Trump promises to keep up 'swift and unrelenting action' in speech to Congress

In a speech to Congress and the nation, U.S. President Trump vowed to continue pursuing his "swift and ruthless action" to reshape the country's economy, immigration, and foreign policy. Democratic lawmakers, wearing grim expressions, held up signs reading "Lies" in protest, and one lawmaker was even ejected from the chamber.

Trump's prime-time address was the latest sign of his control over the nation's capital. With a Republican-controlled House and Senate offering little constraint on the president, he and his allies are working to reduce the size of the federal government and reshape America's place in the world. The speech, lasting over 90 minutes, was a forceful promotion of the policies he promised during his campaign and the actions he has taken in the weeks since taking office. Trump pledged to continue the comprehensive overhaul of the nation, rescuing it from the damage and mistakes he described as being left by his predecessors, while constantly provoking the Democratic lawmakers protesting his speech.

After overcoming impeachment in his first term and criminal indictments during his two terms in office, Trump, firmly in control of the Republican-controlled Congress, has embarked on a mission to dismantle parts of the federal government, reshape relations with American allies, and ignite a North American trade war that is exacerbating economic uncertainty. Trump stated that the weeks since his inauguration "have been a time of swift and ruthless action." "The people elected me to do this job, and I'm doing it."

Trump stated that he is working to "take back democracy from this unaccountable bureaucracy" and again threatened federal workers with dismissal if they resist his agenda. Billionaire advisor Elon Musk is orchestrating his efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. Musk, sitting in the House gallery, received two standing ovations from Republicans, while Trump exaggerated and shared false information about alleged government abuses discovered by the Tesla and SpaceX founder and his team of disruptors. Trump repeated the false claim that tens of millions of deceased individuals over 100 years old are receiving Social Security benefits, prompting some Democrats to shout "Not true!" and "That's a lie!"

Trump's speech comes at a critical moment in his presidency, with voters having returned him to the White House on a promise to address inflation, only to find the economy in disarray. All of the S&P 500's gains since Election Day have now been erased, and consumer sentiment surveys show that the public believes inflation is worsening. For a president who believes that announcing corporate investments can boost public confidence in the economy, the speech suddenly became a test of his ability to rebuild confidence in his economic leadership. Trump seems prepared to double down on his trade war, which experts warn will raise prices for consumers.

"However much tariffs they put on us, we're going to put on them. However much taxes they put on us, we're going to put on them," Trump said. He sought to ease concerns about rising prices, saying, "There's going to be a little disruption, but we're OK. It's not going to be that much." Trump stated that one of his "highest priorities" is to save the economy and provide relief to working families. He promised to organize the federal government to lower the cost of eggs and energy, blaming his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, for the situation, but did not provide details about his own plans.

Trump also called for extending the tax cuts from his first term and providing additional federal funding for his border crackdown, including his promised effort to "mass deport" those residing illegally in the United States. In discussing his promised tax cuts, Trump seemed to be goading Democrats, saying, "I believe you're going to vote for those tax cuts. Otherwise, I don't believe the people will vote to put you in office." This comes against the backdrop of the president imposing high tariffs earlier that day on imports from the country's neighbors and closest trading partners, sparking new economic uncertainty. The 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico went into effect earlier Tuesday – ostensibly to ensure greater cooperation in addressing fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration – immediately triggering retaliation and raising fears of a larger trade war. Trump will also raise tariffs on goods from China to 20%.

Trump also celebrated his harsh crackdown on immigration to the United States, fulfilling a key campaign promise, and mocked Democrats for not doing enough to secure the border, saying, "Turns out, all we needed was a new president." When Trump took to the podium in the House, Republicans cheered and chanted "USA! USA!" The president basked in the cheers. Republican lawmakers were jubilant, having won a trifecta of the White House, Senate, and House in the election. However, they face a high-stakes task of delivering on Trump's agenda and averting a government shutdown later this month. Across the aisle, Democrats, out of power, set the tone early, with most of them remaining seated, not applauding, and not making eye contact with Trump when he was introduced in the chamber.

After several interruptions, House Speaker Mike Johnson intervened and called for order in the House, with Republicans chanting "USA" to drown out shouts from the other side. Johnson then ordered the removal of Texas Representative Al Green from the House chamber. "It's worth it to let people know that some people will stand up" against Trump, Green told reporters after being escorted out of the House. Other Democrats held up signs during Trump's speech reading "Save Medicaid" and "Protect Veterans" in an attempt to raise public awareness of elements of Trump's agenda that they believe could provide them with a path back to the majority.

Some Democrats chose to invite laid-off federal workers as guests to highlight the impact of Trump's actions, including a disabled veteran from Arizona, a health worker from Maryland, and a forestry employee in California who worked on wildfire prevention. They also invited guests who would be affected by the federal government's drastic cuts to Medicaid and other programs. Trump also used his speech to elaborate on his proposals for promoting peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, informally upending the Biden administration's policies on these issues in just a few weeks. On Monday, Trump ordered a freeze on U.S. military aid to Ukraine, ending years of steadfast U.S. support for the country's defense against Russian invasion. Many Democratic politicians wore blue and yellow ties and scarves to show their support for Ukraine.

Trump also stated that he has ended the "weaponized government" that he accused Democrats of using against him, referring to his years of legal troubles, claiming they were political persecution. The president also used his high-profile moment to advance his efforts to reshape the nation's handling of social issues, as he hopes to continue to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts nationwide and reverse some public accommodations for transgender people.

Trump said he ended the "tyranny" of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which he eliminated for the federal government and the military, while pushing for similar action in the private sector. "Our country will no longer be woke," he declared. Guests watching in the gallery with First Lady Melania Trump included 15-year-old Elliston Berry from Aledo, Texas, a victim of an explicit deepfake image sent to classmates. Other White House guests included Stephanie Diller, the widow of New York Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller, who was killed in the line of duty during a March 2024 traffic stop; Mark Fogel, a Pennsylvania teacher who returned home last month after being detained in Russia for years, and his 95-year-old mother, Malphine; and relatives of Corey Comperatore, a former Pennsylvania fire chief who was killed last summer while protecting his family from an assassination attempt on Trump.