Six weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump came to a US Capitol controlled by his Republican Party to take a lengthy victory lap.
Trump began his first speech to Congress of his second term by proclaiming that “America is back,” triggering chants of “USA” from Republican lawmakers.
Trump said he was “just getting started” on his radical plans to reshape the country.
The president hailed the achievements of his first six weeks, vowing to press on with his polarizing bid to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war — whatever the cost.
“We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four years or eight years — and we are just getting started,” Trump said to frequent chants from loyal lawmakers of “USA, USA!”
“The American Dream is surging — bigger and better than ever before. The American Dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again.”
Trump was also setting out his vision on the economy — even as the trade war he launched against Canada, China and Mexico is prompting jitters on world markets and threatening to raise prices at home.
Trump insists he will “balance the federal budget”, hinting that he intends to pursue vigorous spending cuts.
The US president also aims to boost revenues by offering a route to American citizenship via a scheme labelled the “Gold Card”.
President Donald Trump outlined a forthcoming initiative to boost domestic production of “critical minerals and rare earths.”
“Later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA,” the president declared during his address to Parliament on Tuesday.
Trump said he had ended the “tyranny” of diversity and inclusion programmes across the federal government, vowing that the United States would be “woke no longer.”
“Our country will be woke no longer,” Trump said in his first address to Congress since his return to power after sweeping the November election.
Trump extolled his efforts to extricate the United States from various international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord, and organisations, including the World Health Organisation, hailing it as “a moment for grand visions and decisive steps.”
“Day after day, my government is battling to secure the transformation America requires to forge the future it merits,” he declared during his speech.
Trump was quick to trumpet his electoral success, asserting that his victory bestowed upon him “a mandate the likes of which hasn’t been witnessed in many decades.”
Trump remarked that the electoral map is one that “appears almost entirely red for the Conservatives.”
