Trump, Chief Agitator, Advocates for Upheaval
Here's a revised description: “I was elected by the people to fulfill this role, and I am committed to carrying out my responsibilities.”
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump described the sweeping and disruptive initiatives from his first 40 days in office as the beginning of a “common sense revolution,” attributing ongoing issues to Democrats during his joint address to Congress on Tuesday and asserting that his aggressive tactics are shaking up Washington and the world.
“America's momentum is back,” Trump stated in a speech that lasted an hour and 40 minutes. “Our spirit is back. Our pride is back.”
Unlike most presidents who use such addresses to promote new programs or unveil ambitious plans, Trump provided a rundown of what he had dismantled, which included agreements with foreign nations, regulations, and diversity efforts.
He highlighted his rapid succession of executive orders, claiming that moves such as withdrawing the U.S. from climate agreements, the World Health Organization, and the UN human rights council; cutting federal government size, freezing regulations, and halting all foreign aid were efforts “to restore common sense, safety, optimism and wealth.”
“The people elected me to do the job, and I'm doing it,” he added, calling it “a time for big dreams and bold action.”
After announcing a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, which caused a dip in the stock markets, and amidst a tense diplomatic stand-off with Ukraine that left allies nervous, Trump assured that these actions were part of a strategy to enhance the nation and compel neighboring countries to address drug trafficking.
“My administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history. And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded,” Trump remarked. “The media and our friends in the Democrat party kept saying we needed new legislation. We must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”
He had previously requested that Republicans block a bipartisan border bill to deny former President Joe Biden a success in the months leading up to the election. In a familiar pattern, Trump characterized his predecessor as “the worst president in American history,” blaming him for illegal immigration, inflation, and specifically the rising cost of eggs, stating that his first month has been the best of any president. “Do you know who number two is?” Trump queried. “George Washington.”
Beginning his address with an account of his victory in last November’s election, Trump faced shouts and protests from Democrats, leading to Rep. Al Green being escorted out for shouting at the president in protest of planned Medicaid cuts.
Trump complained that there was “nothing I can do” to make Democrats “stand or smile or applaud,” contending that his win constituted a “mandate like has not been seen in many decades.”
He characterized the Republicans’ reconciliation bill as a series of “tax cuts for everybody” and quipped that Democrats should support what they have termed a giveaway for corporations and the wealthy.
“I’m sure you’re going to vote for those tax cuts because otherwise I don’t think the people will ever vote you into office,” Trump asserted.
Despite his sharply critical remarks about the opposition, which resulted in several Democrats leaving the House chamber during his speech, it became apparent that Republicans may still require Democratic support to prevent a government shutdown. This illustrated Trump's growing disregard for traditional bipartisan dialogue as he pushes forward with his MAGA agenda.
While asserting that reducing costs for families was his top priority, Trump spent only a brief moment discussing this topic. He claimed he was “working hard” to lower egg prices, with the responsibility resting on his Agriculture Secretary, whom he addressed in a style reminiscent of his “The Apprentice” days.
“Secretary, do a good job on that one,” he directed towards Brooke Rollins.
He maintained a reality-show flair throughout the speech, including signing an executive order to rename a wildlife refuge in honor of a woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant, recognizing a pediatric cancer patient in the balcony as an honorary Secret Service agent, and admitting a star student to West Point.
Trump spent considerable time defending his and Elon Musk’s aggressive cuts to federal bureaucracy. After expressing gratitude to Musk, whom he referred to as “the head of DOGE,” he humorously listed numerous aid programs he had eliminated: “a $3.5 million consulting contract for lavish fish; monitoring, $1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia; $14 million for social cohesion in Mali; $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City.”
He inaccurately asserted that there were “shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program,” alleging that payments were being made to thousands of deceased individuals—a claim that has been repeatedly debunked.
Musk, who was present at the address, has been taking steps to rehire critical employees he had previously dismissed, including those responsible for the country’s nuclear weapon oversight, and he has acknowledged committing several mistakes. However, Trump framed DOGE’s work as part of his economic strategy.
“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,” he proclaimed.
He also boasted of $1.7 billion in new investments in America since taking office and defended his controversial tariffs that have rattled the stock market and angered allies in Canada and Mexico. Trump pressed those countries to “do much more” to combat illegal drug trafficking to the U.S., which he used as justification for the tariffs, despite little fentanyl entering the U.S. from Canada.
Acknowledging the political risks of his policies, Trump appealed to American farmers, who previously received a $29 billion bailout during his first term due to tariffs. He did not provide specifics this time but declared, “I love the farmer. Our farmers are going to have a field day right now.”
Tariffs, according to Trump, “are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening. And it will happen rather quickly. There will be a little disturbance. But we're okay with that. It won't be much.”
This week, stock market losses following his announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico have erased all gains for the S&P 500 since Election Day.
As he approached foreign policy discussions roughly 80 minutes into his address, Trump reiterated the bold imperial vision articulated in his inaugural speech, promising to reclaim the Panama Canal from Chinese control and suggesting that a forthcoming independence vote in Greenland could ultimately result in it being transferred from Denmark to the U.S.
“One way or the other we’re going to get it,” Trump insisted.
He held Biden accountable for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, the current war in Gaza that he claimed wouldn’t have occurred had he been in office, and for spending excessive amounts in support of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Shortly after halting all U.S. military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into signing an economic agreement and pursuing peace talks with Russia, Trump shared a letter from Zelenskyy expressing regret over the recent tensions and a desire for peace.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said, without elaborating on whether the proposed agreement related to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals was still under consideration.
He criticized Europe for spending more on Russian energy than on assistance to Ukraine and called out Democrats, particularly Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, for denouncing his tactics while seemingly endorsing Russian conditions and echoing Kremlin talking points.
“Do you want to keep it going for another five years?” he queried, directing his remarks towards Democrats and focusing on Warren. “Yeah, yeah, you would say — Pocahontas says yes.”
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
“America's momentum is back,” Trump stated in a speech that lasted an hour and 40 minutes. “Our spirit is back. Our pride is back.”
Unlike most presidents who use such addresses to promote new programs or unveil ambitious plans, Trump provided a rundown of what he had dismantled, which included agreements with foreign nations, regulations, and diversity efforts.
He highlighted his rapid succession of executive orders, claiming that moves such as withdrawing the U.S. from climate agreements, the World Health Organization, and the UN human rights council; cutting federal government size, freezing regulations, and halting all foreign aid were efforts “to restore common sense, safety, optimism and wealth.”
“The people elected me to do the job, and I'm doing it,” he added, calling it “a time for big dreams and bold action.”
After announcing a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, which caused a dip in the stock markets, and amidst a tense diplomatic stand-off with Ukraine that left allies nervous, Trump assured that these actions were part of a strategy to enhance the nation and compel neighboring countries to address drug trafficking.
“My administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history. And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded,” Trump remarked. “The media and our friends in the Democrat party kept saying we needed new legislation. We must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”
He had previously requested that Republicans block a bipartisan border bill to deny former President Joe Biden a success in the months leading up to the election. In a familiar pattern, Trump characterized his predecessor as “the worst president in American history,” blaming him for illegal immigration, inflation, and specifically the rising cost of eggs, stating that his first month has been the best of any president. “Do you know who number two is?” Trump queried. “George Washington.”
Beginning his address with an account of his victory in last November’s election, Trump faced shouts and protests from Democrats, leading to Rep. Al Green being escorted out for shouting at the president in protest of planned Medicaid cuts.
Trump complained that there was “nothing I can do” to make Democrats “stand or smile or applaud,” contending that his win constituted a “mandate like has not been seen in many decades.”
He characterized the Republicans’ reconciliation bill as a series of “tax cuts for everybody” and quipped that Democrats should support what they have termed a giveaway for corporations and the wealthy.
“I’m sure you’re going to vote for those tax cuts because otherwise I don’t think the people will ever vote you into office,” Trump asserted.
Despite his sharply critical remarks about the opposition, which resulted in several Democrats leaving the House chamber during his speech, it became apparent that Republicans may still require Democratic support to prevent a government shutdown. This illustrated Trump's growing disregard for traditional bipartisan dialogue as he pushes forward with his MAGA agenda.
While asserting that reducing costs for families was his top priority, Trump spent only a brief moment discussing this topic. He claimed he was “working hard” to lower egg prices, with the responsibility resting on his Agriculture Secretary, whom he addressed in a style reminiscent of his “The Apprentice” days.
“Secretary, do a good job on that one,” he directed towards Brooke Rollins.
He maintained a reality-show flair throughout the speech, including signing an executive order to rename a wildlife refuge in honor of a woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant, recognizing a pediatric cancer patient in the balcony as an honorary Secret Service agent, and admitting a star student to West Point.
Trump spent considerable time defending his and Elon Musk’s aggressive cuts to federal bureaucracy. After expressing gratitude to Musk, whom he referred to as “the head of DOGE,” he humorously listed numerous aid programs he had eliminated: “a $3.5 million consulting contract for lavish fish; monitoring, $1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia; $14 million for social cohesion in Mali; $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City.”
He inaccurately asserted that there were “shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program,” alleging that payments were being made to thousands of deceased individuals—a claim that has been repeatedly debunked.
Musk, who was present at the address, has been taking steps to rehire critical employees he had previously dismissed, including those responsible for the country’s nuclear weapon oversight, and he has acknowledged committing several mistakes. However, Trump framed DOGE’s work as part of his economic strategy.
“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,” he proclaimed.
He also boasted of $1.7 billion in new investments in America since taking office and defended his controversial tariffs that have rattled the stock market and angered allies in Canada and Mexico. Trump pressed those countries to “do much more” to combat illegal drug trafficking to the U.S., which he used as justification for the tariffs, despite little fentanyl entering the U.S. from Canada.
Acknowledging the political risks of his policies, Trump appealed to American farmers, who previously received a $29 billion bailout during his first term due to tariffs. He did not provide specifics this time but declared, “I love the farmer. Our farmers are going to have a field day right now.”
Tariffs, according to Trump, “are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening. And it will happen rather quickly. There will be a little disturbance. But we're okay with that. It won't be much.”
This week, stock market losses following his announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico have erased all gains for the S&P 500 since Election Day.
As he approached foreign policy discussions roughly 80 minutes into his address, Trump reiterated the bold imperial vision articulated in his inaugural speech, promising to reclaim the Panama Canal from Chinese control and suggesting that a forthcoming independence vote in Greenland could ultimately result in it being transferred from Denmark to the U.S.
“One way or the other we’re going to get it,” Trump insisted.
He held Biden accountable for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, the current war in Gaza that he claimed wouldn’t have occurred had he been in office, and for spending excessive amounts in support of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Shortly after halting all U.S. military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into signing an economic agreement and pursuing peace talks with Russia, Trump shared a letter from Zelenskyy expressing regret over the recent tensions and a desire for peace.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said, without elaborating on whether the proposed agreement related to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals was still under consideration.
He criticized Europe for spending more on Russian energy than on assistance to Ukraine and called out Democrats, particularly Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, for denouncing his tactics while seemingly endorsing Russian conditions and echoing Kremlin talking points.
“Do you want to keep it going for another five years?” he queried, directing his remarks towards Democrats and focusing on Warren. “Yeah, yeah, you would say — Pocahontas says yes.”
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
