US President Donald Trump is addressing Congress after significantly altering US foreign policy, sparking a trade war with key allies, reducing the federal workforce, and pushing the boundaries of presidential authority since his return to the White House.
This speech marks his first address to Congress since he assumed office on January 20, beginning around 9:20pm ET (2:20am Irish time), following his recent implementation of substantial tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, which have contributed to a sharp decline in US markets for the second consecutive day.
Trump is speaking in the House of Representatives, a site where lawmakers were once huddled in fear just over four years ago after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory over the then-incumbent Trump.
The president is expected to tout his first 44 days in office, labeling it “the most successful first month of any US presidency in history,” based on excerpts released by the White House prior to the speech.
“Whatever tariffs they impose, we will impose in return. Whatever taxes they set, we will set similarly,” Mr. Trump is expected to declare.
“If they implement non-monetary tariffs to restrict our access to their market, then we will create non-monetary barriers to limit their access to our market.”
Trump paused all military aid to Ukraine following a dispute with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Once a television personality, Mr. Trump seemed poised to announce a surprise: the signing of a minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine that could potentially ease tensions between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier in the day, Trump informed advisers that he wished to unveil the deal during his speech, though sources cautioned that nothing had been finalized.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later informed Fox News that there was “no signing planned” for a minerals deal, according to a reporter from the network on X.
On Monday evening, Trump suspended all military aid to the beleaguered ally Ukraine following a heated exchange in the Oval Office where he scolded Zelensky in front of cameras.
This suspension significantly hindered Kyiv’s efforts to defend against Russia, which initiated a full-scale invasion three years ago, raising further concerns among European leaders about Trump’s perceived shift towards Russia.
While Trump has suggested Ukraine shares responsibility for starting the conflict, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that 70% of Americans, including two-thirds of Republicans, believe Russia bears greater blame.
Trump’s tariffs of 25% on Mexico and Canada, two of the US’s closest allies, alongside an additional 10% on Chinese imports, have intensified investors’ anxieties about the economy.
The Nasdaq Composite has dropped over 9% since its record closing high on December 16.
Only one-third of Americans approve of Trump’s management of the cost of living, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, a troubling indicator given concerns that his tariffs could exacerbate inflation.
The speech mirrors a State of the Union address.
A senior White House official stated that the central theme of Trump’s speech focuses on the “renewal of the American dream.”
This speech, similar to a State of the Union address, is not officially named as such in a president’s inaugural year.
The official noted that Trump plans to discuss strategies for concluding the Ukraine war and securing the release of hostages taken by Hamas militants from Israel, currently held in Gaza.
He is expected to praise his swift actions to cut federal bureaucracy, curb the flow of migrants across the US-Mexico border, and leverage tariffs to compel other nations to comply with US demands.
Domestically, Trump is likely to advocate for the extension of his 2017 tax cuts.
Congressional Republicans have proposed a comprehensive $4.5 trillion plan that would prolong the tax cuts, enhance border security, and finance a substantial increase in deportations.
The proposal includes $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade, which could affect education, healthcare, and various social services.
Elon Musk is present at the speech.
Trump has claimed an unprecedented level of executive authority, collaborating with Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, to eliminate over 100,000 government jobs despite multiple lawsuits.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has dismantled several agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and canceled billions in foreign aid, comprising necessary medicine and food, previously authorized by Congress.
Musk is in attendance for the address.
Democrats aim to highlight the negative implications of Trump’s policies on everyday Americans by inviting civil servants affected by DOGE firings or funding freezes to the event.
Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA agent, will present the Democratic Party’s rebuttal.
First Lady Melania Trump will be joined by select guests, including the family of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter tragically killed by a gunman who grazed Trump with a bullet during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.
Others in attendance include Marc Fogel, a history teacher who was released from detention in Russia in February.
