flocks around the country.
The administration announced the USDA will invest another $1 billion on top of the roughly $2 billion it has already spent battling bird flu since the outbreak began in 2022.
The looming presence of Elon Musk
Trump lavished praise on Elon Musk, the billionaire who he has tasked with overhauling the federal government and work force. Democrats tried to verbally fact check the president by shouting “false” at some of his assertions of success.
Musk, seated in the gallery above, stood when Republicans applauded him. Democrats held signs that said “Musk steals.”
The President said that Musk has found “hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud,” vastly overstating his team’s accomplishments. For example, many canceled contracts were already fully paid, meaning the government received no savings.
He was dressed more formally than usual, wearing a dark suit with a blue tie rather than a black T-shirt that says “tech support.”
Musk has vast influence as a presidential adviser, leading Trump’s efforts to overhaul and downsize the federal government. Thousands of workers have been laid off, with many more expected to follow.
Trump presses forward with tariff fight
The President has long viewed the stock market as a lodestar. But he ignored Wall Street losses that wiped out gains since the November election.
The stock market has been tumbling as Trump enacts tariffs on Canada and Mexico, critical trading partners that have been retaliating with their own levies. The dispute threatens to increase costs for American consumers even as the president promises to bring down prices.
Trump showed no interest in backing off, describing tariffs as integral to his political agenda.
“Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it’s happening and it will happen rather quickly. There will be a little disturbance, but we’re ok with that.”
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she plans to announce retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. on Sunday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier on Tuesday diagnosed Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports as simply “a very dumb thing to do.”
Trump offers something for everyone
For rich foreigners, he talked up his plan to introduce a $5 million “gold card,” giving the wealthy preferred immigration status.
“We will allow the most success for job-creating people from all over the world to buy a path to U.S. citizen,” Trump said. “It’s like the green card, but better and more sophisticated.”
He also made his case that he’s for the everyman, redoubling on campaign promises to pursue three legislative efforts that could have huge impact on working Americans.
“I’m calling for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security benefits for our great seniors,” Trump said.
At another point, he gushed that his trade policies will be a boon for the agriculture industry, even as farm-state senators have warned that tariffs could hurt them.
That was then, this is now
The President has always reveled in his reputation for tough talk. But a look back at 2017, when Trump gave his first speech to Congress in his first term, shows how Trump has only become more of a hardliner.
Eight years ago, he talked about working with Canada’s Trudeau to support women entrepreneurs in both countries. He paid homage to “our nation’s path towards civil rights.” He said “real and positive immigration reform is possible.” There was no reference to Barack Obama, who he replaced in the White House.
Now Trump is feuding with Trudeau over tariffs. He used his speech to criticize diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, which he’s been swiftly eliminating across the federal government. His remarks on immigration focused on deporting criminals. And he repeatedly derided Biden.
17 comments
EARL PITTS "MAGA" AMERICAN
March 5, 2025 at 7:01 am
Good Morn’Ting America,
Sigh…yes, fans of Earl, its yet another A. P. piece of “Leftist Propaganda”.
EARL TRUTH:
America, there is Not a “Stark Partisan Divide” in our Great Nation.
EARL PREACHES ON:
American’s just elected Donald Trump by a “SUPER MAJORITY MANDATE”!!!!!
FREE EARL ADVICE:
It’s past time for all Dook 4 Brains Leftys to STFU and quietly go slink under a rock for the next 100 years.
BUH BUY Dook Leftys,
EARL PITTS “MAGA” AMERICAN
*FREE BUMPER STICKER*
*I ♡ EARL PITTS AMERICAN*
ps: slap that on the back of your Suburu SUV the favey-fave transport of all Dook 4 Brains Leftys.
Peachy
March 5, 2025 at 7:42 am
The obstinate children did not disappoint. They had their lead screamer, the signs, the organized sit downs. Memories of the college lunatics at campuses that never grew up. Oh and do the Demos really support women’s rights? Evidently they are okay with biological men dominating their sports scene.
Impeach Musk
March 5, 2025 at 10:05 am
I didn’t see any armed insurrections like Jan 6th so it was just a peaceful protest near as I can tell. We’re still allowed to have those in what’s left of America right?
So now I’ll just sit hear watching my savings drain out of the markets as the price of everything else goes up. It’s just life under trump I guess. Yee haa
Paul Passarelli
March 5, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Of course you’d never even think of a little belt tightening to keep some of that money in your savings.
Nope, you’re rather be a spend-thrift and then demand your bailout for mismanaging your money.
“Stupid is as stupid does, Mrs. Blue.” — Forrest Gump
PeterH
March 5, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Do you have any proof of corruption or mismanagement? 🤡
Peachy
March 5, 2025 at 9:35 am
Not only are the Democrats not supporting women’s rights, ie female sports, they are also racist for not honoring the cancer survivor kid. I’m gonna steal your line PeterH, “vote all Democrats out” they are poisonous.
Peachy
March 5, 2025 at 10:16 am
Armed with what? Cellphones, backpacks, American Flags,etc? One person was shot cold blooded that day. It was an unarmed military vet. My comments were directed to the halls of Congress. You want to visit the public domain? How about the fires, destruction, looting and in that goes on in Democrat cities for protests. Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York City, etc. etc. The economy? Suddenly you Demos become interested in it. Where have you been the last four years?
Impeach Musk
March 5, 2025 at 2:22 pm
First off, they were all convicted by a jury of their peers and that fool that got shot maybe shouldn’t have stuck here face in where it didn’t belong – you know that whole FAFO thing you guy’s love. Second, the economy was pretty decent then. Groceries were up a bit but we were making money in the markets (IRA’s 401K’s etc.) to offset it. Now, trump is driving the whole effing economy into the ground because, he’s a moron.
Michael K
March 5, 2025 at 11:30 am
Terrific speech. I really appreciated Trump saying that he would honor and respect the 51% of American voters who voted for someone else – and his promise to work on bipartisanship and follow the rule of law. I thought it was lovely to see this empathy for the hardworking people he fired from federal civil service, especially the 30% who are veterans. Some thanks for their service! It was heartwaring to hear his promise to stop attacking trans people, and Black people. And I’m encouraged by his promise not to cut Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare in order to give huge tax cuts to the top 5% who bought and now own the US government.
/s
Paul Passarelli
March 5, 2025 at 1:03 pm
You seem to be implying that President Trump did not obtain a majority of ***LEGITIMATE*** votes in either 2020 or 2024.
And while the reports from 2016 did seem to indicate that Hillary may have won the popular vote, she failed to recognize that the Electoral College is the determiner of the presidency. That was her stupid mistake. Whether the actual vote count was genuine is the subject for another thread. But I’m skeptical.
Michael K
March 5, 2025 at 6:17 pm
He got 49% of the vote. Harris got 48%. Others got 3%. Yes, he won, but it was not a landslide. My point is that the president represents and serves all Americans, not just the 49 of voters who vorted for him.
Michael K
March 5, 2025 at 12:16 pm
PS: I forgot to include my gratitude to the President for the rise of inflation under his watch and higher cost of living due to his tariffs! besides, who needs eggs? Their delicate shells just a metaphor of another broken campaign promise. I also appreciate the big hit to my life savings and retirement accounts as the stock market plummets in reaction to the chaos he now calls governance! I just wish I knew what to say to my friends and relatives living abroad who lament that they can no longer trust Americans. That part is sad.
Paul Passarelli
March 5, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I’ll I hear is impotent whining.
Peachy
March 5, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Another one that never mentioned the economy while Slo Joe and Incompetent Kammy were ruining the country. Remember the egg thing started in 2022, yet not a peep from the zombie force.
Paul Passarelli
March 5, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Well, there is something to be applauded for Democrat silence.
I can’t help but recall Barack Obama’s speech when an erstwhile Congressman shouted “YOU LIE!” from the gallery. But of course that Congressman was 100% correct in his analysis.
Michael K
March 5, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Hilarious that Miss Spoke – the Queen of whataboutism – has nothing positive to say about Hair Furor on his 100 minute factually challeged TV gameshow / MAGA rally.
For the record, the price of eggs was all that JD Vance talked about during the campaign – claiming his boys each ate 7 eggs a day!
Fun fact: The word Vantz (pronounced Vance) is the Yiddish word for bedgbug.
Peachy
March 5, 2025 at 2:38 pm
Gameshow? It was your idiot Demos that made fools of themselves last night with their petty shouts, costumes, signs, etc. The Gong Show comes to mind with those retards.