In an address to Congress, President Donald Trump laid out an ambitious vision for his second term and beyond, declaring, “America is back.”
Held on March 4, this was the president’s first official appearance before Congress since returning to the Oval Office in January. The address ran just over 100 minutes—making it one of the longest ever delivered to a joint session.
Trump explained his recent executive actions while previewing future policies that he said would usher in “the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country.”
Pledging Tax Relief
Trump reaffirmed his commitment to broad tax relief, pledging to make the personal income tax cuts permanent and to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits.
He also proposed zero-interest loans for American-made vehicles. The president warned Democratic lawmakers that opposing the cuts would be politically costly:
“I’m sure you’re going to vote for those tax cuts because, otherwise, I don’t believe the people will ever vote you into office.”
He noted that current House proposals would deliver an estimated $4.5 trillion in total tax savings over ten years and that any resulting legislation would be retroactive to January 20, 2025.
Securing the Border
Trump turned to his efforts to crackdown on illegal immigration, including 10 executive orders aimed at “halting the flow of illegal immigrants and initiating mass deportation efforts.”
He celebrated what he called the lowest-ever recorded border crossings and attributed part of that success to his unwavering rhetoric.
The president also pointed to the newly signed orders designating cartels and transnational gangs—including the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua—as foreign terrorist organizations.
This classification, Trump said, provides stronger tools to round up and remove or prosecute gang members threatening American communities.
Tariff Strategy and “External Revenue Service”
Central to Trump’s economic vision was his continued embrace of tariffs.
He announced new and increased fees on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China—some as high as 25 percent.
These measures, the president insisted, are meant to “bring trillions of dollars in foreign investment” into what he called a new “external revenue service.”
Critics have warned of inflation, but Trump said any pain would be short-lived:
“There’ll be a little disturbance, like we’re okay with that. It won’t be much.”
Eliminating Fraud and Waste Through DOGE
Trump applauded Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for uncovering billions in government overspending, mismanagement, and fraud.
The department canceled numerous redundant programs and identified fraudulent payments, which Trump claimed could amount to up to $500 billion annually.
“By slashing all of the fraud, waste, and theft we can find, we will defeat inflation,”
he said, predicting that mortgage rates, car payments, and grocery prices would drop as a result.
Balancing the Budget
For the first time in his political career, President Trump put forward a formal plan to balance the federal budget. While historically a Republican goal, balancing the budget has seldom been fully pursued in modern administrations. Trump called it a priority:
“I want to do what has not been done in almost 24 years: Balance the budget.”
To boost federal revenue, he proposed a “gold card” system allowing foreign investors to pay $5 million for a path to U.S. citizenship. He also signaled that aggressive cost-cutting and expansion of tariff revenues will help meet that target.
Honoring Victims of Illegal Immigrant Crime
A poignant moment came when President Trump invited the families of two young women who were slain by illegal immigrants:
- Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, murdered in 2024.
- Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl brutally assaulted and killed in Houston.
Direct Appeal to Greenland
Reviving a controversial proposition, Trump openly invited the people of Greenland to “join the United States of America.”
While Denmark, which oversees Greenland, previously spurned the idea of a sale, the president insisted that incorporating Greenland is crucial for global security.
“We’re working with everybody involved to try and get it, but we need it really for international world security.”
A Potential Breakthrough With Ukraine
Trump read excerpts from a letter sent to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He hinted at renewed willingness to negotiate a mineral deal beneficial to both the U.S. and Ukraine.
The plan, which could redirect 50% of certain Ukrainian resource revenues to repaying U.S. defense aid, had stalled earlier. Trump expressed optimism that peace talks with Russia might also be in reach:
“Wouldn’t that be beautiful?”
Major Terrorist Apprehension
The president brought down the house by announcing that Muhammad Sharifullah, the mastermind of the deadly 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, was apprehended and is en route to the United States to face charges.
The bombing tragically killed 13 U.S. service members, and Trump commended Pakistan for its cooperation in the arrest. He said he had personally spoken with the victims’ families, who received the news with “tears of joy.”
Democratic Protests and Disruptions
Throughout the address, some Democrats registered their objections.
Several held signs reading “Save Medicaid” and “Musk Steals,” while others wore pink suits in protest of Trump’s policies, which they claimed harm women.
Representative Al Green (D-TX) was escorted out of the chamber after disrupting the president’s speech, shaking his cane at Trump.
The president, for his part, brushed off the protests and focused on rallying support for his agenda.
Looking Ahead
President Trump closed his address by reiterating his call to maintain America’s momentum:
“The golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before.”
The speech offered an in-depth roadmap of Trump’s aims. While Democrats remain staunchly opposed to many of his agenda items, the president made clear he intends to press on with a vision that he says will ensure America’s prosperity and security for years to come.