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Trump defends aggressive agenda

Takeaways form president's address

By: Philip M. Bailey
and Zac Anderson
USA Today

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump delivered a sharp defense of his "America First" direction for the country before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday [03/04/2025] night, marking his first major address since a dizzying return to power six weeks ago that has elated allies and outraged opponents.
..... Trump's speech - clocked at 1 hour and 39 minutes, making it the longest of its kind in modern U.S. history - offered ample reminders of how the second-term Republican president has already tested the limits of executive authority in almost every facet of the job.
..... He mention the firing of tens of thousands of federal workers; offered an update after publicly scolding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is fighting a war against Russia; and hyped the trade war launched against China, Mexico and Canada.
..... "Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them," Trump said in defense of one of his biggest early economic policy moves. "Whatever they tax us, we tax them."
..... Trump's early efforts have inflamed Democrats, who were rowdy from the start of the president's heavily partisan speech in the U.S. Capitol, with one lawmaker having OT be removed.

Trump defends trade war amid growing economic anxiety

..... America's anxiety about rising food prices and other living expenses sat at the center of the 2024 election that catapulted Trump pack into the White House.
..... But now he faces an impatient nation that is skittish over his own actions - namely, imposing 25% tariffs on foreign allies - that many fret will raise costs and disturb the stock market.
..... An NPR/Marist poll released this week [03/03/2025] show 57% of U.S. adults think grocery prices will increase over the next six months.
.... On Tuesday [03/04/2025] trump told Congress not to worry, saying that getting "dramatic and immediate relief" for average Americans is a top priority. But he said the country's friends and foes are undermining the U.S. in terms of trade.
..... "We've been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer," Trump said.

Biden blamed for eggs, and almost everything else

..... It's been six weeks since Biden left office, but Trump eagerly used his Democratic predecessor as a punching bag at various points during Tuesday's [03/04/2024] address.
..... At the outset of the speech, Trump called his longtime foe "the worst president in American history" when talking about his crackdown on the U.S.-Mexico border.
..... Trump then blamed the former president for the rising cost of eggs, and ermined viewers of the historic inflation during the Biden Administration.
..... "Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control. the egg price is out of control, and we're working hard to get it back down," Trump said.
..... The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said more than 18 million commercial egg layers were infected by bird flu in Mauryan 2025, which represent the "highest monthly total since the outbreak began in 2022," fueling an egg price increase of 53% from January 2024 to January 2025.

Shout-out to Musk, DOGE team

..... The world's richest person, Elon Musk sported a suit and a blue tie (and, noticeably, no DOGE or MAGA mech) from his prime seat in the House gallery.
..... Trump praised Musk's work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which since Inauguration Day has bulldozed through scores of federal agencies. DOGE is responsible for termination tens of thousands of government workers and has moved with lightning speed to cut the overall size of the U.S. government, sparking a growing backlash.
..... More than three dozen Democratic lawmakers have demanded that Trump fire Musk, arguing his efforts have led to illegally firing dozens of government officials whose agencies were investigation or prosecuting Musk's companies.
..... Musk is "working very hard," the president said, before tallying federal spending he described as "scams" that DOGE has targeted. "(Elon) didn't need this," Trump said. "thank you very much. We appreciate it."

Making nice with Ukraine, Russia

..... Trump used the tail end of his speech to talk about his international issues, chiefly ending the ware between Ukraine and Russia.
..... Trump said he is "working tirelessly" to end the conflict and noted that millions of Ukrainians and Russians "have been needlessly killed."
..... Trump's message came days after a remarkable clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, which devolved into a shouting match that startled U.S. allies.
..... The administration paused military aid to Ukraine, which appeared to widen the divide between the two countries over how to end the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Democrats wage protests

..... The contentious atmosphere in Washington was on full display during Tuesday's [03/04/2024] address, with a dramatic moment that underscores how Americans remain deeply divided over Trump.
..... Representative Al Green, an 11-term Democrat from Texas, stood up early during the president's speech, asking a cane as Trump bragged about his 2024 victory. "You don't have a mandate," Green shouted.
..... The commotion prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to pound his gavel, warn Green to cease and eventually have the lawmaker removed by the sergeant oat arms. Other Democrats protested by wearing black T-shirts with "RESIST" in white letters on the back and holding up signs with white letters stating: "FALSE," "SAVE Medicaid," "Musk Steal's" and "Protect Veterans." Several began chanting "January 6" as Trump talked about defending law enforcement officers during his speech.
..... Several eventually walked out ding Trump's speech.

..... Contributing: Gab Hauari, Riley Beggin

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