by Stefano Vaccara NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – In the longest speech ever delivered by a U.S. president before Congress in Washington – a full hour and 40 minutes – Donald Trump offered a polarizing speech, a perfect mirror of his presidency, alternating between self-celebration, false claims and controversial statements. The atmosphere in the chamber reflected the country’s deep divisions: Democrats openly voiced their opposition, while Republicans greeted the president with roaring applause. Many female Democratic congresswomen wore pink pantsuits in protest against Trump’s policies toward women and families. Congressman Al Green was escorted out of the chamber at the start of the speech after interrupting the president to challenge cuts to social programs. Other Democrats held signs reading “No King!” and “Save Medicaid,” and many left the chamber before the speech ended.
Trump opened the speech by boasting his administration’s achievements in the economic field, stating, “We inherited, from the previous administration, an economic catastrophe and an inflationary nightmare.” However, this statement simplifies complex economic dynamics and ignores the multiple causes of inflation. A key element of his economic strategy has been the tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico and China. Trump defended them as necessary tools to protect American industry, declaring, “We imposed tariffs to ensure that our workers are no longer exploited.” However, these measures have triggered trade tensions, with Canada and China already announcing countermeasures, with predictable price repercussions for American consumers.
In his speech, Trump made it clear that for him, tariffs are not just a tool for pressure in trade negotiations, but a true economic credo. The president argued that duties will force foreign companies to choose between paying a high price to access the U.S. market or opening factories in America, thus creating domestic jobs. “We no longer allow our wealth and our industries to be stolen. If they want to sell here, they will have to produce here!” he declared. But this view ignores a fact: tariffs increase costs for American businesses and consumers. Many economists warn that Trump’s protectionist policy could disrupt global supply chains and drive up prices, hitting the very workers the president says he wants to protect. Already, recent declines on Wall Street signal that markets fear the tightening of protectionist economic policy.
Yet, for many Trump supporters, this is a promised and necessary battle against globalization, which the MAGA movement’s base considers “the evil of their evils.” In one passage of the speech, Trump praised Elon Musk – who was present in the chamber and met with protests from Democrats – for his efforts to reduce government waste, pointing out how his “cost-containment measures” have saved American taxpayers money. But Trump went further, slipping into one of his most blatant exaggerations. Referring to Musk’s alleged findings about the Social Security program, he said, “Thousands of people over 120 years old are getting Social Security checks-some even born in the 1800s!”
The claim has elicited laughter among Republicans but disbelief among fact-checkers. Although there are cases of fraud, there is no evidence of large-scale payments to impossibly elderly recipients. It is the classic Trump method: take a small problem and magnify it to the point of absurdity to justify cuts to Social Security. Trump has claimed great successes in reducing illegal immigration, saying his policies have led to a record decline in illegal crossings and announcing a plan for “the largest deportation operation in American history.” He addressed family members of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants who were present in the courtroom. In these emotional passages, some Democrats also applauded. Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was present with other ministers, as head of the “Make America Healthy Again” commission, charged with investigating the causes of the rise of chronic diseases in American children, with a focus on autism. He expressed confidence in Kennedy, despite controversies related to his skepticism about vaccines.
Trump then reiterated the idea of regaining control of the Panama Canal and even repeated the idea of controlling Greenland “one way or another,” an idea previously rejected by Danish authorities. The president declared progress in Middle East peace efforts, but without providing concrete details. He then moved on to the hottest topic of his foreign policy, the relationship with Ukraine and Russia. Trump revealed that he had received a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the Ukrainian president said he was ready to negotiate peace with Russia. Reading a passage, he quoted Zelensky as saying, “Ukraine is ready to sit at the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring a lasting peace closer.” The announcement came after the unsuccessful meeting between the two at the White House, which ended with the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Trump presented the letter as a result of his policies, but many analysts remain skeptical.
Trump also stated that the U.S. has earmarked $320 billion for Ukraine. In reality, aid is much lower, and European contributions have often exceeded U.S. contributions. Once again, Trump has chosen divisive rhetoric, speaking only to his base rather than trying to unite the country. While he can claim concrete successes on immigration and in fighting woke culture, he continues to use false data and polarize public opinion. His popularity among supporters will remain tied to economic performance, but inflation still shows no signs of improvement. In the Democrats’ official rebuttal, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin sharply attacked Trump, especially on foreign policy. “Ronald Reagan must be turning in his grave over the way Trump has treated Ukraine,” she said. Slotkin, a former CIA agent, also accused the president of favoring the rich and ignoring the hardships of American families, stressing the need for more equitable economic policies.
-photo Ipa Agency
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