Takeaways from Trump’s address to Congress
President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress since returning to power was both a victory lap following a consequential first 43 days in office and an attempt to justify what he’s done to an American public that may still be digesting his rapid-pace changes.
On tariffs, government cuts and foreign affairs, Trump has taken dramatic steps that have left Democrats fuming and even some Republicans skeptical, while foreign capitals have scrambled to respond. His task Tuesday was to say why.
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He did that – to an extent. But the president also used his speech to relentlessly attack his opponents, blame his predecessor and air old grievances.
The president entered the chamber with a lot to say. His speech broke the record for longest annual presidential address to Congress in modern history, at just under one hour and 40 minutes. It was also one of the most partisan, with almost none of the customary calls for unity.
From almost the first words of Trump’s speech, it was evident it would not resemble many addresses to Congress in the past. He boasted about his November election win, attacked Democrats for standing in his way and complained they would never applaud his accomplishments.
“There is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy,” he said, describing his opposition as essentially a lost cause.
The dramatics extended to the audience, when Democratic Rep. Al Green interrupted the president repeatedly before House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the sergeant-at-arms to eject the Texas congressman.
The moment early in Trump’s speech helped set the partisan atmosphere. Other Democrats held up signs or walked out of the chamber during the speech, defying leadership’s calls to show restraint.
And the president made little attempt to lower the temperature, repeatedly chastising Democrats for not helping advance his agenda. He pointed their way when referring to “radical left-wing lunatics” and even used his derogatory “Pocahontas” nickname for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Throughout the speech, Trump narrowed in on the culture war issues that thrill his base, promising to erase “wokeness” from society and touting some of his most divisive executive actions.
He bemoaned what he calls the unfairness of affirmative action and touted his efforts to roll back transgender rights and diversity programs.
“We’re getting wokeness out of our schools and out of our military and it’s already out, and it’s out of our society. We don’t want it,” Trump said. “Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is bad. It’s gone.”
Trump used the guests in the first lady’s box to illustrate his point, including female athletes, parents of children murdered by undocumented immigrants and a mother whose daughter Trump claimed had been “secretly socially transitioned” at school.
Trump framed the moves as part of his “common sense revolution,” though each of the issues appeared designed to mostly appeal to his base.
Instead of bridging any partisan gaps, the lines underscored the perpetual campaign mode Trump operates within, even as he’s no longer running for office.
The executive actions reshaping the federal government have come fast and furious in Trump’s first month-and-a-half; his team is far more experienced this time around, and the president himself is impatient to fulfill his campaign promises.
Yet for many Americans, the flurry of changes has been confusing. Polls show skepticism seeping in about Trump’s priorities. Tuesday’s speech was an opportunity to present a cogent argument.
He chose to highlight Elon Musk, the billionaire in charge of his government efficiency effort who was sitting in the galleries.
“He’s working very hard. He didn’t need this. He didn’t need this,” Trump said, before goading Democrats further: “Everybody here, even this side, appreciates it. I believe they just don’t want to admit that,” he said, pointing toward Democrats.
Later, Trump recited a lengthy list of programs whose funding has been slashed by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, misleadingly calling them examples of fraud. And he repeated debunked claims that significant number of dead Americans are receiving Social Security benefits.
Democrats in the audience held aloft signs saying “Musk steals,” but the president’s recitation of DOGE’s efforts seemed far more focused on messaging about programs that, in his mind, reflect wasted taxpayer dollars than about detailing any actual government savings.
The hours ahead of Trump’s speech were hardly the economic backdrop he may have hoped for. Stock markets tumbled as the broad tariffs he announced on Mexico, Canada and China reverberated among investors. Almost as soon as markets closed, his commerce secretary suggested there may be a pull-back on the new duties on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, Trump — who has advocated for tariffs since the 1970s, and once called “tariff” his favorite word — was not backing away from the strategy during his biggest speech of the year.
“Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. That’s reciprocal, back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we tax them,” he’ll said in the speech. “We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before.”
Many Republicans have deep reservations about the tariffs, and lawmakers from states that could be hard-hit spent Tuesday on the phone with Trump’s aides voicing their concerns. They had been hoping to hear from Trump a more fulsome explanation of his tariff plan, and an explanation of how average Americans might benefit.
Trump was vague in the specifics, and he repeated his encouragement to farmers to “have a lot of fun” selling their products inside the United States (a sentiment he voiced on social media this week).
But he was adamant about the wisdom of tariffs, even as he acknowledged they could cause economic pain.
“Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it’s happening, and it will happen rather quickly,” he said. “There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re okay with that. It won’t be much.”
Trump could hardly avoid the issue that has dominated the last week — the war in Ukraine — despite his address being largely focused on domestic matters.
“I am also working tirelessly to end the savage conflict in Ukraine,” Trump said.
At one point, Trump had hoped to herald a new rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine during his speech. But an Oval Office fracas last week with President Volodymyr Zelensky blew that up.
Instead, Trump returned to his frustrations at how much US money has been spent on the conflict.
But he also responded positively to a social media post earlier Tuesday from Zelensky – Trump referred to a letter from the Ukrainian leader – in which Zelensky voiced regret for Friday’s blowup and said he was ready to begin peace talks.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” he said, without saying when he might try speaking to Zelensky again.
Trump has made his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, a central figure of his second presidency, blaming him for everything from higher prices to foreign conflicts.
Tuesday’s speech was no exception. He named Biden 12 times in his speech and referenced his administration another four times. He accused Biden of leaving him problems ranging from the high price of eggs to authorizing too much money for Ukraine, according to excerpts of the speech.
“As you know, we inherited, from the last administration, an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare,” Trump said in his speech.
Later, addressing attempts to pass a border bill last year, Trump said that instead of new legislation, “All we really needed was a new president.”
Every president inherits obstacles left to them by the previous administration. Yet how much longer Trump can blame Biden for the country’s continued challenges remains to be seen. Eventually, voters look to the office-holder to fix their problems — not blame them on someone else.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the Michigan freshman who delivered Democrats’ rebuttal, was assigned one of the infamously thankless tasks in politics.
She kept it short and to the point. She opened by accusing Trump — and, pointedly, Musk — of taking a “reckless” and “chaotic” approach to reforming the federal government.
Decrying the Oval Office berating of Zelensky, she alleged Ronald Reagan would be “rolling in his grave.”
She acknowledged Americans want change. But, in her telling, the change Trump is executing risks fundamental damage to the country.
Her matter-of-fact approach contrasted with some other Democrats, who have tried to channel outrage in their opposition to Trump.
Instead, Slotkin encouraged Democrats to embrace action, not anger: “Pick just one issue you’re passionate about — and engage. And doom scrolling doesn’t count,” she said.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
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Conservatives erupt with praise on social media after Trump’s speech to Congress: ‘Run through a wall’
President Donald Trump recognizes Devarjaye DJ Daniel during the joint address to Congress.
Reactions from conservatives on social media poured in after President Donald Trump spoke for about two hours in his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
After Trump’s speech lasted 1 hour and 39 minutes, conservatives took to social media to praise the president and criticize the Democratic response, including Democratic Rep. Al Green’s removal from the room for interrupting Trump’s address.
“Peak Trump,” former Trump campaign senior adviser Tim Murtaugh posted on X. “That’s what that was.”
“Who else feels like they could run through a wall for America after that,” Trump administration senior advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media Kari Lake posted on X.
‘HE’S BACK’: TRUMP’S JOINT ADDRESS TO CONGRESS TO BE BLANKETED WITH 6-FIGURE AD BUY TOUTING TAX PLAN
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on March 4. 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The President took a victory lap tonight — and he deserves to,” Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted on X. “He’s completely right that the first month of his Presidency was more consequential than most four-year Presidencies.”
“But don’t miss the important thing: this wasn’t a look back. It was a look forward. What the President did tonight was extend the promise he’s made from day one: that America will come first. He’s done it — he’s lived it — and he’s going to keep doing it.”
TRUMP SET TO CONTINUE UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF ACTIONS, ADDRESS CONGRESS IN 7TH WEEK BACK IN OFFICE
Sen. Elizabeth Warren. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Lost count around 90 standing ovations tonight,” GOP Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. “The best President in American history.”
“This is a fabulous speech!” Conservative commentator Mark Levin posted on X.
“After four years of weakness, strength is back in the White House and President Trump is already delivering on his promise of a safe and prosperous nation for the American people,” GOP Rep. Derek Schmidt said in a statement after Trump’s speech.
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Rep. Al Green (D-TX) shouts out as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS)
Many Republicans praised the speech while at the same time pointing out the Democrats who refused to stand at various points, including moments that were seemingly nonpartisan, including for a 13-year-old cancer survivor named DJ Daniel who dreamed of being a police officer.
“An inspiring, emotional address from @realDonaldTrump!!” GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno posted on X. “But crazed partisan Dems refused to applaud even a brave young man like DJ. Appalling!”
“Democrats refused to stand or clap for a little boy fighting cancer,” conservative influencer account LibsofTikTok posted on X. “Truly sick people.”
“Most people watching that speech will be at a loss of what they were supposed to disagree with, and wonder why Democrats were so glum and disagreeable,” National Review’s Rich Lowry posted on X.
The speech was panned by many Democrats, including members of Congress who jeered Trump for most of the night, and several Democrats walked out before it was done.
“In just half an hour, he spewed ignorance on everything from diversity, immigration and trans kids to DOGE cuts and the cost of eggs. I heard enough, so I left. His words do nothing to help the people in my district—there’s real work to be done,” Dem. Rep. LaMonica McIver said in a release.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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President Donald Trump spoke for over an hour and a half on Tuesday night
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6 takeaways from Trump’s pointedly partisan address to Congress
Domenico Montanaro
President Trump speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
After a firehose of a first six weeks back in the White House, President Trump delivered a boastful and partisan address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.
Coming in at just under 100 minutes, it was the longest such speech in modern history. And it saw a Democratic member of Congress be kicked out, several other Democrats walk out at various points and a Republican Party firmly and enthusiastically backing their president.
Here are six takeaways:
“America is back,” Trump proclaimed at the beginning of his speech. It was, ironically, a line also delivered by Joe Biden at the beginning of the Democrat’s term in office following Trump’s first four years.
The echo underscores that the country is deeply divided about what its values should be, about what America is and means and where it should go going forward.
Trump has attempted radical change, what he called Tuesday night a “commonsense revolution” that has seen “swift and unrelenting action.”
That action has been spearheaded by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. Trump gave Musk the spotlight and praised him, and Musk’s moves have been cheered by many in the GOP base.
But those changes have been loudly and strongly opposed by many others, including independents. In the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, independents gave Trump just a 34% approval rating and Musk and DOGE a 34% favorability rating. Two-thirds said they think Trump is moving too fast to make changes to the federal government without considering the impact.
Americans are about split on the direction Trump is moving the country, the poll found, but this was not a speech that sought to reach across the aisle and expand those numbers. Quite the opposite.
He essentially dismissed Democrats. He referred to them as “these people” and “radical left lunatics” and even used his derisive “Pocahontas” nickname for Sen. Elizabeth Warren when talking about how long the war in Ukraine should continue. (In response, Warren said she was applauding U.S. aid for Ukraine, which Trump has now halted.)
He said Democrats would never vote for anything he’d ever do, so instead he mostly focused on the things MAGA likes — the anti-trans culture war, the targeting of pro-diversity programs, his effort to make English the official language of the country and changing the name of North America’s highest point back to Mount McKinley. (The Alaska peak was renamed Denali, which means “high” or “tall,” during the Obama years to reflect the preference of most Alaskans.)
“Our country will be woke no longer,” Trump said.
During his address, Trump spoke more passionately about cracking down on illegal immigration than he did about the economy and prices, despite high prices being arguably what got him over the finish line in the 2024 election.
Presidents generally get too much credit and too much blame for the economy, and they have very few tools to make prices come down. But they do have a blunt tool that economists say is likely to make prices go up in short order — tariffs.
Trump delivered his speech on the day steep tariffs against Mexico and Canada took effect, and in the address, he defended them, describing tariffs as saving the “soul” of the country — another Biden line, but about something very different.
Experts, business owners and most Americans disagree. In the NPR poll, taken before Trump put the latest round of tariffs in place, 57% said they believed prices would go up in the next six months, and more people narrowly said Trump’s approach on the economy would make things worse rather than better.
The subject got scant attention in Trump’s speech, and he spent a lot of time blaming Biden. In fact, Trump mentioned Biden 13 times in the speech.
“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control,” Trump said. “The egg prices, out of control. And we’re working hard to get it back down.”
The recent increase in the price of eggs is largely due to a bird flu outbreak.
Every president tries to blame their predecessor for negative things that happen in their term, Republicans and Democrats alike. But at some point, they stick to the person actually in office.
There were so many things said that were false and inaccurate, they won’t all fit in this space. NPR did an in-depth annotated fact check of more than 20 things that Trump said that can be found here.
But there were a handful of doozies, including:
— That DOGE had found hundreds of billions in fraud, but DOGE’s numbers just don’t add up. Trump even overstated the amount DOGE itself claims to have found.
— That lots of dead people over 120 years or older are getting Social Security payments. Even Trump’s own head of the Social Security Administration says that’s not true. These are people who don’t have dates of death registered, not that they are receiving benefits. There have been improper payments made but it’s only to about 1% of people, and they’re to people who are alive.
— That the country brought in trillions of dollars from tariffs on China during Trump’s first term. That’s not correct. Tariffs were put on roughly $380 billion worth of goods, but that did not lead to a net-positive for the U.S. economy. In fact, experts said they may have, in the long term, reduced the gross domestic product of the country and certainly did not bring in trillions of dollars in revenue.
— That the country has spent $350 billion on the war in Ukraine. This is something Trump has continued to repeat. The total the country has spent is around $115 billion over the last three years — and not all of that has gone directly to Ukraine in aid. Some of it has been on building weapons domestically. The U.S. has spent more on military aid for Ukraine than any other single country, but, collectively, Europe has spent about $130 billion to $140 billion, a larger amount in military, humanitarian and financial aid.
That included asking for:
Trump is always one for theatrics, though this speech was lackluster compared to the pomp and melodramatic moments of past Trump addresses to Congress. Nevertheless, there was:
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., rehearses the Democratic response to Trump’s address.
The senator from Michigan gave arguably the best response to an address to Congress since former Sen. Jim Webb’s fiery response to George W. Bush in 2007 with the country embroiled in the Iraq War.
Many who have been in this slot — in both parties — have found themselves the subject of ridicule, but Slotkin was a presence. Standing in front of a wall of American flags, she drew on her biography as a former CIA officer, daughter of a Republican father and Democratic mother, and as someone who won in a state that Trump also did in 2024.
Slotkin noted that the “middle class is the engine of our country,” said change should be made but not in a “reckless” way, warned Trump wants to give billionaires tax cuts at the expense of other things that are important to most people, went after Musk and “his gang of 20-year-olds” poking through sensitive personal information, and invoked Ronald Reagan.
“As a Cold War kid, I’m thankful it was Reagan and not Trump in office in the 1980s,” she said, noting the “spectacle” in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Trump would have lost us the Cold War.”
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., holds a “Musk Steals” protest sign with fellow Democrats as Trump speaks during his address to Congress.
Democrats have been struggling in these first six weeks of the Trump presidency with what to focus on and how to respond. Slotkin laid out a roadmap that could help Democrats decide what to focus on going forward.
Her poised and in-command speech also served as a contrast to the cane-waving Rep. Al Green’s shouting responses to Trump that resulted in his being escorted from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms.
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