Trump's First Address to Congress: A New Chapter of American Greatness Has Begun

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated in his first address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, "A new chapter of American greatness has begun." According to AFP, Trump emphasized during the speech, which lasted over an hour, that a new sense of national pride and dignity has swept across the country. Renewed optimism has made dreams that were once deemed impossible accessible again. The President asserted that his plan to combat illegal immigration would save billions of dollars. He stated, "We must once again establish the rule of law at our borders." Trump further emphasized the necessity of building a wall along the southern border. In the opening of his speech, Trump condemned recent acts of anti-Semitism, including vandalism at Jewish cemeteries and the shooting of two Indians in a bar in Kansas, saying, "We may have disagreements on current policies, but our country is united in condemning hate and evil in all its ugly forms." A White House spokesperson condemned the shooting of the two Indians in a bar in Olathe, Kansas, stating that it appears to be motivated by racial hatred. In another part of his speech, Trump reaffirmed America's commitment to NATO but insisted that member countries must pay their fair share. He stated, "We expect our partners in NATO, the Middle East, or the Pacific to play a meaningful role strategically and militarily and also to pay their fair share of costs." Trump continued, "It is not my job to represent the world. My job is to represent the United States of America." The President referred to actions taken during his time in office, stating, "I have also imposed new sanctions on entities that support Iran's ballistic missile program and reiterated my unbreakable bond with Israel." The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday added 25 individuals and entities to its sanctions list in connection with Iran's recent missile tests. The new sanctions list includes 13 individuals and 12 companies, some of which are based in the UAE, Lebanon, and China. In another part of his speech, Trump stated, "As I promised, under my leadership, the Department of Defense will develop a plan to destroy and eliminate the Islamic State (ISIS)." Trump also mentioned strategies to combat terrorism, stating, "We cannot allow our country to become a safe haven for extremists." He emphasized that the government would soon implement new measures to prevent such individuals from entering the U.S. Traditionally, U.S. Presidents deliver a State of the Union address after one year in office, but Trump spoke to Congress just six weeks after taking office. According to the U.S. Constitution, the President is required to report to Congress on the state of the country. President George Washington first delivered a report to Congress in 1790 in New York. In this context, Trump called for a "$54 billion increase" in the U.S. defense budget.