- By Priyanka Koul
- Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:00 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
United States President Donald Trump began his address to Congress with the bold statement, "America is back," as Republicans chanted "USA!" in the House chamber.
This marked Trump's first address to Congress since returning to power for his second term. His speech came in the wake of major policy decisions on tariffs, immigration, Ukraine, and the layoffs of federal employees.
Trump's address focused on key topics, including the retaliatory tariffs he recently imposed on China and neighboring nations like Canada and Mexico. In another bold move, he paused US aid to war-torn Ukraine, signaling a shift from his predecessor Joe Biden’s policy of supporting Kyiv.
Over an hour and 40 minutes, Trump outlined his executive orders, detailed his vision for Congress, and praised Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency Task Force (DOGE) for their efforts in reducing government spending.
Key Highlights from Trump’s Speech
1. ‘Dawn of a New Era for America’
Trump began his adress with a confident statement about his administration’s achievements, he said,"Just six weeks ago, I stood beneath this Capitol's dome and spoke of the 'dawn of the golden age of America.' Since then, we have taken swift and decisive action to bring about one of the most successful periods in our nation’s history."
2. Trump Justifies Tariffs on Canada and Mexico
Trump defended the 25% tariffs he imposed on imports from Canada and Mexico, stating, "For years, other countries have imposed tariffs on us. Now it’s our turn to stand up for American workers."
As Republicans cheered, Trump called the tariffs essential to protecting American industry. However, he acknowledged concerns within his own party, adding:
"There may be some disruptions, but we’re prepared for it. The benefits will outweigh the challenges."
3. Trump Reinforces ‘Two Genders’ Policy
Trump highlighted gender policies, stating, "We have removed the poison of critical race theory from public schools. I signed an order establishing that the official policy of the US government recognizes only two genders—male and female."
4. Trump Says Ukraine Wants Peace
Trump said he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing readiness to negotiate an end to the war. Quoting Zelenskyy’s message, Trump stated,"Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to secure a lasting peace."
Trump added that Russia has also signaled its willingness to negotiate, saying, "Wouldn’t that be something beautiful?"
On the Middle East, Trump reassured Americans, saying, "We are bringing back our hostages from Gaza," calling the region "a rough neighborhood."
5. Trump Calls Biden ‘Worst President’ in US History
Trump delivered a sharp attack on Joe Biden, blaming him for a surge in illegal border crossings and economic struggles.
"Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border. I deployed US military and border patrol to repel the invasion of our country, and what a job they have done!"
He contrasted his administration’s approach with Biden’s, claiming, "Under my leadership, illegal border crossings last month hit record lows. Under Joe Biden—the worst President in American history, there were hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings every single month."
With Inputs from Reuters
