President Trump was the boisterous showman in chief before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night — boldly declaring « America is back » and its « greatest era » was underway.
President Trump was the boisterous showman in chief before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night — boldly declaring “America is back” and its “greatest era” was underway as he brushed past petulant Democratic protests to lay out both the accomplishments and the agenda of his second term.
Trump, 78, described his avalanche of executive orders and new initiatives as a “common sense revolution” during the 99-minute address — the longest in modern history — echoing the theme of his second inaugural address as the opposition largely sat on their hands and seethed before drifting quietly into the DC night.
“Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country,” Trump said.
“We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started. America’s momentum is back. Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back, and the American Dream is surging bigger and better than ever before.”
Trump, so often prone to asides and tangents, largely kept to his script Tuesday night, proudly proclaiming that “it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation — and what makes it even more impressive is that, do you know who number two is? George Washington. How about that?”
“Our country is on the verge of a comeback, the likes of which the world has never witnessed and perhaps will never witness again,” he said, self-consciously referencing his 2024 election win despite four criminal indictments and two assassination attempts.
“Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions, a record to restore common sense, safety, optimism and wealth all across our wonderful land.”
Trump gave an exhaustive rundown of his early-term actions, including announcing major investments in the country and enacting an array of policy pivots — while inviting Greenland’s citizens to vote to join the United States and threatening to take back the Panama Canal.
The list included orders to make English the country’s official language, rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” ordering federal workers to return to offices, require the government to recognize only two genders, move to defund school districts that allow transgender athletes in girls’ sports and end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Trump also touted forthcoming initiatives to sell $5 million “gold cards” to wealthy foreigners and plans to drop the high prices of eggs, which he blamed on former President Joe Biden.Democrats throw a fit
Trump received a warm welcome from congressional Republicans — who have since his return to Washington proposed legislation to allow him to seek a third term and to place his face on the $100 bill — but was repeatedly protested by Democrats.
Less than five minutes into the prime-time address, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) bellowed: “You don’t have a mandate” after Trump cited his decisive victory in the Nov. 5 election.
Green persistently heckled Trump with similar utterances, waving his gold-handled walking cane in the air as he did so.
When the Texan would not sit down, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) directed the House sergeant-at-arms William McFarland to restore order, saying, “Remove this gentleman from the chamber.”
About an hour later, unidentified Democrats shouted “January 6!” at Trump while he praised police.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) photo-bombed Trump’s entrance into the chamber, brandishing a sign that read “This is NOT Normal” at a TV camera tracking Trump down the center aisle of the House chamber
During the speech, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) brandished a whiteboard at Trump on which was inked: “Start paying your taxes.”
Rather than lashing out and giving his detractors a headline, Trump said calmly: “These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what.
