WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump touted achievements from his first 43 days in office and promised to push forward on a divisive agenda in his first joint address to Congress during his second presidency.
In the 99-minute speech, he called former President Joe Biden “the worst president in American history” and highlighted his sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, immigration crackdown and foreign policy moves.
“It has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country,” he said. “... America’s momentum is back. Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back. And the American Dream is surging bigger and better than ever before.”
Republicans repeatedly erupted in cheers as Trump touted achievements and highlighted agenda items, occasionally breaking out in patriotic chants. The response reflected how the president has more allies in Congress than during his first presidency, many of whom have sought to advance his agenda.
Meanwhile, Democrats sat sullen – with occasional outbursts of protest – on the opposite side of the chamber as Trump appeared to taunt them over their inability to resist his agenda. Black placards reading “False,” “Musk steals,” “Save Medicaid” and “protect veterans” dotted the Democratic side, which was noticeably thinned as more than a dozen members walked out before the end of the address.
One Democrat, Al Green of Texas, was escorted out after repeatedly yelling at Trump: “You have no mandate.” Republicans chanted “U-S-A” to drown him out before he was removed.
The address came just hours after the president implemented 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, contributing to a stock market tumble, and days after his televised exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. The president then froze aid to Ukraine on Monday.
Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined other Democrats in inviting recently laid-off federal employees as their guests to the event. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, brought Andrei Iancu, who served as undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during the first Trump administration.
All three members of Congress attended the full length of the address. The senators rarely joined in applause, while Hurd joined most – but not all – of the Republican standing ovations.
Trump defended Elon Musk’s restructuring of the federal workforce and aggressive staff cuts. At one point, he read a list of funding cuts, pointing out diversity, equity and inclusion programs and foreign aid that he suggested were ridiculous.
In Southwest Colorado, these cuts have left federal workers fearful and uncertain about the future of land management in the region, as over 3,400 U.S. Forest Service workers were fired nationally.
Hurd said in an interview with “Colorado Matters” on Friday that there were people in his district he wished hadn’t lost their jobs. After the address, Hurd said he was “sympathetic” to the president’s goal to make government more efficient, but that “we have to do it the right way.”
“It's certainly important what the president has to say, but when it comes to enacting these policies, I want to see how it looks concretely.” Hurd said. “I've shared some of my concerns about what we've seen, particularly in the 3rd Congressional District, and we are working with the White House to see what we can do, particularly when it comes to … things like (the U.S.) Forest Service, BLM, veterans services. Those sorts of things are top priorities for me.”
The president also focused on immigration reform, boasting that “my administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.”
“The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border,” he continued. “But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”
He also highlighted the Laken Riley Act as the first piece of legislation he signed in January. The law requires that immigrants without permanent legal status who commit crimes of theft be detained by the Department of Homeland Security.
Following his and Vice President JD Vance’s on-air argument with Zelensky, Trump said he appreciated that the Ukrainian president had since sent him a letter expressing gratitude for the United States’ support and saying that Ukraine is ready to continue negotiations for a ceasefire. He added that U.S. conversations with Russia indicated “strong signals” that Russia is ready for peace.
Bennet, who visited Kyiv in early February and has been a strong advocate for continued U.S. support of Ukraine, posted on the social media platform X during the speech that “The last thing we should do now is weaken Ukraine’s negotiating position – as President Trump has – by pausing military aid to Ukraine and repeatedly siding with Putin. There is so much at stake for Ukraine, U.S. national security, and democracy.”
Trump reaffirmed plans to begin reciprocal tariffs on April 2, and seemed to dismiss concerns about Tuesday’s stock market slump after the first tariffs began, saying that, “There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re OK with that. It won’t be much.”
“April 2 reciprocal tariffs kick in and whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them,” he said. “That’s reciprocal back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them. If they do nonmonetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we will do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market.”
Trump reiterated calls for the U.S. to reclaim the Panama Canal and acquire Greenland, saying “one way or the other we’re gonna get it” about the Danish-owned Arctic island.
Hurd shared a video on his social media after the address, calling it an “amazing and historic experience.”
“Hearing the president outline the things that we campaigned on, securing the border, growing our energy economy, increasing prosperity for families throughout (Colorado’s) third congressional district, I am excited to deliver on that agenda in the next Congress,” Hurd said. “As the president said, America is back.”
Bennet posted on the social platform X throughout the speech, condemning Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency and calling out the impact the various tariffs would have on Colorado’s farmers and families.
“Trump's plan to cut taxes for his wealthy friends is an insult to the American people,” he wrote. “It's time to get serious about tackling our deficit and creating an economy that works for everyone.”
Wednesday morning, Hickenlooper posted on X saying that “Trump’s attempt to paint a rosy picture of the first few weeks of his presidency won't fool the Americans living in his chaos.”
“Costs are rising because of his tariffs,” he continued. “Rural hospitals, Head Start, and local law enforcement are bracing for funding cuts. Thousands of veterans are jobless because they were fired without a plan. All to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.”
Kathryn Squyres is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at ksquyres@durangoherald.com.
