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President Donald Trump delivered a joint address to Congress, during which lawmakers were clearly divided in their response to his administration's first weeks in office.
On Tuesday (March 4), Trump spoke to members of Congress packed in the House Chambers on Capitol Hill.
"America is Back!" Trump proclaimed at the beginning of his speech, which garnered "USA" chants from Republican lawmakers and boos from Democrats.
It wasn't long before Speaker Mike Johnson ordered Democratic Rep. Al Green to be removed from the chamber for standing in the aisle and waving his cane at Trump in protest of his speech. Other Democrats protested Trump's remarks by staging a walkout, wearing shirts that read "RESIST" and "NO KING LIVES HERE." More Democratic members of Congress stayed in their seats and held up signs reading "That's a lie," "Musk Steals," "Save Medicaid," and "Protect Veterans."
Keep scrolling for more takeaways from Trump's speech to Congress.
Trump Brags About Pulling Nation Out Of Paris Climate Accord & WHO
During his speech, Trump touted his move to remove the U.S. from several international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord and organizations like the World Health Organization, saying it was a “time for big dreams and bold action.”
Trump Touts Executive Order Banning Transgender Women In Sports
On Tuesday, Trump touted his new executive order against transgender people by highlighting student athlete Payton McNabb, who attended his address to Congress as a guest of First Lady Melania Trump. According to the White House, McNabb is “a former high school athlete who had her dreams of competing in college sports crushed in a September 2022 volleyball match when a biological man playing on the opposing women’s team spiked the volleyball at Payton’s face, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury.”
“It’s demeaning for women and it’s very bad for our country,” Trump said of transgender athletes. “We’re not going to put up with it any longer.”
Trump Claims "Everybody" Will Appreciate Elon Musk's DOGE
Trump on Tuesday praised Elon Musk for leading the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency.
“To further combat inflation, we will not only be reducing the cost of energy, but we’ll be ending the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars,” Trump said of his goal for DOGE.
The president also thanked Musk for "working very hard."
“Everybody here, even this side, appreciates it, I believe,” Trump said, referencing the Democratic side of the aisle. “They just don’t want to admit that.”
Trump Says Federal Workers "Will Be Removed From Office Immediately" If They Resist His Policies
“My administration will reclaim power from this unaccountable bureaucracy, and we will restore true democracy to America again. And any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be removed from office immediately,” Trump said.
“Because we are draining the swamp. It’s very simple. And the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over,” he added.
Trump Attacks DEI — Again
During his speech, Trump said his administration has “ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector and our military.”
"Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is bad. It's gone," Trump later added.
Trump Says He's Working "Tirelessly" To End Russian-Ukraine War
Trump touted the nation's support to Ukraine during Tuesday's speech, saying he's “working tirelessly to end the savage conflict” there.
“Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict, with no end in sight,” Trump said. “The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense, with no security, with no anything.”
The president also read a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who Trump said acknowledged the United States' efforts and expressed his desire for peace after their explosive meeting at the White House.
"I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump said.
Trump Repeatedly Praises Police
On Tuesday, Trump praised law enforcement officers as he delivered his speech in the same building where January 6 insurrectionists, whom he has since pardoned, attacked police over four years ago.
“We’re also once again giving our police officers the support, protection, and respect they so dearly deserve. They have to get it. They have such a hard, dangerous job, but we’re going to make it less dangerous. The problem is the bad guys don’t respect the law, but they’re starting to respect it and they soon will respect it,” Trump said.
Trump: There Might Be "A Little Bit Of An Adjustment Period" Amid Tariffs
During his address to Congress, Trump reaffirmed his stance on placing sweeping tariffs on goods coming into the U.S., a move that has already prompted China and Canada to announce retaliatory tariffs on the nation's agricultural products.
Trump said farmers "will probably have to bear with me again."
"Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening, and it will happen rather quickly," he said. "There'll be a little disturbance, but we're OK with that. It won't be much."
To further examine the implications of President Trump’s remarks, BIN will present a special episode of The Black Perspective: Addressing the Realities of Black America on Wednesday (March 5). Hosts Andrea Coleman and Mike Stevens will return to lead the in-depth discussion featuring expert analysis, historical context, and community voices to explore how the President’s policies impact the Black community.
Tune in to The Black Perspective: Addressing the Realities of Black America on Wednesday (March 5) at 5 PM ET HERE.
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