WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump delivered a sharp defense of his “America First” direction for the country before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, marking his first major address since a dizzying return to power six weeks ago that has elated allies and outraged opponents.
Trump’s speech—clocked at 1 hour and 39 minutes, making it the longest of its kind in modern U.S. history—offered ample reminders of how the second-term Republican president has already tested the limits of executive authority in almost every facet of the job.
He mentioned the firing of tens of thousands of federal workers; offered an update after publicly scolding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is fighting a war against Russia, in the Oval Office; and hyped the trade war launched against China, Mexico and Canada.
“Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them,” Trump declared to defend one of his most significant early economic policy decisions. “Whatever they tax us, we tax them.”
More: Live updates of Trump’s speech: President claims the US is “just getting started” as he discusses DOGE and the border
Trump’s initial actions have angered Democrats, who were unruly from the beginning of the president’s highly politicized speech at the US Capitol, resulting in the removal of one lawmaker. Democrats, who were the ones applauding President Joe Biden at his farewell State of the Union address a year ago, spent the 2025 version of the speech displaying a variety of protest signs, still searching for a weakness in Trump’s electoral armor.
Here are key moments from Tuesday’s address.
Trump defends trade war amid growing economic anxiety
These are the main points of Tuesday’s speech.
Trump defends the trade war. The 2024 election that thrust Trump back into the White House was centered on America’s concerns over growing food costs and other living expenses.
He now has to deal with a restless country that is wary of his own acts, including as putting 25% tariffs on foreign partners, which many fear would increase expenses and cause stock market volatility. amidst rising economic worry
For instance, according to a recent NPR/Marist poll, 57% of American adults believe that supermarket costs would rise in the upcoming six months.
Trump assured Congress Tuesday that obtaining “dramatic and immediate relief” for regular Americans is a primary goal and urged them not to worry. However, he stated that he will not tolerate the undermining of the United States in trade by its allies and enemies.
More: Trump claims 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday, saying there is “no room left.”
“We’ve been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer,” Trump stated.
In an attempt to minimize the economic problems brought on by the tariffs, GOP allies on Capitol Hill have stated that while they are worried, Americans are prepared to weather any storm in order to address the nation’s debt and alter unfair international trade agreements.
Biden is held accountable for nearly everything, including eggs.
Even though Biden has been out of office for six weeks, Trump gladly exploited his Democratic predecessor as a punching bag throughout his speech on Tuesday.
Trump referred to his longtime opponent, who withdrew from the 2024 race, as “the worst president in American history” at the beginning of his speech in reference to his crackdown on the border between the United States and Mexico.
Trump then reminded viewers of the unprecedented inflation that eroded people’s finances under the Biden administration and blamed the previous president for the soaring cost of eggs.
“The price of eggs is out of control—and we’re working hard to get it back down,” Trump stated, referring specifically to Joe Biden.
More than 18 million commercial egg layers contracted bird flu in January 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is the “highest monthly total since the outbreak began in 2022,” and it contributed to a 53% spike in egg prices between January 2024 and January 2025.
For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Instagram, like us on Facebook & subscribe to our YouTube Channel, which is updated daily.
