The President’s address before Congress came on his 43rd day in office. Since being sworn in as our 47th President, Trump has taken swift actions in enacting broad reform across all levels of the federal government, as well as reversing policies affecting the United States at home and abroad. From escalating a tariff war with Canada and Mexico, to introducing a ‘Gold Card’ path to citizenship, President Trump has not slowed down in the introduction of various policies and executive actions. While the Oval Office has seen an energetic executive completely unlike his predecessor, President Trump took a break to deliver to the American people an address as a way of exhibiting the promises he has delivered on.
“Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country,” President Trump boasted, “We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started.”
The President continued, declaring our momentum, spirit, pride, and confidence is back and that the American Dream is restored. He continued speaking, proudly declaring the size of his mandate following the 2024 election, carrying all seven swing states and winning with a significant mandate from the electorate. Less than five minutes into his speech, however, Representative Al Green [D-TX] stood up, waved his cane, and attempted to voice over President Trump saying “you have no right to cut Medicaid!”
While President Trump pressed forward speaking, Speaker Mike Johnson directed the Sergeant at Arms to escort Rep. Green out of the Joint Session. From there the President was able to continue with his speech. He talked of the amount of Executive Orders his administration has put into law so far – 100 – as well as the almost 400 executive actions that have happened as well. The President was particularly proud of the fact that February saw the lowest numbers of illegal border crossings in US history.
To summarize, President Trump expressed his pleasure in the efforts of members of his administration, from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to DOGE advisor Elon Musk. He was also enthusiastic about the accountability that his administration has ushered in with regards to fiscal responsibility in all federal departments, agencies, and programs. He talked of the reform happening in the US Military, as well as the dissolution of DEI programs across the nation. Additionally, President Trump discussed his desire to see a peace deal in Ukraine, as opposed to more continued funding if Ukraine is disinterested in peace. He ended with a positive outlook on the next four years, with goals to make America greater, keep it great, and take it into this Golden Age that the President says his administration will bring.
“This will be our greatest era. With God’s help, over the next four years, we are going to lead this nation even higher, and we are going to forge the freest, most advanced, most dynamic, and most dominant civilization ever to exist on the face of this Earth. We are going to create the highest quality of life, build the safest and wealthiest and healthiest and most vital communities anywhere in the world. We are going to conquer the vast frontiers of science, and we are going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond. And, through it all, we are going to rediscover the unstoppable power of the American spirit, and we are going to renew unlimited promise of the American dream.”
Following his speech, CBS conducted a poll which concluded that 76% of those that watched the speech approved of what they heard, with 51% of those polled identifying as Republicans, 27% as Independents, and 20% identifying as Democrats. Further, 68% of those who watched felt that the President had a clear plan to confront and end inflation. Lastly, 77% of those polled liked what the President said on ending wasteful government spending, strengthening our borders and tackling illegal immigration, with 73% liking the President’s Ukraine approach, and 65% agreeing with President Trump’s tariff prospective. This provided evidence for, at least for those polled, that President Trump does indeed retain a clear mandate for continuing the work of his administration.
Controversy erupted this time, more so against the Democrats who were lambasted for their failure to stand to applaud 13-year-old DJ Daniel, a cancer survivor, who was surprised by President Trump by being made an honorary member of the US Secret Service. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow called the act ‘disgusting’ which was heavily criticized by many Republicans and law enforcement supporting groups.
“She needs to shut her mouth if she has nothing nice to say,” Theodis Daniel, DJ’s father, told the New York Post. “This lady didn’t even serve time in the military, I was on the USS Kitty Hawk. She does not need to put her bad energy on us.”
