President Donald Trump Delivered a Joint Address to Congress

President Donald Trump delivered a joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025, marking his first such speech since being inaugurated for a second term.

President Donald Trump delivered his first joint address to Congress on Monday evening, marking a second term in office and continuing his populist agenda.

The speech, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, was the longest joint session address in U.S. history. It comes as the president faces impeachment in the House and a closely divided Congress.

Here are some key takeaways:

Trump’s speech began with greetings to members of Congress and guests, including Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

The president opened his remarks by discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, expressing hope for peace. He mentioned receiving a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stated that Ukraine was ready for peace talks.

Trump also noted strong signals from Moscow, showing Russia’s willingness to negotiate.

“This war is unnecessary, and I promise to push for a resolution,” Trump stated.

As he concluded his speech, Trump vowed to restore America’s golden era and expressed confidence in a brighter future.

Shifting his focus to the U.S. economy, Trump made rescuing it his top priority.

He blamed the Biden administration for economic decline and inflation, citing rising energy and food prices. Millions struggled with basic needs due to Biden’s failed policies, according to the president.

Trump pledged to undo the damage and lower costs for families. He highlighted the Government Efficiency Board as a tool to cut waste and reduce inflation.

Republicans cheered when Trump mentioned Elon Musk, who was seated in the audience.

Trump mocked Democrats for opposing tax cuts, claiming they could never win without supporting them.

He emphasized that passing these tax cuts is a crucial step in strengthening the economy, referencing the House GOP’s budget plan.

Trump also proposed making income tax cuts permanent, a move estimated to cost at least $4.5 trillion over the next ten years.

Additionally, he called for eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits, aiming to provide more financial relief to American workers.

Trump announced his intention to make interest payments on car loans tax-deductible, but only for vehicles manufactured in the United States.

“I’m not sure the Democrats understand this, but they will be able to deduct their interest payments on car loans if the cars are made in America,” Trump said.

He expressed confidence that his policies would drive unprecedented growth in the auto industry, claiming that new manufacturing plants are opening and major deals are being made.

According to Trump, these measures will lead to a significant expansion of the U.S. automotive sector.

Last month, Trump hinted at imposing high tariffs on imported cars, suggesting they could be around 25%. He stated that further details would be provided in early April.

Trump also noted that several car manufacturers have already committed to building large-scale production plants in the U.S. in response to his policies.

As part of his broader economic agenda, Trump announced a plan to expand U.S. mining for rare-earth metals and critical minerals.

He pledged to take historic action later in the week to increase domestic production of these materials.

Lithium, uranium, and graphite are used in clean energy, national defense systems, and electronics.

Trump stressed the importance of securing these resources for national security.

The president condemned unfair trade practices and vowed to implement reciprocal tariffs.

He accused Mexico and Canada of enabling fentanyl trafficking, which has caused thousands of deaths.

According to Trump, U.S. companies will be able to deduct taxes on interest payments for car loans, an initiative he said Democrats will oppose.

However, Republicans will rally behind the president’s proposals.

Trump demanded that companies manufacture in the U.S. or face tariffs. He called the current trade imbalance unacceptable and promised to put America first.

The tariffs will take effect on April 2.

Trump praised major investments from Apple, Oracle, and TSMC, saying they will strengthen U.S. industry and AI leadership.

According to a new poll, a majority of Americans disapprove of the job President Donald Trump is doing.

The poll, conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, found that 53 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 42 percent approve.

The poll also found that 58 percent of Americans disapprove of the direction the country is heading in.

Trump’s approval numbers have remained relatively low throughout his presidency. A poll conducted in December 2019 found that 38 percent of Americans approved of the job Trump was doing, while 58 percent disapproved.

Trump’s approval numbers have been lower among women, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans.

Trump’s approval numbers have been higher among White Americans, especially White men without a college degree.

Trump’s approval numbers have also been higher among Republicans.

The poll was conducted March 23-26, 2023, among a random national