Six weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump strode into a Republican-controlled Capitol like a man who had just won the Super Bowl and wanted to remind everyone exactly how he did it.
“We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four or eight years, and we are just getting started,” he told a joint session of Congress.
Never one for understatement, Trump declared his presidency to be the most successful in U.S. history, compared himself to George Washington, and took credit for restoring “pride” and “confidence” to the nation. The audience was divided—Republicans gave standing ovations, while Democrats sat stone-faced, occasionally holding up signs that read “false” and “lies.” Subtle.
The speech, which stretched over an hour and 40 minutes, was a mix of victory lap, campaign rally, and a full-throttle attack on his political opponents. He rattled off a laundry list of accomplishments: executive orders, lower illegal border crossings, and a crackdown on what he called “woke ideology” in schools and the military. His take? “Wokeness is bad. It’s gone, it’s gone, and we feel so much better for it, don’t we?”
Meanwhile, some Democrats looked like they would rather be anywhere else. Texas Congressman Al Green took it a step further—interrupting the speech in protest over Medicaid cuts before being escorted out by security. Apparently, his objections were as unwelcome as tariffs at a free-trade conference.
Trump didn’t hold back on economic promises either. He blamed Joe Biden for inflation, high egg prices, and probably bad traffic too. He vowed to “rescue” the economy, boasted about his tariff policies (which most economists say will actually raise prices), and announced plans to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime—though he didn’t explain how he’d offset the $2 trillion budget deficit that move would create.
Foreign policy took a backseat, except for a few eyebrow-raising moments. Trump reiterated his dream of annexing Greenland, a move that would make Monopoly players proud, and suggested a rekindled bromance with Ukraine’s Zelensky, reading aloud a letter from the Ukrainian president expressing willingness to negotiate peace. Whether that peace materializes is, of course, another matter entirely.
By the time Trump finally wrapped up, Republicans were still cheering, Democrats were sprinting for the exits, and America was left with plenty to debate.
Personal Opinion:
Love him or loathe him, Trump knows how to command a room. His speech was a masterclass in rallying his base while provoking his critics. Supporters will say he delivered a bold and unapologetic vision for America’s future. Detractors will argue it was more style than substance, with sweeping claims and few concrete plans. Either way, it was classic Trump—long, loud, and impossible to ignore.
