12 takeaways from Trump’s first speech to Congress in his second term
The March 4 address followed a blitz of more than 100 executive actions that impacted nearly every aspect of government and U.S. relationships with other nations.Here are the highlights of the speech, which began with the statement “America is back” and ended with a call to “renew the unlimited promise of the American dream.”1. Tax Cuts Promised for All Americans
Trump pledged across-the-board tax cuts, including personal income, corporate, and industry cuts.
After Republicans’ 2017 tax bill failed to make personal income tax cuts permanent, Trump says he is pushing lawmakers to ensure that this Congress does so.
Trump reiterated his campaign proposals to end taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits, and proposed zero interest on loans for American-made vehicles.
Trump encouraged Democrats to join Republicans in backing the legislation, suggesting they would face political consequences otherwise.
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“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 said.
Trump added that these tax cuts—which would total $4.5 trillion over a decade under the current House GOP plan—would be retroactive to Jan. 20, 2025.
2. Border Closed, Deportations Underway
Trump touted his administration’s efforts to secure the border, having signed 10 executive orders related to halting the flow of illegal immigrants and initiating mass deportation efforts nationwide to remove violent criminals from the country.
“Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border, and I deployed the U.S. military and border patrol to repel the invasion of our country, and what a job they’ve done,” Trump said. “As a result, illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded.”
Trump said his rhetoric also helped encourage would-be illegal immigrants to reconsider their plans.
“They heard my words, and they chose not to come,” he said.
The president also highlighted his order designating cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
3. Trump Touts ‘Common Sense Revolution’
Trump also announced a “common sense revolution,” including primarily through rooting out “woke” ideas from the government and federally-funded programs.
Trump highlighted his executive order stripping federal funding for schools that allow males to compete in female sports. One order declared that it is the official policy of the United States that Title IX applies to women and not men who identify as transgender females.
The first gallery guest introduced by Trump was Payton McNabb, a female athlete who suffered injuries while playing volleyball against a male player.
Trump also referenced merit-based hiring—rather than hiring to meet diversity quotas—as part of his “common sense revolution” agenda.
4. Tariffs Explained, ‘A Little Disturbance’
Trump said his trade policies will remain centered around tariffs that are designed to boost foreign investment in the United States and balance multi-billion-dollar trade deficits. The goal is to bring trillions of dollars into the president’s new “external revenue service.”
“If you don’t make your product in America,” Trump said, “you will pay a tariff, and in some cases, a rather large one.”
A series of tariffs—including 25 percent fees on goods from Canada and Mexico and 20 percent in addition to those already imposed on China—took effect on March 4, and across-the-board reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect on April 2.
“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries,” Trump said.
While critics have suggested the tariffs could cause inflation, the president rejected the notion and said any impact would be temporary.
5. DOGE Findings Highlighted
Trump praised the work of Elon Musk in leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which has announced savings of over $105 billion through contract cancellations, staff reductions, and identifying fraud and waste.
Trump listed a number of multi-million dollar projects related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that had been terminated, and a $22 billion plan to provide housing and automobiles for illegal immigrants.
“We found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud,” Trump said, noting that the Government Accounting Office has estimated that up to $500 billion in fraudulent payments are made annually.
“By slashing all of the fraud, waste, and theft we can find, we will defeat inflation, bring down mortgage rates, lower car payments and grocery prices, protect our seniors, and put more money in the pockets of American families,” Trump said.
6. Promises Balanced Budget
Trump also formalized plans to balance the federal budget during his second term.
“I want to do what has not been done in almost 24 years: Balance the budget,” Trump said. “We are going to balance the federal budget.”
A balanced federal budget is a longtime goal of many Republicans but it is not an issue Trump has historically addressed directly.
On Feb. 7, he first indicated interest in such a plan, writing “Balanced budget!” in all caps in a post on Truth Social.
Balancing the budget would require either substantial spending cuts or substantial increases in government revenues, whether from internal or external sources.
He said part of achieving this would be a “gold card” program under which foreigners or their employers could pay $5 million for a path to citizenship.7. Victims Spotlighted
Trump also recognized several victims of illegal immigrant crime during his address.
The first was Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia who was murdered by a Tren de Aragua gang member in February 2024.
Describing Riley as “brilliant” and “the best in her class,” Trump touted his signing of the Laken Riley Act—the first signature of his second term—which requires federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of certain crimes.
Trump then announced that a 34,000-acre national wildlife refuge near Houston will be renamed after 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, also allegedly killed by Tren de Aragua gang members.
“The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly,” Trump said.
Family members of both victims were in attendance at the speech.
8. Direct Appeal to Greenlanders
Trump directly appealed to the people of Greenland to join the United States, which he said would benefit them and improve the security of the United States and the world.
“We strongly support your right to determine your own future,” Trump said. “And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.”
Trump previously offered to buy Greenland from Denmark, which oversees it as an autonomous territory. The offer was snubbed by the Danes.
“We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights,” Trump said.The president said the island is important to national security.“We’re working with everybody involved to try and get it, but we need it really for international world security,” Trump said. “And I think we’re going to get it one way or the other.”
9. Letter From Zelenskyy
The president described a letter he received from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the day, suggesting the note could indicate the nations are closer to reaching a mineral deal.
Zelenskyy’s letter said that “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” according to Trump.
The U.S.–Ukraine minerals deal fell apart after a tense exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Feb. 28. Trump also paused all U.S. aid to Ukraine on March 3.
The note informed U.S. leaders that Ukraine is prepared to agree to a minerals deal that would see 50 percent of some natural resource revenues go to repay America for the approximately $175 billion appropriated to support Ukrainian defense efforts.
Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
10. New Shipbuilding Office
Trump said a new White House Office of Shipbuilding is meant to counter China’s strides in the shipbuilding sector.
“We used to make so many ships. We don’t make them anymore very much, but we’re going to make them very fast, very soon,” Trump said. “It will have a huge impact.”Historically a leader in the shipbuilding industry, the United States has seen its dominance wane in recent years, and China now accounts for more than 50 percent of global orders, according to U.N. Conference on Trade and Development data.The president said tax incentives will help “resurrect” the industry and are meant to revitalize commercial and military ship production and bolster national security efforts.11. Arrest of Top Terrorist Responsible for Abbey Gate
Trump made a surprise announcement that the top terrorist responsible for killing 13 U.S. service members during the bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 is now in custody.
America is once again standing strong against the forces of radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said. “Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is, right now, on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
The Abbey Gate bombing was allegedly carried out by a suicide bomber, affiliated with ISIS, who detonated an explosive vest at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
U.S. officials have identified the senior member of the ISIS terror group based in Afghanistan as Muhammad Sharifullah.
Sharifullah was turned over to U.S. authorities by Pakistan and was being brought to the United States for prosecution, Trump said.12. Democrats Respond
Congressional Democrats criticized Trump from both within and outside of the House chamber where he spoke. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the chamber after standing up and yelling during Trump’s speech. He later said that he was “making it clear to the president that he had no mandate to cut Medicaid.” Trump has said he won’t touch Medicaid.
Other Democrats protested with signs that read “Save Medicaid” and “Musk Steals.” Some congresswomen wore pink jackets as a statement about the purportedly harmful impact of Trump’s policies on women.
Following Trump’s speech, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) gave a speech from her home state criticizing the president’s actions. “President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends,” she said.
Rep. Herb Conaway (D-N.J.) on NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media outlet, pushed back on the idea of a golden age for America, stating that inflation has increased alongside the price of eggs and coffee. He also took aim at Trump’s tariffs, which he called “nothing but a tax on the American people.”The Epoch Times