In an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Donald Trump declared that “America is back”. “We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started,” he told lawmakers in the Capitol controlled by his Republican Party.
Throughout the prime-time address, which lasted about one hour and 40 minutes, Trump touted his administration’s “swift and unrelenting action” and praised the work of his billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, who has led his administration’s efforts to dramatically downsize the federal government through his so-called “department of government efficiency”.
“Thank you, Elon,” Trump said, gesturing to Musk, who was seated in the House gallery overlooking the chamber where Democrats waved paddles that read “Musk steals”.
He declared that his administration was “just getting started”, stressing that his efforts to slash the size of the federal workforce, reorient US foreign policy and escalate a risky trade war marked the beginning of the “most thrilling days in the history of our country.”
He ticked through a lengthy list of tangible accomplishments – hundreds of executive orders and actions, a freeze on foreign aid, lower levels of illegal border crossing, and the withdrawal from international organizations and agreements.
He also spoke at length about his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports and moves to get “woke ideology” out of US schools and the military.
“Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is bad. It’s gone, it’s gone, and we feel so much better for it, don’t we?”
Meanwhile, Democrats – who filled up half the audience in the House chamber – sat in icy silence, as the president repeatedly blamed them, former President Joe Biden and “radical left lunatics” for all the nation’s ills. Several dozen responded by holding up small black signs with words like “false” and “lies”.
Trump’s optimistic vision in Congress
The president ended his speech with an optimistic vision for the future.
“We are going to create the highest quality of life, build the highest quality of life, build the safest and wealthiest and healthiest and most vital communities anywhere in the world,” he said. “We are going to conquer the vast frontiers of science and we are going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond.”
He continued: “And through it all, we are going to rediscover the unstoppable power of the American spirit. And we are going to renew [the] unlimited promise of the American dream. Every single day, we will stand up and we will fight, fight, fight for the country our citizens believe in and for the country our people deserve.
“My fellow Americans, get ready for an incredible future because the golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.”
Related: Trump Eyes Era of Absolute Supremacy as Congress Turns Republican
