‘America is Back,’ Trump Declares in Polarizing Congress Speech

US President Donald Trump proclaimed “America is back” in his first address to Congress since returning to office, touting his sweeping policies and claiming a breakthrough on the Ukraine conflict — while facing fierce protests from Democrats.

In a record-breaking speech lasting over one hour and 40 minutes, the 78-year-old Republican praised billionaire advisor Elon Musk for his aggressive overhaul of the federal bureaucracy and declared his administration was “just getting started.”

“The American Dream is unstoppable,” Trump declared, drawing thunderous applause from Republican lawmakers. Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla chief, stood twice to acknowledge the president’s praise.

However, the address quickly descended into a divisive spectacle. Democrats heckled Trump, with chants of “January 6!” referring to the 2021 Capitol riot, while some lawmakers held placards reading “False” and “That’s a lie!” One Democratic congressman, Al Green, was ejected for repeatedly interrupting Trump and waving his walking stick in protest.

Despite the disruptions, Trump remained defiant, vowing to reshape the federal government, dismantle diversity programs, and push forward his controversial bid to end the Ukraine war — no matter the political cost.

In a signature display of showmanship, Trump spotlighted a young cancer patient in the gallery, having him handed an official Secret Service ID in front of Congress. The crowd responded with chants of “USA” and “Trump, Trump, Trump” as the president declared: “Our country will be woke no longer.”

He justified his ongoing trade war with Canada, China, and Mexico, dismissing economic fears by saying tariffs might cause “a little disturbance” but were necessary to restore American strength.

“We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on earth,” he claimed.

With a Republican-controlled House and Senate behind him, Trump has pushed presidential powers to their limits — firing thousands of federal workers, shutting down entire agencies, and cutting foreign aid.

“The days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over,” he declared.

His administration’s crackdown on migrants, including plans to classify Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, won huge applause from Republican ranks.

However, early polls suggest that his aggressive cuts and failure to address inflation are eroding his popularity.

Trump also delivered a shock announcement on Ukraine, reading a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating Kyiv was ready to enter negotiations with Russia — a move that stunned Western allies. He linked the talks to a potential US minerals deal with Ukraine.

The president doubled down on his vow to “take back” the Panama Canal and acquire Greenland from Denmark “one way or another.”

In the Democratic rebuttal, Senator Elissa Slotkin accused Trump of recklessness at home and “abandoning American leadership” abroad.

“Trump and Musk are taking a wrecking ball to our institutions,” she said, appealing to middle-class Americans concerned about rising prices and shrinking government services.

With Trump’s aggressive policies and media dominance, Democrats face an uphill battle in countering the president’s sweeping vision for a radically reshaped America.

Washington, March 6 (AFP)