President Trump touted his administration’s early accomplishments, laid into the previous administration and provided some sweet moments with invited guests in the first address to Congress of his second term.
“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,” he said.
Many Democrats lodged protests throughout. Minutes after Trump began his address to Congress on Tuesday night, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) heckled the president. Speaker Mike Johnson had Green removed from the chamber.
The speech, his fifth to Congress, comes against the backdrop of newly levied tariffs on the nation’s closest trading partners, Canada and Mexico.
The tariffs, which went into effect in the wee hours and drew sharp rebukes from those nation’s leaders, may be short-lived, though. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in late afternoon that a deal to end them could be announced as soon as Wednesday.
It comes just 10 days before a potential government shutdown. Efforts to try to avert it will ramp up Wednesday, with both Trump and Elon Musk expected to talk to Republicans.
Follow along for more on these stories.
Coons: Green protest was ‘counterproductive’
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he thought Rep. Al Green’s (D-Texas) interruptions of Trump’s speech were “counterproductive.”
“I think to stand up and say, you know, he doesn’t have a mandate to cut Medicare, fine, but I think he, I think it went beyond decorum,” Coons said.
Warren slams Trump’s speech as ‘fantasy’ after being called ‘Pocahontas’
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) panned President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress as “a fantasy” after the president called her by the derogatory name “Pocahontas” while touting his plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Warren shook her head when asked if she was surprised about being singled out by Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress.
“No,” she said. “The whole speech was a fantasy that Donald Trump tries to construct.”
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) said Trump’s mockery of Warren was “low-rent” and unpresidential.
“That’s kind of a low-rent thing you don’t expect from a president of the United States,” he said.
Trump’s speech cited in new court filing
Within minutes of Trump’s speech ending, a group of plaintiffs suing to dismantle the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is already latching onto the president’s remarks.
“DOGE. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Perhaps,” Trump said. “Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight.”
The Justice Department has repeatedly insisted in court that Musk is not a part of DOGE and is a senior adviser to the president with no actual authority.
The plaintiffs flagged the remark as part of their pending push to get more documents and information about the group’s setup.
Durbin: Trump is ‘out of his mind’
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) called President Trump “out of his mind” after he pledged that the United States would plant the American flag on Mars and balance the federal budget before leaving office.
“Mars, we’re going to Mars,” Durbin joked with ironic enthusiasm.
Then he pivoted to Trump’s pledge to balance the federal budget, despite pushing for an extension of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is projected to cost $4.6 trillion over 10 years, and exempt Social Security benefits from taxation, which is projected to cost another $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
“He’s going to balance the budget by charging people $5 million to buy their citizenship. He says that will balance the budget. He’s out of his mind,” Durbin said.
Slotkin calls on Americans not to ‘tune out’
Slotkin emphasized that the state of the country’s democracy is “worth fighting for” and called on Americans not to “tune out” even as many feel exhaustion with politics.
“It’s easy to be exhausted, but America needs you now more than ever,” she said.
Slotkin said the public should hold their elected officials, including herself, accountable and get involved in organizing around an issue that’s important to them.
“Join a group that cares about your issue and act, and if you can’t find one, start one,” she said. “Some of the most important movements in our history have come from the bottom up.”
Slotkin wrapped up her response after a roughly 10 minute speech.
DNC sees 62 percent raise in fundraising
The Democratic National Committee said it saw a 62 percent rise in fundraising the day of Trump’s address compared to the average fundraising day.
Slotkin says Reagan would be ‘rolling over in his grave’ over Oval Office meeting
Slotkin argued that former President Reagan must be “rolling over in his grave” over the tense confrontation in the Oval Office between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
She mentioned that Trump often expresses his ideology as achieving “peace through strength,” which was Reagan’s saying, but that he would differ significantly from Trump’s foreign policy.
“After the spectacle that just took place in the Oval Office last week, Reagan must be rolling in his grave,” she said.
“We all want an end to the war in Ukraine, but Reagan understood that true strength required America to combine our military and economic life with moral clarity, and that scene in the Oval Office wasn’t just a bad episode of reality TV,” Slotkin continued. “It summed up Trump’s whole approach to the world.”
Slotkin accuses Trump of ‘unprecedented giveaway’ to ‘billionaire friends’
Slotkin accused Trump of wanting to give an “unprecedented giveaway” to his “billionaire friends” as he tries to cut the size of the government.
“He’s on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America, and to do that, he’s going to make you pay in every part of your life,” she said. Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn’t laid out a credible plan to deal with either those.”
She also warned that Trump may go after retirement accounts to fund tax cuts for the wealthy despite the president saying he won’t, citing Elon Musk calling Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.”
Barr thanks Trump for taking call
Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who has expressed interest in running for Senate to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), could be heard saying to Trump as the president exited the chamber: “Great speech. Thanks for taking my call.”
Daniel Cameron, the state’s former GOP Attorney General, is already campaigning for the Senate seat.
Dems decline to criticize Al Green protest
Multiple Senate Democrats declined to heap criticism on Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for his protest that resulted in him being ejected from the House chamber.
“Look, I understand that people are frustrated,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. “It’s a hard time for folks. I don’t have any criticism for anybody.”
Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) was more blunt.
“Talk to Al,” he said of his longtime former House colleague. “The speech was worse.”
Slotkin begins Democratic response
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) has begun the Democrats’ response to Trump’s address to Congress, outlining her background briefly as she introduces herself to much of the country.
Trump to Rubio: ‘We know who to blame if anything goes wrong’
President Trump name-checked Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his Tuesday address after discussing the U.S. “taking” the Panama Canal “back.”
“We have Marco Rubio in charge. Good luck, Marco. Now we know who to blame if anything goes wrong. Marco’s been amazing, and he’s going to do a great job,” the president said, also referencing Rubio’s 99-0 Senate confirmation vote.
“He’s a great gentleman, he’s respected by everybody and we appreciate you voting for Marco,” Trump added later.
Trump exits chamber
The president departed the chamber shortly after 11 p.m.
Trump shook hands with numerous Republican lawmakers who lined the aisle after his speech.
Trump says US will plant American flag on Mars
President Trump expressed optimism about the U.S.’s future work in science and space, suggesting the U.S. will plant the American flag on the planet Mars.
“We are going to create the highest quality of life, build the safest and wealthiest and healthiest and most vital communities [out of] anywhere in the world,” the president said in the final minutes of his speech. “We are going to conquer the vast frontiers of science, and we’re going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond.”
His ally, SpaceX owner Elon Musk, has repeatedly discussed his ambitions to have American astronauts reach Mars.
Trump touts ‘important’ letter from Zelensky
President Trump said that he appreciated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sending him a letter earlier on Tuesday in an effort to smooth ties with the U.S. following an extraordinary clash in the Oval Office last week.
“The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,’” Trump said.
Trump halted U.S. military assistance to Ukraine following the Oval Office debacle and accused Zelensky of not being ready for peace.
Trump said that Russia is sending strong signals that Moscow is ready for peace. Western intelligence, however, has reportedly concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not serious about peace.
Trump’s speech hits record length
Trump’s speech is longest of any modern presidential address to Congress
Trump’s address Tuesday has broken the record for the longest speech a president has given to Congress in modern history.
Trump has now been speaking for more than 90 minutes, surpassing the previous mark from then-President Clinton in 2000, which was one hour and 28 minutes long, according to The American Presidency Project at UCSB.
The project’s record-keeping goes back to Lyndon Johnson’s first address to Congress in 1964.
Trump calls Elizabeth Warren ‘Pocahontas’ in chamber
Trump called out Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) with the derogatory name “Pocahontas” while discussing the war in Ukraine.
As Trump sought to criticize the U.S. sending so much money to support Ukraine’s security, Democrats broke out into applause.
Trump asked if they want the war to continue for five more years.
“Pocahontas says yes,” Trump said, which Warren responded to by clapping at him.
Trump’s name for her is a reference to Warren’s claim of Native American ancestry.
Bipartisan applause for Corey Comperatore
Trump praised the heroism of Corey Comperatore, who died protecting his family at the Trump rally on July 13 in Butler, Pa., where he was shot. There was bipartisan applause for the family members of Comperatore, who are attending as guests of the first lady.
Trump on Greenland: ‘One way or the other, we’re going to get it’
Trump said the U.S. is “going to get” Greenland, the self-governed Arctic territory owned by Denmark.
“I also have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland. We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” Trump said.
“We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it. … And I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it,” the president said.
Trump has repeatedly floated that the U.S. should buy Greenland, despite pushback from leaders in Denmark. He’s stressed the strategic importance of the mineral-rich Arctic land amid tensions with Russia and China.
Trump touts Hamas hostage releases, Middle East diplomacy
President Trump said the U.S. is bringing back hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and building on the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is on extremely shaky ground as both sides accuse the other of violations. Dozens of hostages, including American citizens alive and dead, are still held by Hamas.
Trump says US ‘reclaiming’ Panama canal
President Trump said the U.S. will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, saying American companies buying ports around the Canal posed a challenge to Hong Kong-owned companies operating on either side of the waterway.
Trump repeated false claims that tens of thousands of Americans died building the canal, when the actual figure is closer to 300.
Panama has asserted its sovereignty over the canal and rejected claims that China operates it.
Trump says RFK Jr to investigate autism rise
A top priority of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be to investigate the rising rates of childhood autism, Trump said.
Trump touted a new commission he created to “Make America Healthy Again” with Kennedy as the chair. The commission will investigate the cause of the decades-long increase in childhood chronic illness, Trump said, and specifically cited autism rates.
“Not long ago, 1 in 10,000 children had autism. Now it’s 1 in 36,” Trump said. “There’s something wrong. So we’re going to find out what it is and there’s nobody better than Bobby.”
Autism diagnoses have been rising, though Trump has often misstated the extent of the increase. About 1 in 36 children now have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared to about 1 in 150 in 2000.
Trump and Kennedy have both has repeatedly drawn a false connection between vaccines and autism rates.
Buttigieg says Trump lying about Social Security: ‘The question is why’
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg accused Trump of lying about social security payments during his address to Congress.
“What he said about Social Security payments has been repeatedly debunked – so the question isn’t whether he’s lying about this, the question is why,” Buttigieg wrote in a post on X.
“What is this a pretext for? He and the GOP have long shown interest in going after Social Security. What are they going to try?” he added.
Trump claimed during his address to a joint session of Congress that millions of people, who were listed as well over 100 years old, were collecting social security payments.
Trump says US arrested ‘top terrorist’ in Abbey Gate bombing
Trump announced the U.S. had apprehended the terrorist responsible for the bombing at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. service members.
“He is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” Trump said, prompting applause in the chamber.
Trump pledges to take on ‘toxins’ despite naming chemical industry alumni to top EPA posts
President Trump pledged to take on cancer-causing chemicals during his remarks, shouting out Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
“Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply, and keep our children healthy and strong,” he said, while referencing a guest in the First Lady’s box with childhood cancer.
During his remarks, Trump said that doctors believe the child’s illness was caused by a chemical he was exposed to when he was younger.
Trump has nominated or otherwise appointed a significant number of chemical industry alumni to key posts at the Environmental Protection Agency.
More Democrats walk out
Another group of House Democrats just left the chamber mid-Trump speech.
One group included Reps. Veronica Escobar (Texas), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Jamie Raskin (Md.) and Jared Huffman (Calif.).
Shortly after, Reps. Mark Pocan (Wis.), Lloyd Doggett (Texas), and Judy Chu (Calif.) walked out.
A number of other Democrats walked out earlier in the speech.
Trump announces guest’s acceptance to West Point
Trump announced the acceptance of a high schooler senior who is one of the president’s guests and whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the military.
“That’s a hard one to get into, but I’m pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted,” he told Jason Hartley, to widespread applause.
His father also served as a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and died when Jason was young, Trump said.
“Now he wants to carry on the family legacy of service,” he said.
Trump touts blocked order on gender-affirming care
Trump criticized gender-affirming health care for minors and touted a Jan. 28 executive order to end federal support for treatments, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries, for anyone under 19.
“Now, I want Congress to pass a law criminalizing sex changes on children now and forever, ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body. This is a big lie,” he said.
Hours before Trump’s address, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the order from withholding federal funding from hospitals and clinics that provide gender-affirming care to transgender youths.
Trump lauded another executive order he signed on Jan. 30 to ban critical race theory and what he and his administration have called “radical gender ideology” in schools.
Trump makes 13-year-old honorary Secret Service agent
Trump recognized 13-year-old DJ Daniel, who was diagnosed with brain cancer and aspired to be a police officer.
Trump then brought in Secret Service director Sean Curran, who handed Daniel a badge and made him an honorary agent.
The moment with Daniel was one of the lengthiest rounds of applause of the evening.
Trump calls for border funding ‘without delay’
President Trump called on Congress to send him a boost in funding for the border “without delay,” naming Speaker Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune.
Jonson gave Trump a little salute in response. But Trump has endorsed a one-bill plan for his ambitious legislative agenda, favored by House leaders, that will take longer than a Senate-pitched two-bill plan that was designed to deliver border funding more quickly.
The House passed a blueprint for that agenda last week, which also provides an outline for Trump’s tax cut and energy priorities, as well as potential changes to Medicaid. It is now in the hands of the Senate, which is poised to make changes to the legislation.