Trump promises ‘this will be our greatest era’ in joint address to Congress
President Donald Trump pledged in a speech to Congress and to the U.S. that his administration would seek to take "America's destiny into our own hands" and promised that "this will be our greatest era" and he would struggle to create the most free civilization.
Trump made the comments while giving a speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday in an address reminiscent of the yearly State of the Union, during which he announced that "America is back" and that the "American dream is surging."
Trump revealed in his address that Ukraine is ready to sign on to a deal on rare-earth minerals and proceed with peace talks to bring an end to the conflict with Russia, and that his administration has apprehended the terrorist responsible for an assault in Afghanistan that killed 13 American troops.
"Tonight, I am happy to report that we have just captured the leading terrorist responsible for that horror. And he is currently on his way here to meet the swift sword of American justice," Trump stated.
While Democrats began to boo Trump at the outset of his address, Republicans then countered by yelling "USA." Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, got especially out of hand in the speech, and began yelling and waving his cane at Trump. Eventually, the disturbance necessitated Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., instructing the Sergeant at Arms to have Green escorted from the address.
"I see the Democrats standing before me, and I understand there is just nothing I can say to get them happy or to get them stand or smile or applaud," Trump stated.
Trump put the incident behind him, and vowed he would reduce inflation costs and would "wage a war" on drug cartels as he boasted about his administration's achievements already in the last six weeks — including reducing illegal immigration crossings.
Particularly, Trump called on lawmakers Tuesday to increase border security funding to pay for deportations and the building of a border wall along the U.S. southern border, and boasted that his administration has "launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history."
"The cartels are fighting a war against America, and it's time that America fights a war against the cartels, and we're doing it," Trump stated Tuesday.
TRUMP ADMIN UNVEILS LIST OF CARTELS AND GANGS TO BE DECLARED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
Trump indicated he has submitted Congress a detailed appropriations request outlining how to cut down on threats and execute the "largest deportation operation in American history."
"Americans expect Congress to send me this funding right away, so I can sign it into law," Trump urged Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to approve such a measure so he could sign it into law immediately.
Trump also unveiled proposals for legal citizenship, declaring that a $5 million "gold card" will be sold in the near future and would enable "successful, job-creating people" to buy themselves into U.S. citizenship.
"It's similar to the green card, only better and smarter," Trump explained. "And these individuals will have to pay tax in our nation."
In addition, Trump also stated Tuesday that his administration inherited an "economic catastrophe," and blamed the Biden administration for letting the prices of eggs become "out of control."
"One of my very highest priorities is to save our economy and bring dramatic and immediate relief to working families," Trump stated. "As president, I am fighting every day to turn this damage around and make America affordable again."
The consumer price index indicates consumer prices rose about 20% during the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, and egg prices have risen nearly 37% over the last year.
DEMOCRAT REMOVED FROM HOUSE CHAMBER AFTER DISRUPTING TRUMP'S SPEECH TO CONGRESS
President Donald Trump's attends a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 4, 2025. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Trump also stood up for his administration's new tariffs, remarks that follow the U.S. imposing 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, and increasing current tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement Tuesday that Canada would impose tariffs on over $100 billion of American products, and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Mexico would release its own retaliatory tariffs on Sunday.
Americans are still divided along party lines when it comes to the direction of the economy in the coming year. While 73% of Republicans indicated that they believe the economy will be better a year from now, 64% of Democrats indicated that they foresee the economy as getting worse, the Pew Research Center poll found.
TRUMP HALTS AID TO UKRAINE AFTER HEATED MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY
President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via Reuters)
Trump further stated that he would continue to try to end the war in Ukraine, after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and negotiations broke down on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to Washington Friday while negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine were ongoing, and was set to sign a minerals deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's minerals in return for U.S. assistance in the country.
At the same time, Zelenskyy told Tuesday evening ahead of Trump's speech that Ukraine is ready to "come to the negotiating table" and stated "it is time to make things right" on X. He also referred to Friday's exchange as "regrettable," and that Ukraine is ready to sign a deal on minerals.
Trump on Tuesday reported that he had received a letter from Zelenskyy saying that Ukraine is willing to negotiate and restart peace talks, and would sign the minerals agreement.
"It's time to end this senseless war," Trump said, adding that it's necessary to speak with both sides in order to stop wars.
Similarly, Trump announced that he intends to introduce a "Golden Dome" defense shield program for America, similar to the one Israel has to defend itself.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparred on Friday amid negotiations to end war in Ukraine.
Special visitors who came to the Tuesday speech were Trump's border czar Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Noa Argamani, who endured captivity by Palestinian militant organization Hamas following the attack on Israel by the group on Oct. 7, 2023; and hockey greats Buzz Schneider and Rob McClanahan, who were recently inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and members of the U.S. hockey team that beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics.
Although all lawmakers are usually invited to the president's annual address, Democrats such as Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Patty Murray of Washington, and Reps. Don Beyer of Virginia and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York decided to skip attending the speech this year.
First-year Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., will give the Democratic party's official response to Trump's speech Tuesday. Slotkin, a veteran CIA analyst who served at the Pentagon and the White House under both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, formerly represented her state in the U.S. House of Representatives for several terms before entering the Senate.
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