During the night into Wednesday, Swedish time, the US president delivered his State of the Union address, setting a new record with a speech lasting one hour and 46 minutes. Much of the focus was on the economy.
Trump stated that the US and its economy are flourishing and thriving.
“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People ask me: ‘Please, please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much. We can’t take it anymore’,” said Trump.
Trump received some of the evening’s most intense applause when he invited the US men’s national ice hockey team, who won Olympic gold. The hockey players got a standing ovation from both parties. Trump pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber and said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen them stand up.”
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The president spoke about his actions on immigration, urging lawmakers from both parties to “protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants” and advocated proposals to restrict mail-in voting and tighten voter ID requirements.
He also spoke about his efforts to preserve the broad tariffs that the Supreme Court had just struck down. He promised to continue working to use “alternative” laws to implement import taxes and assured that “congressional action will not be necessary.”
Prefers Diplomacy
Trump’s speech came as two American aircraft carriers were sent to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. Trump said, however, that he preferred to resolve the issue through diplomacy.
“But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s leading sponsor of terror, which they are, without a doubt, to have nuclear weapons,” he added.
Trump also praised American airstrikes last summer that reduced Tehran’s nuclear capability and commended the raid that toppled Maduro in Venezuela, as well as his administration’s brokering of a ceasefire in the war between Israel and the terror group Hamas.
“As president, I will create peace wherever I can. But I will never hesitate to confront threats against America, wherever we must.”
The full speech:
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