Trump Declares ‘America Is Back’ While Taunting Rivals

Trump Addresses Congress: Tariffs, Tensions, and Chaos Mark First Speech of Second Term

In his first address to Congress since beginning his second term, President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy and contentious speech Tuesday night that emphasized a commitment to maintaining tariffs against America’s largest trading partners while suggesting a potential thaw in relations with Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia.

The 100-minute speech, the longest of its kind in modern history, featured a mixture of grievances about his perceived treatment by Democrats and self-congratulatory comments on his administration’s accomplishments. Trump acknowledged a message of gratitude from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he had received “strong signals” from Russia indicating a desire for peace—a notable contrast to his earlier threats to abandon Ukraine during a heated encounter in the Oval Office.

“Wouldn’t that be beautiful?” Trump mused when discussing the prospect of peace. Despite this overture toward Ukraine, he took a starkly aggressive stance against Canada, Mexico, and China, emphasizing the recent tariffs his administration had imposed, which had sent ripples through global markets and sparked criticism from foreign leaders.

“Whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them,” he stated, framing his stance as a tit-for-tat strategy in the escalating trade war. The absence of any indication of a potential resolution to the looming trade conflicts marked a continuation of a combative approach that has characterized Trump’s economic policies.

The chaotic ambiance of the address highlighted the polarization in Congress. From the outset, Trump encountered vocal dissent from Democrats, who were largely unresponsive as he proclaimed, “America is back.” Their reactions were sharply contrasted by the enthusiastic support from Republican lawmakers, exposing the deep ideological rifts pervading the legislative body. Representative Al Green of Texas faced removal from the chamber after repeatedly shouting, “you don’t have a mandate,” encapsulating the disdain among some Democrats for Trump’s claims of a strong political backing.

Much of Trump’s address consisted of self-referential commentary, with repeated assertions of a “Golden Age of America.” He unpinned a series of executive actions taken in his first weeks back in office, where he has notably fired government officials, frozen foreign aid, and issued numerous executive orders. During the speech, he recounted stories of Americans he invited to attend, including victims of violent crimes attributed to immigrants and a young boy with cancer aspiring to be a police officer.

Trump’s speech was also a platform for his criticisms of Democrats, branding them as “radical left lunatics” and bemoaning their refusal to support his policies. In a telling moment, he compared the treatment he receives online to that of victims of revenge porn, declaring, “nobody gets treated worse than I do online.”

While Trump did not delve into many new policy proposals, some of his assertions bordered on the fantastical. He made claims regarding a “golden dome” to shield the U.S. from missile strikes and expressed an interest in constructing a new shipbuilding office. Moreover, he reiterated statements about reclaiming the Panama Canal and discussed recent successes in apprehending terrorists linked to events during the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The response from the Democratic side of the aisle revealed a strategic yet expressive protest against Trump’s remarks. Multiple lawmakers donned “resist” T-shirts and some turned their backs in silent dissent during parts of the address. Representative Ayanna Pressley remarked that she could not, “in good conscience,” give credibility to a speech given by someone she views as operating with a “lawless disregard” for Congress.

While the president’s claims regarding the economy were met with skepticism, he insisted he inherited an “economic catastrophe” from former President Biden, despite assertions from economists that the economy was robust when Trump took office. Instead, recent federal funding cuts and new tariffs have begun to inflict noticeable strain on various sectors.

House Republican leaders exhibited excitement over Trump’s continuing approach, welcoming him with open arms while also expressing a hope that some of his more extreme policies would be temporary. In referring to Trump’s latest address, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he preferred to “frame it in gilded gold,” suggesting an optimistic perspective on his second term’s trajectory.

As the night concluded, Trump’s address emerged as a reflection of a tumultuous political landscape, marked by confrontation, division, and mixed reactions, setting the stage for a challenging legislative session ahead.