With markets spooked by a potential trade war, the Trump administration continued to preach optimism amid the dawning of a new golden age.
President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on March 4, proclaiming the country’s confidence and pride had returned.
“America is back!” Trump said.
Clocking in at just under one hour and 40 minutes, the speech was the longest by a president to Congress in over 60 years.
“I was saved by God to make America great again,” Trump said, referencing a failed assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last summer.
Specifically targeting Canada, China and Mexico, Trump said retaliatory tariffs were coming, while blaming his predecessor for grocery store pains.
“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control,” Trump said.
The speech covered a wide range of issues, from alleged social security fraud to taking ownership of the Panama Canal.
“My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal and we’ve already started doing it,” Trump said.
Transgender Americans were also a focal point as Trump promised to keep trans women from competing in women’s sports while reiterating there are only two genders — male and female.
Meanwhile, signs of resistance surfaced.
“Trans and nonbinary people have always existed and always will. Bigotry and ignorance will never change that,” Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan posted on X.
Pocan walked out — as did many other Democrats — before the speech concluded. Early into the address, Texas Congressman Al Green was removed from the chamber for repeated interruptions.
On the foreign policy front, it’s been a turbulent week for U.S.-Ukraine relations. Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator,” and their White House meeting ended in a disastrous press conference. Following the event, Zelenskyy was reportedly asked to leave before a rare Earth minerals deal was signed. This week, Trump announced he was cutting off military aid to Ukraine, while the CIA stated it would cease intelligence sharing. During the joint session speech, Trump revealed he had received a letter from Zelenskyy and claimed they would work toward a peace deal.
