Key Points from Trump’s Speech to Congress

President Donald Trump delivered his first speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress at the Capitol on March 4, 2025. This speech is part of a well-known American tradition where all U.S. presidents address Congress annually. During these addresses, presidents showcase their accomplishments, goals, and visions regarding the current state and circumstances in the United States. The U.S. Constitution states that “the President shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” However, Trump’s address is not a State of the Union speech but an informal one, given in his first year in office. It serves as a communication to Congress about his achievements during the 44 days he has been in office and his approach to domestic and foreign challenges facing the United States over the next four years.

Domestic Issues

During his speech, Trump highlighted his accomplishments from his brief time in office, which can be summarized as follows:

Promoting Tariffs on Other Countries: Trump discussed his initiation of trade wars by imposing a 25% tariff on China, Canada, and Mexico, believing that these countries were responsible for the influx of illegal immigrants and the surge of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. He also criticized the European Union and countries like Canada, India, and Mexico for what he considered unfair trade practices, pledging to impose additional tariffs in mid-April. He argued that these tariffs could save trillions for the U.S. and create more jobs for American citizens.

Addressing Illegal Immigration and Border Security: Trump emphasized his efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. by imposing high tariffs on the countries most responsible for the crisis, suspending asylum processes at the southern border, halting refugee resettlement, ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal parents, discontinuing an application that allowed migrants to enter the U.S. legally, finishing the border wall with Mexico, and closing immigration offices in Latin America. He asserted that these actions would secure the U.S. borders and that illegal immigration had reached its lowest levels since he took office.

Waging War on Drug Cartels: Trump pledged to fight against Mexican drug cartels, labeling many of them as terrorist organizations, and accused Canada and Mexico of being lax in allowing fentanyl to penetrate U.S. markets.

Ending Diversity and Equality Policies: Trump stated that there are only two genders in the U.S.: male and female, with no third gender. He mentioned that he had signed a decree banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports while declaring that the U.S. would no longer be vigilant about these matters. It was a clear message from him that he would work to terminate diversity and inclusion policies that he believes have burdened American society and hindered its freedom.

Revitalizing the American Economy: Trump spoke of his efforts to revive the U.S. economy, which he claimed had been devastated by his predecessor’s policies. His plans focused on the energy sector, emphasizing oil, natural gas, and fossil fuel production. He announced the establishment of an American Energy Council aimed at increasing oil production and repealed executive orders from his Democratic predecessor that limited oil production. He believes the U.S. is rich in natural resources and that these measures will lead to economic revitalization, lower inflation rates, reduced prices, and alleviate hardship for the American people.

Implementing “America First”: Trump outlined the actions he has taken to make America great again and to execute the America First slogan, including withdrawing from various organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the anti-American Human Rights Council. He also indicated that he would reform the federal government by reducing the number of federal employees, closing several government agencies, cutting government spending, and lowering the national debt.

Foreign Achievements

In his address, President Trump focused on his accomplishments and intended actions on the foreign front during the year, which can be summarized as follows:

Efforts to Reclaim the Panama Canal: Trump mentioned that the U.S. was trying to regain control over the Panama Canal due to a preliminary agreement made by a Hong Kong company with a consortium to sell ports at both ends of the canal. He stated, “To further enhance our national security, my administration will reclaim the Panama Canal; we’ve already begun that process. We are taking it back,” indicating he would exhaust all efforts to secure the canal for the U.S. against Chinese interests.

Attempt to Control Greenland: Trump renewed his desire for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, assuring its self-governing Danish inhabitants that the U.S. would “ensure your safety.” He stated, “We genuinely need Greenland for international security, and I believe we will acquire it somehow. We will take Greenland to heights you have never imagined.” This suggests he would pursue all avenues to gain control over Greenland.

Aiming to End the Russo-Ukrainian War: During his speech, Trump expressed his intention to end the Russo-Ukrainian war, mentioning that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had informed him of his readiness to negotiate with Russia to stop the conflict, also showing willingness to sign an agreement granting the U.S. the rights to exploit Ukraine’s rare minerals. He said, “I received an important message from President Zelensky, stating that Ukraine is ready to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible to approach a lasting peace,” stressing the need to conclude what he termed as the senseless war.

Efforts to Secure the Release of American Hostages from Gaza: Trump laid out his commitment to do everything possible to bring back American hostages held in Gaza while also discussing his efforts to end the conflict between Hamas and Israel, mentioning his desire for the U.S. to take control of Gaza and redevelop the area, along with seeking cooperation from Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan to accommodate Palestinian citizens.

The American Dream

In conclusion, Trump’s speech before Congress affirmed that the United States is once again becoming great and that the American dream cannot be stopped in any way. It confirmed that the U.S. is on the verge of achieving an unprecedented revival, indicating its strength and readiness for future challenges. This illustrates that Trump has not wavered from his approach to both foreign and domestic issues, and he intends to continue maximizing benefits for the country.