（🚧ただ今作成中）アメリカトランプ大統領の英語―3：施政方針演説（2025/03/4）

 

【詳しく】トランプ大統領 “前政権の政策転換 関税など推進”

2025年3月5日 20時56分 トランプ大統領

アメリカのトランプ大統領は今後の施政方針を示す演説を連邦議会で行い、政権発足以降、バイデン前政権の政策を転換してきたと強調した上で、関税措置など、今後も自身が主張する政策を推し進める考えを示しました。

目次

• 「相互関税」4月2日から発動

• ゼレンスキー大統領から書簡“いつでも署名する用意”

目次を開く

演説ノーカット動画（1時間39分）

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トランプ大統領は4日、連邦議会の上下両院の合同会議で、2期目の就任後では初めてとなる、今後1年間の施政方針を示す演説を行いました。演説はおよそ1時間40分におよび、アメリカメディアによりますとこれまでで最長だったということです。

演説でトランプ大統領は、バイデン前大統領を「アメリカ史上最悪の大統領」と呼び、前政権の国境管理やインフレへの対応などを強く批判しました。

そして「政権発足以降の6週間で、100近い大統領令に署名した」と述べて、多様性などの理念を推進する政策の廃止や地球温暖化対策の国際的な枠組み「パリ協定」からの離脱など、前政権が進めた政策を次々と転換してきたと強調しました。

またトランプ大統領は「数え切れない国々がわれわれよりもはるかに高い関税を課してきている。非常に不公平だ」と不満を述べて、自身が相次いで実行に移している他国からの輸入品に対する関税措置の正当性を主張しました。

その上で関税措置のほか、不法移民対策やエネルギー分野などで、今後も自身が主張する政策を推し進める考えを示しました。

さらにトランプ大統領はロシアによるウクライナ侵攻について「私はウクライナでの残忍な紛争を終わらせるために、休むことなく働いている」と述べて停戦の実現に意欲を示しました。

トランプ大統領の演説中、議場では、与党・共和党の議員からたびたび大きな歓声と拍手があがりました。

一方、野党・民主党の議員の多くは席に座ったまま無言で演説を聞く姿が目立ち、一部の議員はプラカードを掲げて抗議するなどトランプ大統領の政権運営をめぐり、対立した状況が浮き彫りとなりました。

「相互関税」4月2日から発動

トランプ大統領は演説の中で、みずからの政権下では「アメリカ国内で生産していない企業は関税を支払うことになり、場合によってはかなり高額になることもある」と述べました。

その上で「数え切れないほど多くの国々がアメリカが課している関税よりもはるかに高い関税を課している。これは非常に不公平だ」と述べて、貿易相手国がアメリカに対して高い関税を課している場合、その国からの輸入品への関税を同じ水準に引き上げる「相互関税」を4月2日に発動すると表明しました。

その際、EU＝ヨーロッパ連合や中国、ブラジル、メキシコ、カナダ、韓国などを名指しして批判しました。

また、トランプ大統領は相手国が関税以外の手段でアメリカをその国の市場から排除しようとするなら、アメリカも同様の手段で対抗するという方針を示しました。

日本については直接的な言及はなく、日本が対象になるかどうかは不明です。

トランプ大統領は相互関税の導入によって「アメリカは何兆ドルもの利益をあげかつてないほどの雇用を創出するだろう」と導入の必要性を強調しました。

一方、今月4日から25％の関税を課したメキシコとカナダをめぐってはフェンタニルなどの薬物がかつてない水準でアメリカに流入しているとして「両国はこれまで以上のことをやる必要がある」と述べて対策の徹底を求めました。

ゼレンスキー大統領から書簡“いつでも署名する用意”

トランプ大統領はウクライナ情勢について、ゼレンスキー大統領から書簡を受け取ったことを明らかにし「ウクライナは、鉱物資源や安全保障をめぐる合意についていつでも署名する用意があるということだ」と述べました。

書簡では、このほか、ウクライナが恒久的な平和をもたらすために　早期に交渉のテーブルに着く用意があることや、ウクライナの主権や独立を維持するためのアメリカの支援を高く評価することなどが盛り込まれていたということです。

そのうえでトランプ大統領は「ゼレンスキー大統領が書簡を送ってくれたことを感謝している」と述べ謝意を示しました。

両国をめぐっては、先月28日に行われたホワイトハウスでの首脳会談で激しい口論に発展し、鉱物資源の権益をめぐる合意文書への署名が見送られたほか、トランプ政権は、ウクライナへの軍事支援を一時停止したことを明らかにしていて、今回の書簡をきっかけに、関係の改善につながるのかが焦点です。

また、トランプ大統領は演説で「われわれはロシアとも真剣に協議し、ロシアから和平の準備ができているという強いシグナルを受け取った」と述べていて、早期の停戦の実現に向けて、交渉が進展するのかも注目されます。

米メディアの評価分かれる

アメリカのトランプ大統領が4日に連邦議会で行った演説について、アメリカの有力紙、ワシントン・ポストは「トランプ大統領の支持者には傲慢で楽観的なメッセージを、支持しない人たちには悲観的で絶望のメッセージを示した」と伝えました。

また、トランプ大統領の発言にはウクライナへの支援額など誤解を招くものや事実かどうか疑わしい主張があったと指摘し、26か所を挙げています。

政治専門サイト「ポリティコ」は、トランプ大統領の1期目の2017年に行われた施政方針を示す演説と比較し、「最初の演説では、混乱した選挙戦のあと、すべてのアメリカ人の大統領になろうと試みて、団結や超党派の連携を示した。それとは全く対照的だ」として大統領選挙でのみずからの支持者に向けた演説を思い起こさせるものだったと伝えています。

アメリカのCNNテレビは、「トランプ大統領はもはや選挙に立候補しているわけではないが、いつまでも選挙戦モードであることを浮き彫りにした」としています。

一方、アメリカのFOXニュースは、「トランプ大統領は偉大な時代になるだろうと約束した」というタイトルの記事で、「トランプ大統領は不法移民の入国を減少させたことなどこの6週間のうちに政権が達成したことを誇示した」と伝えています。

CBSテレビは、直後に行った世論調査として、トランプ大統領の演説をみた人の中で「支持する」と答えたのが76％、「支持しない」と答えたのが23％だったとしています。

ただ、演説を見た視聴者は民主党支持者が20％だったのに対し、共和党支持者が51％と共和党の支持者が多かったとしています。

一方、ホワイトハウスは、ウェブサイトに共和党の議員などからの演説をたたえる声などを紹介し、「トランプ大統領は就任後の最初の6週間の目覚ましい成果を強調し、今後4年間の繁栄への道筋を示す力強くすばらしい演説を行った。演説は幅広く称賛された」と強調しています。

＝＝演説を詳しく＝＝

「黄金時代の幕開け」

トランプ大統領は「アメリカは戻ってきた。6週間前、私はこの議事堂に立ち、アメリカの黄金時代の幕開けを宣言した。その瞬間から、歴史上最も偉大で最も成功した時代を切り開くため、迅速かつ容赦ない行動を続けてきた。われわれは43日間で、ほとんどの政権が4年または8年で達成した以上のことを成し遂げた」と述べました。

「アメリカが勢い取り戻した」

トランプ大統領は「わたしは今夜この議場に戻り、アメリカが勢いを取り戻したことを報告する。われわれの精神が、誇りが、自信が戻ったのだ。そしてアメリカンドリームはこれまで以上に大きくすばらしいものとして膨れ上がっている。アメリカンドリームは止めることはできない。わたしたちの国は世界がこれまで目にしたことがない、そしてこれからも目にすることがないような復活を果たそうとしている」と述べました。

議長が民主下院議員に退出呼びかけ

トランプ大統領の演説中にジョンソン下院議長が議会の秩序を乱したとして野党・民主党のグリーン下院議員に対して議会からの退出を呼びかけ、グリーン下院議員は退出しました。

「バイデン 史上最悪の大統領」

トランプ大統領は「アメリカ史上最悪の大統領であるジョー・バイデンのもとでは、毎月多くの不法入国があり、殺人犯や麻薬の売人、ギャングのメンバー、それに精神科の患者などを含む　そのほとんどすべてが私たちの国に入ってきていた」と述べました。

「違法の国境越え 最低水準に」

トランプ大統領は「私は、わが国への侵略を撃退するためにアメリカ軍と国境警備隊を配備した。その結果、どんな仕事をしたのか。先月の違法な国境越えは、これまでで最も低い水準だった」と述べました。

「最も成果のある1か月」

トランプ大統領は「現代の歴史において初めて、アメリカ国民のなかで国は正しい方向に進んでいるという考えが間違った方向に進んでいるという考えより多くなった。選挙のあとだけを見ても驚くべき記録である27ポイントの揺り戻しだ。過去最大だ。同じように中小企業による楽観的な見通しも記録上最大となる1か月で41ポイントの増加を見せた。このすばらしい国の至る所に常識、安全、楽観主義、そして富を回復するため私はこの6週間で、100近い大統領令に署名した。国民は仕事をさせるために私を選び私はそれを実践している。実際、私の就任後の1か月は、国の歴史上最も成果のある1か月だったと多くの人が言っている」と述べました。

「多様性・公平性政策の横暴 終わらせた」

トランプ大統領は「いわゆる多様性や公平性などに関する政策の横暴を終わらせた。連邦政府全体、そして民間や軍でもだ」と述べました。

「連邦職員 出勤するか 職解かれるか」

トランプ大統領は「すべての連邦職員に職場に戻るよう命じる。彼らは出勤するか、その職を解かれるか、そのどちらかになる」と述べました。

「職員雇用 政府規制 対外援助を凍結」

トランプ大統領は「日々、私の政権はアメリカが必要とする変化、アメリカにふさわしい未来をもたらすため、闘っている。大きな夢を掲げ大胆な行動をとるべき時だ。就任後、私は即時にすべての連邦職員の雇用、新たな連邦政府の規制、すべての対外援助を凍結した」と述べました。

「最優先事項は経済救うこと」

トランプ大統領は「私の最優先事項の1つは経済を救い、労働者に素早く救済の手を差し伸べることだ。私たちは前の政権から経済の大混乱とインフレの悪夢を引き継いだ。前政権の政策はエネルギー価格を高騰させ、食料品の価格を押し上げ、何百万人ものアメリカ人にとって生活必需品が手の届かないものになった。大統領としてアメリカを再び手ごろな価格でモノが買える国にするために毎日、賢明に取り組んでいる」と述べました。

「アラスカでLNGパイプライン建設 日本の参画望む」

トランプ大統領は「私の政権はアラスカ州で世界最大級のLNG＝液化天然ガスのパイプラインの建設に取り組んでいる。日本、韓国、そのほかの国々が何兆ドルもの資金を投じてパートナーとなることを望んでいる。本当にすばらしいものになるだろう」と述べました。

「非常識なEV政策廃止」

トランプ大統領は「われわれはアメリカを安全でなく、（エネルギー価格を）手の届かないものにしたバイデン政権の環境規制をすべて廃止した。重要なことは非常識なEV＝電気自動車の購入についての助成を廃止し、自動車産業の労働者とメーカーを経済的な危機から救ったことだ」と述べました。

「相互関税 4月2日に発動」

トランプ大統領は、演説で貿易相手国がアメリカに対して高い関税を課している場合、その国からの輸入品への関税を同じ水準に引き上げる「相互関税」を4月2日に発動すると述べました。

トランプ大統領は「相手国がアメリカに課す関税と同じ関税をアメリカも課す。これは相互主義だ」と述べました。

その上で相互関税の導入によって「アメリカは何兆ドルもの利益をあげかつてないほどの雇用を創出するだろう」と述べました。

演説中にマスク氏紹介

トランプ大統領は議場に入ると与党・共和党議員から大きな歓声と拍手で迎えられ、求めに応じて一人ひとりと握手をしたり、ことばを交わしたりしていました。

演説中、トランプ大統領がことばを強調するたびにバンス副大統領やジョンソン下院議長などが立ち上がって拍手をしたり、会場から「USA」と歓声があがったりする場面もありました。

一方、野党・民主党議員の多くは席に座ったまま無言で演説を聞いていました。

またトランプ大統領が支出の削減を進めるDOGE＝「政府効率化省」を設置したと強調した上で、DOGEを率いるイーロン・マスク氏を紹介するとマスク氏は立ち上がり、議場からの歓声に応えていました。

「パリ協定・WHOから離脱」

トランプ大統領は「私は、ほかの国々が支払っていない何兆ドルもの費用を負担させていた不公平なパリ協定から離脱した。腐敗したWHO＝世界保健機関からも離脱した。そして、反米的な国連の人権理事会からも離脱した」と述べました。

「政府効率化省 ”支出のむだ”数千億ドルを発見」

トランプ大統領は演説の中でイーロン・マスク氏が率いる政府支出の削減策を検討する組織、DOGE＝政府効率化省が支出のむだだとする18の事業を確認したと指摘しました。

そのうえで「あまりにもひどいことだ。ほかにも多くのことがイーロンが率いる非常に賢い主に若い人たちによって発見され、世にさらされ、迅速に停止されている。われわれは数千億ドルを発見し、インフレなどとたたかうために金を取り戻し、借金を減らした。これは始まりにすぎない」と述べました。

「米第一主義で巨額投資もたらされた」

トランプ大統領は「アメリカ第一主義のおかげでこの数週間で1兆7000億ドルもの新規投資がアメリカにもたらされた。選挙と経済政策の組み合わせでソフトバンクグループはオープンAIなどに巨額の投資を発表した」と述べました。

「変革に抵抗の官僚排除」

トランプ大統領は「無責任な官僚機構から権力を奪い返し、アメリカに民主主義を取り戻す。変革に抵抗する官僚はすぐに排除する」と述べました。

財政赤字 解消に意欲

トランプ大統領は「近い将来、私はこの24年間、誰も成し遂げられなかったことをしたい。連邦予算をバランスさせることだ」と述べ財政赤字の解消に意欲を示しました。

「残忍な紛争 終わらせる」

トランプ大統領は「私はウクライナでの残忍な紛争を終わらせるために、休むことなく働いている」と述べました。

「ロシア 和平の準備できている」

トランプ大統領は「われわれはロシアとも真剣に協議し、ロシアから和平の準備ができているという強いシグナルを受け取った」と述べました。

「ウクライナは鉱物・安保合意に署名する用意」

トランプ大統領は「きょう、私はウクライナのゼレンスキー大統領から重要な書簡を受け取った。ウクライナは、恒久的な平和をもたらすためにできるだけ早く交渉のテーブルに着く用意があるということだ。ウクライナは、鉱物資源や安全保障をめぐる合意についていつでも署名する用意がある」と述べました。

「米 ウクライナ防衛に多くの資金提供 欧州は…」

トランプ大統領は「アメリカはウクライナを防衛するため多くの資金を提供してきた。一方、ヨーロッパは悲しいことに、ウクライナの防衛に費やした金額よりも、ロシアの石油とガスを購入するために費やした金額のほうがはるかに多い。そして、バイデン前大統領はヨーロッパが費やした以上の資金をこの戦闘に使うことを承認した」と述べました。

「環境・食べ物から有害物質取り除き 子どもを健康に」

トランプ大統領は「1975年以降、子どものがんが増加している」とした上で「この傾向を逆転させることがロバート・ケネディ・ジュニア厚生長官が率いる新しい委員会の最優先事項のひとつだ。われわれの目標は環境中や食べ物から有害物質を取り除き、子どもたちを健康で強くすることだ」と述べました。

「パナマ運河を取り戻す」

トランプ大統領は「パナマ運河を取り戻す。すでに着手している。まさにきょう、アメリカの企業がパナマ運河周辺の港などを買収すると発表した」と述べました。

「米の造船業を復活させる」

トランプ大統領は「国防産業基盤を強化するために、商船や軍艦を含むアメリカの造船業を復活させる。このため私は今夜、ホワイトハウスに造船に関する新たな部署を設置し、この産業を再びアメリカ国内に戻すために特別な税制優遇措置を講じることを発表する」と述べました。

「グリーンランドは安全保障面で必要」

トランプ大統領は「グリーンランドのすばらしい人たちにメッセージがある。もしあなたたちが選ぶならわれわれはアメリカに迎え入れる。われわれはグリーンランドを安全保障面で必要としている」と述べました。

「減税法案可決で史上最高の経済へ」

トランプ大統領は「史上最高の経済を実現するための次の計画は国民のために議会が減税の法案を可決することだ」と述べました。

法案には1期目の政権で導入した所得減税を恒久化することや飲食店の従業員などが受けとるチップや残業代への課税の廃止、国内で生産する製造業への減税などが含まれているとしています。

「火星に星条旗を立てる」

トランプ大統領は「今後4年間で、われわれはこの国をさらに高いレベルへと導き、地球上に存在したことがなかったような、最も自由で進歩し、最も活力に満ちて、支配的な文明を築き上げるつもりだ」としたうえで「われわれは人類を宇宙へと導き、火星に星条旗を立て、さらにその先に行く」と述べました。

野党・民主党 「関税引き上げは逆効果」

トランプ大統領の今後の施政方針を示す演説に対して、野党・民主党からは、CIA＝中央情報局や国防総省で勤務した経歴を持つスロトキン上院議員が反対演説を行いました。

地元ミシガン州から演説したスロトキン氏は「国民は変化を求めた。しかし、変化を起こすには、責任ある方法と無謀な方法がある」と述べました。

そのうえでトランプ大統領の経済や通商政策をめぐって、関税の引き上げはさらなる物価の高騰を招くおそれがあるなどとして、逆効果だと批判しました。

また、外交や安全保障政策を巡っても「トランプ大統領は『力による平和』ということばを好んで使う。レーガン大統領のまねだ。しかし、先週、大統領執務室で起きたことを見たらレーガン大統領は墓の中で怒っているにちがいない。われわれは皆、ウクライナでの戦争の終結を望んでいる。しかし、レーガン大統領は、本当の強さは、軍事力、経済力とともにモラルが必要だと理解していた。トランプ大統領は、プーチンのような独裁者にすり寄る一方、カナダのような友人をけなすことを信条としている」と非難しました。

民主党 女性議員はピンク色の上着で抗議

野党・民主党の女性議員の一部はピンク色の上着などを着てトランプ大統領の政策に抗議の姿勢を示していました。

また男性の議員の中にもピンクのネクタイを着用して抗議に加わる人の姿が見られました。

アメリカメディアによりますとピンクの服を着る意味について、民主党の女性議員でつくる団体の代表は「ピンクは力と抗議の色で、女性や家族に悪影響を及ぼしているトランプ大統領の政策に対する抗議の意思を示すためだ」と説明しているということです。

またトランプ大統領の演説中には与党・共和党の議員が立ち上がって拍手を送るなか、民主党議員の一部は「誤り」という意味がある「FALSE」など　と書かれたプラカードを掲げて抗議していました。

林官房長官「相互関税は精査し適切に対応」

林官房長官は午後の記者会見で「幅広いテーマでトランプ大統領の考えを示すものだった。『相互関税』は日本が対象になるべきでないと申し入れながら意思疎通を行っており、措置の具体的な内容や影響を十分に精査し、適切に対応していく」と述べました。

また、トランプ大統領が関税に言及した際、中国やブラジルなどを名指しして批判したことをめぐり「わが国への言及がなかったことは留意している」と述べました。

LNG＝液化天然ガスのパイプラインに対する日本などからの投資に期待を示したことについては「供給源の多角化にも貢献することから、LNGのさらなる購入について経済性や供給の開始時期などを踏まえ官民で検討する。日米双方の利益につながる議論が積み重ねられるよう必要な環境整備を行っていく」と述べました。

一方、ウクライナ情勢に関する発言をめぐっては「アメリカとウクライナの協議の行方を注視したい。アメリカを含む各国の外交努力が、戦闘行為の終結やウクライナの公正かつ永続的な平和の実現につながることが重要だ」と述べました。

中国外務省「“中国が運河支配している”は全くのでたらめ」

トランプ大統領が施政方針を示す演説で「パナマ運河を取り戻す」などと発言したことについて、中国外務省の林剣報道官は5日の記者会見で「中国は運河に対するパナマの主権を支持し、運河が恒久的に中立な国際航路として維持されるよう努めている」と述べました。

そのうえで「中国はこれまで運河の管理・運営に関与したことはなく、干渉もしていない。『中国が運河を支配している』という主張は全くのでたらめだ」と強調しました。

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以上 NHK:

【詳しく】トランプ大統領 “前政権の政策転換 関税など推進”

2025年3月5日 20時56分

トランプ大統領 施政方針演説 “前政権の政策転換 関税など推進” ゼレンスキー氏から書簡“合意署名用意” | NHK | トランプ大統領

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250305/k10014739941000.html

 

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President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress, March 4, 2025

The White House

 

 

 

President Donald J. Trump will address a Joint Session of Congress on March 4, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET. 📱Text President Trump at (202) 933-9934

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C.

9:19 P.M. EST

https://www.whitehouse.gov/remarks/2025/03/remarks-by-president-trump-in-joint-address-to-congress/

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(March 4, 2025)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you very much.  Thank you very much.  It’s a great honor.  Thank you very much.

Speaker Johnson, Vice President Vance, the first lady of the United States — (applause) — members of the United States Congress, thank you very much.

And to my fellow citizens, America is back.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE PRESIDENT:  Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America.  From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country.

We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

I return to this chamber tonight to report that 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.  (Applause.)  The American dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback, the likes of which the world has never witnessed and perhaps will never witness again.  There’s never been anything like it.  (Applause.)

The presidential election of November 5th was a mandate like has not been seen in many decades.  We won all seven swing states, giving us an electoral college victory of 312 votes.  (Applause.)  We won the popular vote —

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  — by big numbers and won counties in our country —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN:  You are — you have no right to cut Medicaid.

AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE PRESIDENT:  — and won counties in our country 2,700 to 525 on a map that reads almost completely red for Republican.  (Applause.)

Now, for the first time in modern history, more Americans believe that our country is headed in the right direction than the wrong direction.  In fact, it’s an astonishing record: 27-point swing, the most ever.  (Applause.)

Likewise, small-business optimism saw its single largest one-month gain ever recorded.

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT:  A 41-point jump.

(Speaker Johnson strikes the gavel.)

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions.  That’s your warning.

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN:  He has no mandate to cut Medicaid.

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session.  (Applause.)

Mr. Green, take your seat.  Take your seat, sir.

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN:  He has no mandate to cut Medicaid.

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Take your seat.

(Cross-talk.)

Finding that members continue to engage in willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the sergeant at arms to restore order.  (Applause.)  Remove this gentleman from the chamber.  (Applause.)

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN:  Shame on all of you.

(Members of the audience sing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”)

(Cross-talk.)

You have no mandate.

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House.

Mr. President, you can continue.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions — a record — to restore common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land.  The people elected me to do the job, and I’m doing it.  (Applause.)

In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency — it’s our presidency — (applause) — is the most successful in the history of our nation by many.  (Applause.)  And what makes it even more impressive is that — do you know who number two is?  George Washington.  How about that?  (Laughter and applause.)  How about that?  I don’t know about that list, but we’ll take it.

Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border — (applause) — and I deployed the U.S. military and Border Patrol to repel the invasion of our country.  And what a job they’ve done.

As a result, illegal border crossings last month were, by far, the lowest ever recorded. Ever.  (Applause.)  They heard my words, and they chose not to come.  Much easier that way.

In comparison, under Joe Biden, the worst president in American history — (applause) — there were hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings a month, and virtually all of them, including murderers, drug dealers, gang members, and people from mental institutions and insane asylums, were released into our country.  Who would want to do that?

This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and, once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud.  Nothing I can do.  I could find a cure to the most devastating disease — a disease that would wipe out entire nations, or announce the answers to the greatest economy in history or the stoppage of crime to the lowest levels ever recorded, and these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements.  They won’t do it no matter what.

Five times I’ve been up here.  It’s very sad, and it just shouldn’t be this way.  (Applause.)

So, Democrats sitting before me, for just this one night, why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America?  For the good of our nation, let’s work together and let’s truly make America great again.  (Applause.)

Every day, my administration is fighting to deliver the change America needs, to bring a future that America deserves, and we’re doing it.  This is a time for big dreams and bold action.

Upon taking office, I imposed an immediate freeze on all federal hiring, a freeze on all new federal regulations, and a freeze on all foreign aid.  (Applause.)  I terminated the ridiculous Green New Scam.  I withdrew from the unfair Paris Climate Accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars that other countries were not paying.  (Applause.)  I withdrew from the corrupt World Health Organization.  (Applause.)  And I also withdrew from the anti-American U.N. Human Rights Council.  (Applause.)

We ended all of Biden’s environmental restrictions that were making our country far less safe and totally unaffordable.  And importantly, we ended the last administration’s insane electric vehicle mandate, saving our autoworkers and companies from economic destruction.  (Applause.)

To unshackle our economy, I have directed that for every 1 new regulation, 10 old regulations must be eliminated, just like I did in my very successful first term.  (Applause.)  And in that first term, we set records on ending unnecessary rules and regulations like no other president had done before.

We ordered all federal workers to return to the office.  They will either show up for work in person or be removed from their job.  (Applause.)

And we have ended weaponized government, where, as an example, a sitting president is allowed to viciously prosecute his political opponent, like me.  How did that work out? (Laughter.)  Not too good.  (Applause.)  Not too good.

And I have stopped all government censorship and brought back free speech in America.  It’s back.  (Applause.)

And two days ago, I signed an order making English the official language of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

I renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.  (Applause.)

And, likewise, I renamed — for a great president, William McKinley — Mount McKinley again.  (Applause.)  Beautiful Alaska.  We love Alaska.

We’ve ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and, indeed, the private sector and our military.  (Applause.)  And our country will be woke no longer.  (Applause.)

We believe that whether you are a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer, or an air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender.  Very important.  (Applause.)  You should be hired based on merit.  And the Supreme Court, in a brave and very powerful decision, has allowed us to do so.

Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

We have removed the poison of critical race theory from our public schools.  And I signed an order making it the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.  (Applause.)

I also signed an executive order to ban men from playing in women’s sports.  (Applause.)

Three years ago, Payton McNabb was an all-star high school athlete — one of the best — preparing for a future in college sports.  But when her girls’ volleyball match was invaded by a male, he smashed the ball so hard in Payton’s face, causing traumatic brain injury, partially paralyzing her right side, and ending her athletic career.  It was a shot like she’s never seen before.  She’s never seen anything like it.

Payton is here tonight in the gallery.  And, Payton, from now on, schools will kick the men off the girls’ team or they will lose all federal funding.  (Applause.)

And if you really want to see numbers, just take a look at what happened in the woman’s boxing, weightlifting, track and field, swimming, or cycling, where a male recently finished a long-distance race five hours and 14 minutes ahead of a woman for a new record by five hours.  Broke the record by five hours.

It’s demeaning for women, and it’s very bad for our country.  We’re not going to put up with it any longer.  (Applause.)

What I have just described is only a small fraction of the commonsense revolution that is now, because of us, sweeping the entire world.  Common sense has become a common theme, and we will never go back.  Never.  Never going to let that happen.  (Applause.)

Among my very highest priorities is to rescue our economy and get dramatic and immediate relief to working families.  As you know, we inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.  Their policies drove up energy prices, pushed up grocery costs, and drove the necessities of life out of reach for millions and millions of Americans.  They’ve never had anything like it.

We suffered the worst inflation in 48 years but perhaps even in the history of our country. They’re not sure.  As president, I’m fighting every day to reverse this damage and make America affordable again.  (Applause.)

Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  The egg price is out of control, and we’re working hard to get it back down.

Secretary, do a good job on that.  You inherited a total mess from the previous administration.  Do a good job.  (Applause.)

A major focus of our fight to defeat inflation is rapidly reducing the cost of energy.  The previous administration cut the number of new oil and gas leases by 95 percent, slowed pipeline construction to a halt, and closed more than 100 power plants.  We are opening up many of those power plants right now.  (Applause.)

And, frankly, we have never seen anything like it.  That’s why, on my first day in office, I declared a national energy emergency.  (Applause.)  As you’ve heard me say many times, we have more liquid gold under our feet than any nation on Earth and by far.  And now I’ve fully authorized the most talented team ever assembled to go and get it.  It’s called drill, baby, drill.  (Applause.)

My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska — among the largest in the world — where Japan, South Korea, and other nations want to be our partner with investments of trillions of dollars each.  There’s never been anything like that one.  It will be truly spectacular.  It’s all set to go.  The permitting is gotten.

And later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.  (Applause.)

To further combat inflation, we will not only be reducing the cost of energy, but we’ll be ending the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars.  (Applause.)  And to that end, I have created the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency – DOGE. (Applause.) Perhaps you’ve heard of it — perhaps — which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight.  (Applause.)

Thank you, Elon.  He’s working very hard.  He didn’t need this.  (Laughs.)  He didn’t need this.  Thank you very much.  We appreciate it.  Everybody here, even this side, appreciates it, I believe.  (Applause.)  They just don’t want to admit that.

Just listen to some of the appalling waste we have already identified.

$22 billion from HHS to provide free housing and cars for illegal aliens.

$45 million for diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarships in Burma.

$40 million to improve the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants.  Nobody knows what that is.  (Laughter.)

$8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of.  (Laughter.)

$60 million for Indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian empowerment in Central America.  $60 million.

$8 million for making mice transgender.  (Laughter.)  This is real.

$32 million for a left-wing propaganda operation in Moldova.

$10 million for male circumcision in Mozambique.

$20 million for the Arab “Sesame Street” in the Middle East.  It’s a program.  $20 million for a program.

$1.9 billion to recently created decarbonization of homes committee, headed up — and we know she’s involved — just at the last moment, the money was passed over — by a woman named Stacey Abrams.  Have you ever heard of her?

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  A $3.5 million consulting contract for lavish fish monitoring.

$1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia.

$14 million for social cohesion in Mali.

$59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  He’s a real estate developer.  He’s done very well.

$250,000 to increase vegan local climate action innovation in Zambia.

$42 million for social and behavior change in Uganda.

$14 million for improving public procurement in Serbia.

$47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia.  Asia is doing very well with learning.  (Laughter.)  Don’t know what we’re doing.  We should use it ourselves.

And $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education, the most ever paid.  Nothing even like it.

Under the Trump administration, all of these scams — and there are far worse, but I didn’t think it was appropriate to talk about them.  They’re so bad.  Many more have been found out and exposed and swiftly terminated by a group of very intelligent, mostly young people, headed up by Elon.  And we appreciate it.  We’ve found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud.  (Applause.)

And we’ve taken back the money and reduced our debt to fight inflation and other things.  Taken back a lot of that money.  We got it just in time.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  This is just the beginning.  The Government Accountability Office, a federal government office, has estimated annual fraud of over $500 billion in our nation, and we are working very hard to stop it.  We’re going to.

We’re also identifying shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud in the Social Security program for our seniors and that our seniors and people that we love rely on.  Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109 years old.

THE PRESIDENT:  It lists 3.6 million people from ages 110 to 119.  I don’t know any of them.  I know some people that are rather elderly, but not quite that elderly.  (Laughter.)

3.47 million people from ages 120 to 129.

3.9 million people from ages 130 to 139.

3.5 million people from ages 140 to 149.

And money is being paid to many of them, and we’re searching right now.

In fact, Pam, good luck.  Good luck.  You’re going to find it.

But a lot of money is paid out to people because it just keeps getting paid and paid, and nobody does — and it really hurts Social Security and hurts our country.

1.3 million people from ages 150 to 159.  And over 130,000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are age over 160 years old.

We have a healthier country than I thought, Bobby.  (Laughter and applause.)

Including, to finish, 1,039 people between the ages of 220 and 229; one person between the age of 240 and 249; and one person is listed at 360 years of age.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Joe Biden!  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: More than 100 years older than our country.

But we’re going to find out where that money is going, and it’s not going to be pretty.

By slashing all of the fraud, waste, and theft we can find, we will defeat inflation, bring down mortgage rates, lower car payments and grocery prices, protect our seniors, and put more money in the pockets of American families.  (Applause.)

And today, interest rates took a beautiful drop — big, beautiful drop.  It’s about time.

And in the near future, I want to do what has not been done in 24 years: balance the federal budget.  We’re going to balance it.  (Applause.)

With that goal in mind, we have developed in great detail what we are calling the gold card, which goes on sale very, very soon.

For $5 million, we will allow the most successful, job-creating people from all over the world to buy a path to U.S. citizenship.  It’s like the green card but better and more sophisticated.  (Laughter.)  And these people will have to pay tax in our country.  They won’t have to pay tax from where they came.  The money that they’ve made, you wouldn’t want to do that, but they have to pay tax, create jobs.

They’ll also be taking people out of colleges and paying for them so that we can keep them in our country, instead of having them being forced out.  Number one at the top school, as an example, being forced out and not being allowed to stay and create tremendous numbers of jobs and great success for a company out there.

So, while we take out the criminals, killers, traffickers, and child predators who were allowed to enter our country under the open border policy of these people — the Democrats, the Biden administration — the open border, insane policies that you’ve allowed to destroy our country — we will now bring in brilliant, hardworking, job-creating people.  They’re going to pay a lot of money, and we’re going to reduce our debt with that money.  (Applause.)

Americans have given us a mandate for bold and profound change.  For nearly 100 years, the federal bureaucracy has grown until it has crushed our freedoms, ballooned our deficits, and held back America’s potential in every possible way.  The nation founded by pioneers and risk-takers now drowns under millions and millions of pages of regulations and debt.

Approvals that should take 10 days to get instead take 10 years, 15 years, and even 20 years before you’re rejected.  Meanwhile, we have hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have not been showing up to work.

My administration will reclaim power from this unaccountable bureaucracy, and we will restore true democracy to America again. (Applause.)  Any federal bureaucrat who resists this change will be removed from office immediately — (applause) — because we are draining the swamp.  It’s very simple.  And the days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over.  (Applause.)

And the next phase of our plan to deliver the greatest economy in history is for this Congress to pass tax cuts for everybody.  They’re in there.  They’re waiting for you to vote.  (Applause.)

And I’m sure that the people on my right — I don’t mean the Republican right, but my right right here — I’m sure you’re going to vote for those tax cuts, because, otherwise, I don’t believe the people will ever vote you into office.  So, I’m doing you a big favor by telling you that.  (Applause.)

But I know this group is going to be voting for the taxes.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  It’s a very, very big part of our plan.  We had tremendous success in our first term with it.  A very big part of our plan.  We’re seeking permanent income tax cuts all across the board.

And to get urgently needed relief to Americans hit especially hard by inflation, I’m calling for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security benefits for our great seniors.  (Applause.)

(Addressing Speaker Johnson.)  Good luck.

And I also want to make interest payments on car loans tax deductible but only if the car is made in America.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, we’re going to have growth in the auto industry like nobody has ever seen.  Plants are opening up all over the place.  Deals are being made.  Never seen. That’s a combination of the election win and tariffs.

It’s a beautiful word, isn’t it?

That, along with our other policies, will allow our auto industry to absolutely boom.  It’s going to boom.  Spoke to the majors today — all three — the top people, and they’re so excited.  In fact, already, numerous car companies have announced that they will be building massive automobile plants in America, with Honda just announcing a new plant in Indiana, one of the largest anywhere in the world.  (Applause.)

And this has taken place since our great victory on November 5th, a date which will hopefully go down as one of the most important in the history of our country.  (Applause.)

In addition, as part of our tax cuts, we want to cut taxes on domestic production and all manufacturing.  And just as we did before, we will provide 100 percent expensing.  It will be retroactive to January 20th, 2025, and it was one of the main reasons why our tax cuts were so successful in our first term, giving us the most successful economy in the history of our country.  First term — we had a great first term.  (Applause.)

If you don’t make your product in America, however, under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff and, in some cases, a rather large one.  Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.

On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and Canada — have you heard of them? — and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them.  It’s very unfair.  India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100 percent.  China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them.  And South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher.  Think of that: four times higher.  And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea, but that’s what happens.

This is happening by friend and foe.  This system is not fair to the United States and never was.  And so, on April 2nd — I wanted to make it April 1st, but I didn’t want to be accused of April Fool’s Day.  (Laughter.)  Just one day, which cost us a lot of money.  (Laughter.)  But we’re going to do it in April. I’m a very superstitious person. April 2nd, reciprocal tariffs kick in.  And whatever they tariff us — other countries — we will tariff them.  That’s reciprocal, back and forth.  (Applause.)  Whatever they tax us, we will tax them.

If they do non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we will do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market.  There’s a lot of that too.  They don’t even allow us in their market.

We will take in trillions and trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before.  I did it with China, and I did it with others.  And the Biden administration couldn’t do anything about it because it was so much money.  They couldn’t do anything about it.

We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer.  (Applause.)

Much has been said over the last three months about Mexico and Canada, but we have very large deficits with both of them.  But even more importantly, they have allowed fentanyl to come into our country at levels never seen before, killing hundreds of thousands of our citizens and many very young, beautiful people — destroying families.  Nobody has ever seen anything like it.

They are, in effect, receiving subsidies of hundreds of billions of dollars.  We pay subsidies to Canada and to Mexico of hundreds of billions of dollars.  And the United States will not be doing that any longer.  We’re not going to do it any longer.  (Applause.)

Thanks to our America First policies we’re putting into place, we have had $1.7 trillion of new investment in America in just the past few weeks.  (Applause.)  The combination of the election and our economic policies — the people of SoftBank, one of the most brilliant anywhere in the world, announced a $200 billion investment.  OpenAI and Oracle — Larry Ellison — announced $500 billion investment, which they wouldn’t have done if Kamala had won.  (Applause.)

Apple announced $500 billion investment.  Tim Cook called me.  He said, “I cannot spend it fast enough.”  It’s going to be much higher than that, I believe.  They’ll be building their plants here, instead of in China.

And just yesterday, Taiwan Semiconductor — the biggest in the world, most powerful in the world, has a tremendous amount — 97 percent of the market, announced a $165 billion investment to build the most powerful chips on Earth right here in the USA.  (Applause.)

And we’re not giving them any money.  Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing.  We give hundreds of billions of dollars, and it doesn’t mean a thing.  They take our money, and they don’t spend it.  All that meant to them — we’re giving them no money.  All that was important to them was they didn’t want to pay the tariffs, so they came and they’re building.  And many other companies are coming.

We don’t have to give them money.  We just want to protect our businesses and our people.  And they will come because they won’t have to pay tariffs if they build in America.  And so, it’s very amazing.

You should get rid of the CHIP Act.  And whatever is left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt or any other reason you want to.  (Applause.)

Our new trade policy will also be great for the American farmer — I love the farmer — (applause) — who will now be selling into our home market, the USA, because nobody is going to be able to compete with you.  Because those goods that come in from other countries and companies, they’re really, really in a bad position in so many different ways.  They’re uninspected.  They may be very dirty and disgusting, and they come in and they pour in, and they hurt our American farmers.

The tariffs will go on agricultural product coming into America.  And our farmers, starting on April 2nd — it may be a little bit of an adjustment period.  We had that before, when I made the deal with China.  Fifty billion dollars of purchases, and I said, “Just bear with me,” and they did.  They did.  Probably have to bear with me again, and this will be even better.

That was great.  The problem with it was that Biden didn’t enforce it.  He didn’t enforce it.  Fifty billion dollars of purchases, and we were doing great, but Biden did not enforce it.  And it hurt our farmers, but our farmers are going to have a field day right now.

So, to our farmers, have a lot of fun.  I love you too.  I love you too.  (Applause.)  It’s all going to happen.

And I have also imposed a 25 percent tariff on foreign aluminum, copper, lumber, and steel, because if we don’t have, as an example, steel and lots of other things, we don’t have a military and, frankly, we just won’t have a country very long.

Here today is a proud American steelworker, fantastic person from Decatur, Alabama.  Jeff Denard has been working at the same steel plant for 27 years in a job that has allowed him to serve as the captain of his local volunteer fire department; raise seven children with his beautiful wife, Nicole; and over the years, provide a loving home for more than 40 foster children.  So great, Jeff.  (Applause.)

Thank you, Jeff.  Thank you, Jeff.  (Applause.)

Stories like Jeff’s remind us that tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs.  They’re about protecting the soul of our country.  Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again.  And it’s happening, and it will happen rather quickly.

There will be a little disturbance, but we’re okay with that.  It won’t be much.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  No, we’re not!

THE PRESIDENT:  No, you’re not.  Oh.  (Laughter.)

And look — and look where Biden took us.  Very low.  The lowest we’ve ever been.

Jeff, I want to thank you very much.

And I also want to recognize another person who has devoted herself to foster care community.  She worked so hard on it.  A very loving person.  Our magnificent first lady of the United States.  (Applause.)

Melania’s work has yielded incredible results, helping prepare our nation’s future leaders as they enter the workforce.

Our first lady is joined by two impressive young women — very impressive: Haley Ferguson, who benefited from the first lady’s Fostering the Future initiative and is poised to complete her education and become a teacher, and Elliston Berry, who became a victim of an illicit deepfake image produced by a peer.  With Elliston’s help, the Senate just passed the Take It Down Act —

This is so important.  Thank you very much, John.  John Thune, thank you.  (Applause.)  Stand up, John.  Thank you, John.  (Applause.)  Thank you all very much.  Thank you.

And thank you to John Thune and the Senate.  A great job.

— to criminalize the publication of such images online.  This terrible, terrible thing.  And once it passes the House, I look forward to signing that bill into law.  Thank you.

And I’m going to use that bill for myself too, if you don’t mind — (laughter) — because nobody gets treated worse than I do online.  Nobody.  (Laughter.)

That’s great.  Thank you very much to the Senate.  Thank you.

But if we truly care about protecting America’s children, no step is more crucial than securing America’s borders.  Over the past four years, 21 million people poured into the United States.  Many of them were murderers, human traffickers, gang members, and other criminals from the streets of dangerous cities all throughout the world.  Because of Joe Biden’s insane and very dangerous open border policies, they are now strongly embedded in our country, but we are getting them out and getting them out fast.  (Applause.)

And I want to thank Tom Homan.  And, Kristi, I want to thank you.  And Paul of Border Patrol, I want to thank you.  What a job they’ve all done.  Everybody.  Border Patrol, ICE.  Law enforcement, in general, is incredible.  We have to take care of our law enforcement.  (Applause.)  We have to.

Last year, a brilliant 22-year-old nursing student named Laken Riley — the best in her class, admired by everybody — went out for a jog on the campus of the University of Georgia.  That morning, Laken was viciously attacked, assaulted, beaten, brutalized, and horrifically murdered.  Laken was stolen from us by a savage illegal alien gang member who was arrested while trespassing across Biden’s open southern border and then set loose into the United States under the heartless policies of that failed administration.  It was indeed a failed administration.

He had then been arrested and released in a Democrat-run sanctuary city — a disaster — before ending the life of this beautiful young angel.

With us this evening are Laken’s beloved mother, Allyson, and her sister, Lauren.  (Applause.)

Last year, I told Laken’s grieving parents that we would ensure their daughter would not have died in vain.  That’s why the very first bill I signed into law as your 47th president mandates the detention of all dangerous criminal aliens who threaten public safety.  It’s a very strong, powerful act.  (Applause.)  It’s called the Laken Riley Act.  (Applause.)

So, Allyson and Lauren, America will never, ever forget our beautiful Laken Hope Riley.  (Applause.)

Thank you very much.

Since taking office, my administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history, and we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation.  “We must have legislation to secure the border.”  But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Trump!  Trump!  Trump!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

Joe Biden didn’t just open our borders.  He flew illegal aliens over them to overwhelm our schools, hospitals, and communities throughout the country.  Entire towns, like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, buckled under the weight of the migrant occupation and corruption like nobody has ever seen before.  Beautiful towns destroyed.

Now, just as I promised in my Inaugural Address, we are achieving the great liberation of America.  (Applause.)

But there still is much work to be done.

Here tonight is a woman I have gotten to know: Alexis Nungaray from Houston.  Wonderful woman.  Last June, Alexis’s 12-year-old daughter, her precious Jocelyn, walked to a nearby convenience store.  She was kidnapped, tied up, assaulted for two hours under a bridge, and horrifically murdered.  Arrested and charged with this heinous crime are two illegal alien monsters from Venezuela, released into America by the last administration through their ridiculous open border.

The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly.

Alexis, I promised that we would always remember your daughter — your magnificent daughter.  And earlier tonight, I signed an order keeping my word to you.

One thing I have learned about Jocelyn is that she loved animals so much.  She loved nature.  Across Galveston Bay from where Jocelyn lived in Houston, you will find a magnificent national wildlife refuge. A pristine, peaceful, 34,000-acre sanctuary for all of God’s creatures on the edge of the Gulf of America.

Alexis, moments ago, I formally renamed that refuge in loving memory of your beautiful daughter, Jocelyn.

So, Mr. Vice President, if you would, may I have the order?  (Applause.)

(The president holds up the executive order.)

Thank you very much.

All three savages charged with Jocelyn and Laken’s murders were members of the Venezuelan prison gang — the toughest gang, they say, in the world — known as Tren de Aragua.  Two weeks ago, I officially designated this gang, along with MS-13 and the bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations.  (Applause.)  They are now officially in the same category as ISIS, and that’s not good for them.

Countless thousands of these terrorists were welcomed into the U.S. by the Biden administration, but now every last one will be rounded up and forcibly removed from our country, or, if they’re too dangerous, put in jails, standing trial in this country, because we don’t want them to come back ever.

With us this evening is a warrior on the front lines of that battle, Border Patrol agent Roberto Ortiz.  Great guy.  (Applause.)

In January, Roberto and another agent were patrolling by the Rio Grande, near an area known as Cartel Island — doesn’t sound too nice to me — when heavily armed gunmen started shooting at them.  Roberto saw that his partner was totally exposed, in great danger, and he leapt into action, returning fire and providing crucial seconds for his fellow agent to seek safety, and just barely.  I have some of the prints of that event, and it was not good.

Agent Ortiz, we salute you for your great courage and for your line of fire that you took and for the bravery that you showed.  We honor you, and we will always honor you.  Thank you, Roberto, very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Roberto.

And I actually got to know him on my many calls to the border.  He’s a great, great gentleman.

The territory to the immediate south of our border is now dominated entirely by criminal cartels that murder, rape, torture, and exercise total control — they have total control over a whole nation — posing a grave threat to our national security.  The cartels are waging war in America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels, which we are doing.  (Applause.)

Five nights ago, Mexican authorities, because of our tariff policies being imposed on them — think of this — handed over to us 29 of the biggest cartel leaders in their country.  That has never happened before.  They want to make us happy.  (Applause.)  First time ever.

But we need Mexico and Canada to do much more than they’ve done, and they have to stop the fentanyl and drugs pouring into the USA.  They’re going to stop it.

I have sent Congress a detailed funding request laying out exactly how we will eliminate these threats to protect our homeland and complete the largest deportation operation in American history, larger even than current record holder, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a moderate man but someone who believed very strongly in borders.  Americans expect Congress to send me this funding without delay so I can sign it into law.

So, Mr. Speaker, John Thune, both of you, I hope you’re going to be able to do that.  Mr. Speaker, thank you.  Mr. Leader, thank you.  Thank you very much.  And let’s get it to me.  I’ll sign it so fast, you won’t even believe it.  (Applause.)

And as we reclaim our sovereignty, we must also bring back law and order to our cities and towns.  (Applause.)  In recent years, our justice system has been turned upside down by radical-left lunatics.  Many jurisdictions virtually ceased enforcing the law against dangerous repeat offenders while weaponizing law enforcement against political opponents like me.

My administration has acted swiftly and decisively to restore fair, equal, and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law, starting at the FBI and the DOJ.

Pam, good luck.  Kash, wherever you may be, good luck.  (Applause.)  Good luck.  Pam Bondi, good luck.  So important.  Going to do a great job.  (Applause.)

Kash, thank you.  Thank you, Kash.  (Applause.)

They have already started very strong.  They’re going to do a fantastic job.  You’re going to be very proud of them.

We’re also, once again, giving our police officers the support, protection, and respect they so dearly deserve.  They have to get it.  They have such a hard, dangerous job, but we’re going to make it less dangerous.  The problem is the bad guys don’t respect the law, but they’re starting to respect it, and they soon will respect it.

(Cross-talk.)

This also includes our great fire departments throughout the country.  Our firemen and women are unbelievable people, and I will never forget them.  And besides that, they voted for me in record numbers, so I have no choice.  (Applause.)

One year ago this month, 31-year-old New York police officer Jonathan Diller — unbelievably wonderful person and a great officer — was gunned down at a traffic stop on Long Island.  I went to his funeral.  The vicious criminal charged with his murder had 21 prior arrests, and they were rough arrests too.  He was a real bad one.

The thug in the seat next to him had 14 prior arrests and went by the name of “Killer.”  He was Killer.  He killed other people.  They say a lot of them.

I attended Officer Diller’s service, and when I met his wife and one-year-old son, Ryan, it was very inspirational, actually.  His widow’s name is Stephanie, and she is here tonight.  Stephanie, thank you very much, Stephanie.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

Stephanie, we’re going to make sure that Ryan knows his dad was a true hero — New York’s Finest.  And we’re going to get these cold-blooded killers and repeat offenders off our streets, and we’re going to do it fast.  Got to stop it.

They get out with 28 arrests.  They push people into subway trains.  They hit people over the back of the head with baseball bats.  We got to get them out of here.

I’ve already signed an executive order requiring a mandatory death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer.  And, tonight, I’m asking Congress to pass that policy into permanent law.  (Applause.)

I’m also asking for a new crime bill, getting tough on repeat offenders while enhancing protections for America’s police officers so they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being totally destroyed.  They don’t want to be killed.  We’re not going to let them be killed.

Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police.  His name is D.J. Daniel.  He is 13 years old, and he has always dreamed of becoming a police officer.  (Applause.)

But in 2018, D.J. was diagnosed with brain cancer.  The doctors gave him five months at most to live.  That was more than six years ago.  (Applause.)

Since that time, D.J. and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true, and D.J. has been sworn in as an honorary law enforcement officer, actually, a number of times.  Pec- — the police love him.  The police departments love him.

And tonight, D.J., we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all.  I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service.  (Applause.)

(Director Curran presents Mr. Daniel with a Secret Service Agent credential.)

AUDIENCE:  D.J.!  D.J.!  D.J.!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, D.J.

D.J.’s doctors believe his cancer likely came from a chemical he was exposed to when he was younger.  Since 1975, rates of child cancer have increased by more than 40 percent.  Reversing this trend is one of the top priorities for our new presidential commission to make America healthy again, chaired by our new secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  MAHA, baby!

THE PRESIDENT:  With the name “Kennedy,” you would have thought everybody over here would have been cheering.  (Laughter.)  How quickly they forget.

Our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply, and keep our children healthy and strong.

As an example, not long ago — you can’t even believe these numbers — 1 in 10,000 children had autism. 1 in 10,000.  And now it’s 1 in 36.  There’s something wrong.  One in 36.  Think of that.

So, we’re going to find out what it is, and there’s nobody better than Bobby and all of the people that are working with you — you have the best — to figure out what is going on.

Okay, Bobby?  Good luck.  It’s a very important job.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.

My administration is also working to protect our children from toxic ideologies in our schools.

A few years ago, January Littlejohn and her husband discovered that their daughter’s school had secretly socially transitioned their 13-year-old little girl.  Teachers and administrators conspired to deceive January and her husband, while encouraging her daughter to use a new name and pronouns — “they/them” pronouns, actually — all without telling January, who is here tonight and is now a courageous advocate against this form of child abuse.  January, thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.

Stories like this are why, shortly after taking office, I signed an executive order banning public schools from indoctrinating our children with transgender ideology.  (Applause.)

I also signed an order to cut off all taxpayer funding to any institution that engages in the sexual mutilation of our youth.  (Applause.)  And now I want Congress to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalizing sex changes on children and forever ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.  This is a big lie.  (Applause.)

And our message to every child in America is that you are perfect exactly the way God made you.  (Applause.)

Because we’re getting wokeness out of our schools and out of our military, and it’s already out, and it’s out of our society.  We don’t want it.  Wokeness is trouble.  Wokeness is bad.  It’s gone.  It’s gone.  And we feel so much better for it, don’t we?  Don’t we feel better?  (Applause.)

Our service members won’t be activists and ideologues.  They will be fighters and warriors.  They will fight for our country.

And, Pete, congratulations.  Secretary of Defense, congratulations.  (Applause.)

And he’s not big into the woke movement, I can tell you.  (Laughter.)  I know him well.

I am pleased to report that, in January, the U.S. Army had its single best recruiting month in 15 years and that all armed services are having among the best recruiting results ever in the history of our services.  (Applause.)  What a difference.

And you know it was just a few months ago where the results were exactly the opposite.  We couldn’t recruit anywhere.  We couldn’t recruit.  Now we’re having the best results, just about, that we’ve ever had.  What a tremendous turnaround.  It’s really a beautiful thing to see.  People love our country again.  It’s very simple.  They love our country, and they love being in our military again.  So, it’s a great thing.  And thank you very much.  Great job.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

We’re joined tonight by a young man, Jason Hartley, who knows the weight of that call of duty.  Jason’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all wore the uniform.

Jason tragically lost his dad, who was also a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, when he was just a boy, and now he wants to carry on the family legacy of service.  Jason is a senior in high school, a six-letter varsity athlete — a really good athlete, they say — a brilliant student, with a 4.46 — that’s good — GPA.  (Laughter.)  And his greatest dream is to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  (Applause.)

And, Jason, that’s a very big deal getting in.  That’s a hard one to get into.  But I’m pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.  You will soon be joining the Corps of Cadets.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  Jason, you’re going to be on the Long Gray Line, Jason.

As commander in chief, my focus is on building the most powerful military of the future.  As a first step, I’m asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland, all made in the USA.  (Applause.)

And Ronald Reagan wanted to do it long ago, but the technology just wasn’t there, not even close.  But now we have the technology.  It’s incredible, actually.  And other places, they have it: Israel has it.  Other places have it.  And the United States should have it too.  Right, Tim?  Right?  (Applause.)  They should have it too.  So, I want to thank you.

But it’s a very important.  This is a very dangerous world.  We should have it.  We want to be protected.  And we’re going to protect our citizens like never before.

To boost our defense industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding.  (Applause.)

And for that purpose, I am announcing tonight that we will create a new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs.

We used to make so many ships.  We don’t make them anymore very much, but we’re going to make them very fast, very soon.  It will have a huge impact.

To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it.  (Applause.)

Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals.

The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it.  But it was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure.  Thirty-eight thousand workers died building the Panama Canal.  They died of malaria.  They died of snake bites and mosquitoes.  Not a nice place to work.  They paid them very highly to go there, knowing there was a 25 percent chance that they would die.  The most expensive project, also, that was ever built in our country’s history, if you bring it up to modern-day costs.

It was given away by the Carter administration for $1, but that agreement has been violated very severely.  We didn’t give it to China.  We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.  (Applause.)

And we have Marco Rubio in charge.  Good luck, Marco.  (Laughter and applause.)  Now we know who to blame if anything goes wrong.  (Laughter.)

No, Marco has been amazing, and he’s going to do a great job.  Think of it.  He got a hundred votes.  (Applause.)  You know, he was approved with, actually, 99, but the 100th was this gentleman, and I feel very certain — so, let’s assume he got 100 votes.  And I’m either very, very happy about that or I’m very concerned about it.  (Laughter.)

But he’s already proven — I mean, he’s a great gentleman.  He’s respected by everybody.  And we appreciate you voting for Marco.  He’s going to do a fantastic job.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  He’s doing a great job.  Great job.

And I also have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland.  (Laughter.)  We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and, if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.

We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it.  But we need it, really, for international world security.  And I think we’re going to get it.  One way or the other, we’re going to get it.

We will keep you safe.  We will make you rich.  And together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.

It’s a very small population but very, very large piece of land and very, very important for military security.

America is once again standing strong against the forces of radical Islamic terrorism.

Three and a half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan — not that they were withdrawing; it was the way they withdrew.  Perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country.

Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.  (Applause.)

And I want to thank, especially, the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.

This was a very momentous day for those 13 families, who I actually got to know very well, most of them, whose children were murdered, and the many people that were so badly — over 42 people — so badly injured on that fateful day in Afghanistan.  What a horrible day.  Such incompetence was shown that when Putin saw what happened, I guess he said, “Wow, maybe this is my chance.”  That’s how bad it was.  Should have never happened.  Grossly incompetent people.

I spoke to many of the parents and loved ones, and they’re all in our hearts tonight.  Just spoke to them on the phone.  We had a big call.  Every one of them called, and everybody was on the line, and they did nothing but cry with happiness.  They were very happy — as happy as you can be under those circumstances.  Their child, brother, sister, son, daughter was killed for no reason whatsoever.

In the Middle East, we’re bringing back our hostages from Gaza.  In my first term, we achieved one of the most groundbreaking peace agreements in generations: the Abraham Accords.  (Applause.)

And now we’re going to build on that foundation to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region.  A lot of things are happening in the Middle East.  People haven’t been talking about that so much lately with everything going on with Ukraine and Russia, but a lot of things are happening in the Middle East.  It’s a rough neighborhood, actually.

I’m also working tirelessly to end the savage conflict in Ukraine.  Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict with no end in sight.

The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense with no security, with no anything.  (Applause.)

Do you want to keep it going for another five years?

SENATOR WARREN:  Yes!

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Yeah, you would say — Pocahontas says, “Yes.”  (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  Two thousand people are being killed every single week — more than that.  They’re Russian young people.  They’re Ukrainian young people.  They’re not Americans.  But I want it to stop.

Meanwhile, Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine, by far.  Think of that.  They’ve spent more buying Russian oil and gas than they have defending.  And we’ve spent, perhaps, $350 billion.  Like taking candy from a baby, that’s what happened.  And they’ve spent $100 billion.  What a difference that is.  And we have an ocean separating us, and they don’t.

But we’re getting along very well with them, and lots of good things are happening.

Biden has authorized more money in this fight than Europe has spent by billions and billions of dollars.  It’s hard to believe that they wouldn’t have stopped it and said, at some point, “Come on.  Let’s equalize.  You got to be equal to us.”  But that didn’t happen.

Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  The letter reads, “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.”  “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,” he said.  (Applause.)  “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.  We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.  Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.”

I appreciate that he sent this letter.  Just got it a little while ago.

Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace.  Wouldn’t that be beautiful?  Wouldn’t that be beautiful?  (Applause.)  Wouldn’t that be beautiful?

It’s time to stop this madness.  It’s time to halt the killing.  It’s time to end this senseless war.  If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.

Nearly four years ago, amid rising tensions, a history teacher named Marc Fogel was detained in Russia and sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony.  Rough stuff.

The previous administration barely lifted a finger to help him.  They knew he was innocent, but they had no idea where to begin.  But last summer, I promised his 95-year-old mother, Malphine, that we would bring her boy safely back home.

After 22 days in office, I did just that, and they are here tonight.  (Applause.)

To Marc and his great mom, we are delighted to have you safe and sound and with us.

As fate would have it, Marc Fogel was born in a small, rural town — in Butler, Pennsylvania — have you heard of it? — where his mother has lived for the past 78 years.

I just happened to go there last July 13th for a rally. That was not pleasant.  (Laughter.)  And that is where I met his beautiful mom, right before I walked onto that stage.  And I told her I would not forget what she said about her son.  And I never did, did I?  Never forgot.

Less than 10 minutes later, at that same rally, gunfire rang out, and a sick and deranged assassin unloaded eight bullets from his sniper’s perch into a crowd of many thousands of people.

My life was saved by a fraction of an inch, but some were not so lucky.  Corey Comperatore was a firefighter, a veteran, a Christian, a husband, a devoted father, and, above all, a protector.

When the sound of gunshots pierced the air — it was a horrible sound — Corey knew instantly what it was and what to do.  He threw himself on top of his wife and daughters and shielded them from the bullets with his own body.

Corey was hit really hard.  You know the story from there.  He sacrificed his life to save theirs.

Two others — very fine people — were also seriously hit.  But thankfully, with the help of two great country doctors, we thought they were gone, and they were saved.  So, those doctors had great talent.

We’re joined by Corey’s wife, Helen, who was his high school sweetheart, and their two beloved daughters, Allyson and Kaylee.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

To Helen, Allyson, and Kaylee, Corey is looking down on his three beautiful ladies right now, and he is cheering you on.  He loves you.  He is cheering you on.

Corey was taken from us much too soon, but his destiny was to leave us all with a shining example of the selfless devotion of a true American patriot.  It was love like Corey’s that built our country, and it’s love like Corey’s that is going to make our country more majestic than ever before.

I believe that my life was saved that day in Butler for a very good reason.  I was saved by God to make America great again.  I believe that.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

Thank you.  Thank you very much.

From the patriots of Lexington and Concord to the heroes of Gettysburg and Normandy, from the warriors who crossed the Delaware to the trailblazers who climbed the Rockies, and from the legends who soared at Kitty Hawk to the astronauts who touched the Moon, Americans have always been the people who defied all odds, transcended all dangers, made the most extraordinary sacrifices, and did whatever it took to defend our children, our country, and our freedom.

And as we have seen in this chamber tonight, that same strength, faith, love, and spirit is still alive and thriving in the hearts of the American people.  Despite the best efforts of those who would try to censor us, silence us, break us, destroy us, Americans are today a proud, free, sovereign, and independent nation that will always be free, and we will fight for it till death.

We will never let anything happen to our beloved country, because we are a country of doers, dreamers, fighters, and survivors.

Our ancestors crossed a vast ocean, strode into the unknown wilderness, and carved their fortunes from the rock and soil of a perilous and very dangerous frontier.  They chased our destiny across a boundless continent.  They built the railroads, laid the highways, and graced the world with American marvels, like the Empire State Building, the mighty Hoover Dam, and the towering Golden Gate Bridge.

They lit the world with electricity, broke free of the force of gravity, fired up the engines of American industry, vanquished the communists, fascists, and Marxists all over the world, and gave us countless modern wonders sculpted out of iron, glass, and steel.

We stand on the shoulders of these pioneers who won and built the modern age, these workers who poured their sweat into the skylines of our cities, these warriors who shed their blood on fields of battle and gave everything they had for our rights and for our freedom.

Now it is our time to take up the righteous cause of American liberty, and it is our turn to take America’s destiny into our own hands and begin the most thrilling days in the history of our country.

This will be our greatest era.

With God’s help, over the next four years, we are going to lead this nation even higher, and we are going to forge the freest, most advanced, most dynamic, and most dominant civilization ever to exist on the face of this Earth.

We are going to create the highest quality of life, build the safest and wealthiest and healthiest and most vital communities anywhere in the world.

We are going to conquer the vast frontiers of science, and we are going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars and even far beyond.  (Applause.)

And, through it all, we are going to rediscover the unstoppable power of the American spirit, and we are going to renew unlimited promise of the American dream.

Every single day, we will stand up and we will fight, fight, fight for the country our citizens believe in and for the country our people deserve.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Fight!  Fight!  Fight!

THE PRESIDENT:  My fellow Americans, get ready for an incredible future, because the golden age of America has only just begun.  It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before.

Thank you.  God bless you.  And God bless America.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.

Thank you very much.  Appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

END                11:00 P.M. EST

 

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America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started

The White House

February 20, 2025

President Donald J. Trump took office just one month ago, but has already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term as he makes good on his promise to usher in the New Golden Age of America.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of President Trump’s wins after just one month:

SECURING OUR HOMELAND:

• President Trump declared a national emergency at the border and deployed the military, including the 10th Mountain Division, to secure our nation.
• Illegal border crossings have hit lows not seen in decades as U.S. Border Patrol is re-empowered to once again enforce the law.
  • ABC News: “From Jan. 21 through Jan. 31, the number of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border dropped 85% from the same period in 2024, according to data obtained by ABC News. In the 11 days after Jan. 20, migrants apprehended at ports of entry declined by 93%.”
• Illegal aliens have started turning around in droves amid the crackdown.
• The Department of Homeland Security announced that arrests of criminal illegal immigrants have doubled under President Trump.
• President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, which requires illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft or violence to be detained — honoring the legacy of Laken Riley, a Georgia college student brutally murdered by an illegal alien released into the country.
• President Trump ended “catch-and-release,” reversing the dangerous Biden-era policy that released dangerous illegal aliens back into our communities.
• President Trump shut down the “CBP One” app, which “paroled” more than one million illegal immigrants into the country.
  • A migrant shelter in San Diego announced it will shut down after it has received no new arrivals since President Trump took office.
• President Trump terminated all taxpayer-funded public benefits for illegal aliens.
• President Trump ramped up deportation flights of criminal illegal aliens.
  • After President Trump announced “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures” against Colombia over its refusal to accept deportation flights from the U.S., the country’s president quickly backtracked — even offering the use of his personal plane for the deportations.
  • El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele offered to accept deportees of any nationality, including violent American criminals currently imprisoned in the U.S.
• President Trump began transferring criminal illegal aliens to Guantanamo Bay ahead of their repatriation back to their own countries.
• President Trump re-established the successful “Remain in Mexico” policy.
• President Trump restarted construction of the border wall.
• The Trump Administration officially declared Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, and the Michoacán Family as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
• New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) agreed to allow federal immigration officials to operate on Rikers Island and deport illegal alien criminals following his meeting with Border Czar Tom Homan.
• Mexico announced a deployment of 10,000 troops to the border to combat illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, while Canada announced a flurry of measures to combat fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking following President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on the two countries.
• President Trump implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China in order to stem the flow of illegal aliens and fentanyl.
• President Trump ordered an end to birthright citizenship.
• President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
• The Department of Justice filed suit against the State of New York and some of its elected officials over their willful failure to follow federal immigration law and announced that it will take action against so-called “sanctuary cities” for their obstruction of U.S. law.
• The Department of Homeland Security “clawed back” tens of millions of dollars in funds paid by rogue FEMA officials to house illegal aliens in luxury New York City hotels.
• President Trump reinstated the death penalty for federal capital crimes.

PROTECTING AMERICAN WORKERS AND FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH:

• President Trump restored a 25% tariff on steel imports and elevated the tariff to 25% on aluminum imports to protect these critical American industries from unfair foreign competition — a move praised by the Steel Manufacturers Association, the Aluminum Association, and businesses across the country.
  • Robert Simon, CEO of JSW Steel USA, praised President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, celebrating them “as a project that will flood the U.S. with jobs as trading partners move their industries to U.S. soil to avoid tariffs.”
• Makoto Uchida, the CEO of global automaker Nissan, said President Trump’s tariffs could push the car manufacturer to move its production from Mexico to the U.S.
• President Trump unveiled a plan for fair and reciprocal trade, making clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off.
• President Trump secured hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments.
  • President Trump announced the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure project in history, securing $500 billion in planned private sector investment — with major CEOs agreeing it would not have been possible without President Trump’s leadership.
  • Saudi Arabia declared its intention to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years.
  • President Trump secured a $20 billion investment by DAMAC Properties to build new U.S.-based data centers.
  • Taiwan pledged to boost its investment in the United States.
  • Electronics giants Samsung and LG “are considering moving their plants in Mexico to the U.S.” now that President Trump is back in office.
• In February, forecasters from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia revised their economic growth projections for the first quarter of 2025 up from 1.9% to 2.5%, and their unemployment rate projections for the quarter down from 4.2% to 4.1%.
• After a meeting with President Trump, Stellantis announced it will reopen its assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois — putting 1,500 employees back to work — and build its next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit, Michigan. The company also announced new investments in their Toledo, Ohio, and Kokomo, Indiana, facilities.
• President Trump laid out a visionary plan to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund to maximize the stewardship of the $5+ trillion in assets held by the United States.
• Following President Trump’s victory, the S&P 500 set a new record as the stock market surged to record highs — while major Wall Street firms like JP Morgan Chase posted their highest ever annual profits.

LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING:

• President Trump directed the heads of all executive departments and agencies to “deliver emergency price relief … to the American people and increase the prosperity of the American worker.”
• President Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council to maximize use of the U.S.’ extensive energy resources, thereby enabling lower energy prices.
• Crude oil prices have fallen over 5% since President Trump took office.
• The Department of Energy postponed burdensome Biden-era efficiency standard rules for the following appliances, saving American consumers large sums:
  • Central air conditioners: Biden rules were slated to make air conditioners $1,100 more expensive, according to Alliance for Consumers.
  • Gas water heaters: Biden rules were slated to make water heaters $2,800 more expensive.
  • Clothes washers and dryers: Biden rules were slated to make washers $200 more expensive.
  • Light bulbs: Biden rules were slated to make light bulbs $140 more expensive.
  • Walk-in coolers and freezers, commercial refrigeration equipment, and air compressors.
• The total cost of federal regulations in 2023 was a record-breaking $2.1 trillion, or $15,788 per U.S. household, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute. By requiring agencies to identify at least ten existing rules, regulations, or guidance documents to be repealed for every one rule they promulgate, President Trump has put the U.S. on track to severely reduce regulatory costs for everyday Americans.
  • The National Associations of Manufacturers found the cost of federal regulations was even greater — at $3.079 trillion in 2022.
• Secretary Sean Duffy’s very first action at the Department of Transportation was to initiate rulemaking resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards — effectively eliminating the Biden-era electric vehicle mandate.
  • NBER economist Mark R. Jacobsen “estimates that a one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers of all income levels approximately 0.5% of their income in the first year of the increase. By the 10th year following the increase, however, this cost becomes regressive, as the increase drives up the price of used cars. A one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers earning less than $25,000 per year 1.12% of their income, but only costs consumers earning more than $75,000 per year 0.41% of their income.”

RE-ESTABLISHING AMERICAN STRENGTH:

• President Trump secured the release of six American hostages in Venezuela, two Americans in Afghanistan, an American-Israeli citizen in Hamas captivity, a Pennsylvania teacher in Russian captivity, and an American citizen in Belarus — bringing the total number of American hostages released under President Trump to 11.
• President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in pursuit of finally securing peace as negotiations get underway.
• President Trump restored maximum pressure on Iran, “sanctioning an international network for facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the People’s Republic of China.”
• President Trump redesignated the Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
• President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit where he proposed a bold vision for securing lasting peace in Gaza.
  • Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman described the proposal as “brilliant, historic and the only idea I have heard in 50 years that has a chance of bringing security, peace and prosperity to this troubled region.”
• President Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who announced his intention to “elevate Japan’s investment in the United States to an unprecedented amount of $1 trillion,” import “historic” quantities of LNG from Alaska, and open new auto plants in the U.S.
• President Trump hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who announced that the Kingdom will accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza “as quickly as possible.”
• President Trump hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a visit where they announced new deals between the two countries on immigration, trade, energy, and artificial intelligence.
• President Trump banned funding to UNRWA — a United Nations agency that employed hundreds of Hamas and jihad operatives.
• President Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which has illegitimately asserted jurisdiction over internal U.S. matters and baselessly targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• President Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy to ensure no taxpayer dollars support foreign organizations that perform, or actively promote, abortion in other nations.
• The Department of State ordered embassies worldwide to only fly the American flag — not activist flags.
• President Trump declared all foreign policy must be conducted under the President’s direction, ensuring career diplomats reflect the foreign policy of the United States at all times.
• The Department of State declared that U.S. foreign policy will be America First going forward.
• Following a visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino agreed to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a debt-trap diplomacy scheme the Chinese Communist Party uses to gain influence over developing nations.
• The U.S. rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which promotes and strengthens opportunities for women and girls around the world, and protects the family as the fundamental unit of society.
• President Trump cracked down on anti-Semitism by canceling visas for foreign students who are Hamas sympathizers.
• President Trump ordered the immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard following years of woke ideologies infiltrating U.S. service academies.
• The U.S. Army barred transgender people from enlisting and stopped using taxpayer funds for sex change surgeries.
• President Trump reinstated, with backpay, U.S. service members who were discharged under the military’s nonsensical COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth restored Fort Liberty, North Carolina, to “Fort Bragg,” in honor of a World War II hero.
• President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
• President Trump paused enforcement of the overregulation of American businesses abroad, which negatively impacted national security.
• President Trump proclaimed “Gulf of America Day” after the Department of the Interior officially established it on its mapping databases.
• President Trump initiated a process to build a next-generation missile defense shield over the United States.

UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY:

• President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency to unlock America’s full energy potential and bring down costs for American families.
• President Trump rescinded every one of the Biden Administration’s job-killing, pro-China, anti-American energy regulations.
• President Trump empowered Americans with choice in vehicles, showerheads, toilets, washing machines, light bulbs, and dishwashers, and killed Biden-era regulations that restricted water flow and mandated inadequate light bulb standards.
• President Trump terminated the job-killing Green New Scam.
• President Trump withdrew from the disastrous Paris Climate Agreement, which unfairly ripped off our country.
• President Trump paused federal permitting for massive wind farms, which degrade our natural landscapes and fail to serve American consumers.
• President Trump reversed bureaucratic regulations that impeded Alaska’s ability to develop its vast natural resources.
• President Trump re-opened 625 million acres for offshore drilling, which Biden banned in his waning days, in order to “drill, baby, drill.”
• President Trump scrapped an Obama-era rule on greenhouse gases.
• President Trump ended the Liquefied Natural Gas pause and approved the first LNG project since the Biden Administration banned them last year.

BRINGING BACK COMMON SENSE:

• Health systems across the nation stopped or downsized their sex change programs for minors following President Trump’s “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” executive order.
  • In Illinois, Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital paused sex-change surgeries for patients under 19 as it “work[s] to understand the rapidly evolving environment.”
  • In Colorado, Denver Health announced it would stop performing sex change surgeries on minor children, while UCHealth said it was ending so-called “gender-affirming care” for all minors.
  • In Washington, D.C., Children’s National Hospital “paused” prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, while Northwest Washington Hospital did the same.
  • In Virginia, VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond “suspended” providing transgender-related medication and surgeries for minors, while UVA Health also “suspended” transgender-related services for minors.
• President Trump ended the unfair, demeaning practice of forcing women to compete against men in sports — which resulted in the NCAA changing its rules.
  • The Department of Education launched investigations into the California Interscholastic Federation and the Minnesota State High School League over their failures to comply.
• President Trump made it the official policy of the U.S. government that there are only two sexes.
• President Trump banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates at schools that receive federal funding.
• President Trump rolled back the Biden-era push to mandate paper straws.
• President Trump instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to stop production of the penny, which cost 3.69 cents each to make.
• President Trump directed full enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which bars taxpayer dollars from being used to fund or promote elective abortion.
• The Department of Transportation terminated the approval for New York City’s burdensome “congestion pricing” scheme.

RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT

• President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to maximize government productivity and ensure the best use of taxpayer funds — which has already achieved billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.
• President Trump commenced his plan to downsize the federal bureaucracy and eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity.
  • President Trump ordered federal workers to return to the office five days a week.
  • President Trump ordered federal agencies hire no more than one employee for every four employees who leave.
  • President Trump ended the wasteful Federal Executive Institute, which had become a training ground for bureaucrats.
  • President Trump ordered the termination of all federal Fake News media contracts.
• President Trump ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren, which funneled cash to left-wing advocacy groups — to halt operations.
• President Trump ordered an end to anti-Christian bias in the Federal Government.
• President Trump ordered an examination of all regulations to assess any infringements on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
• The Environmental Protection Agency canceled tens of millions of dollars in contracts to left-wing advocacy groups, announced an investigation into a scheme by Biden EPA staffers to shield billions of dollars from oversight and accountability, and put 168 “environmental justice” employees on leave.
• President Trump stopped the waste, fraud, and abuse within USAID — ensuring taxpayers are no longer on the hook for funding the pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, such as sex changes in Guatemala.
• President Trump ordered an end to the weaponization of the Federal Government against American citizens.
  • The Department of Justice immediately began rooting out politically motivated lawfare that occurred in the Biden Administration.
• President Trump reversed the massive over-expansion of the IRS that took place during the Biden Administration.
• President Trump eliminated discriminatory DEI offices, employees, and practices across the bureaucracy alongside a return to merit-based hiring — including at the Federal Aviation Administration, where the Biden Administration specifically recruited individuals with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric issues.
  • As a result, taxpayer-funded PBS closed its DEI office, Disney dropped two of its DEI programs, Goldman Sachs ended its DEI policy, and Institutional Shareholder Services announced it would no longer consider diversity of company boards when making its voting recommendations.
  • The Federal Communications Commission opened an investigation into discriminatory DEI policies at Comcast, an entity it regulates.
• President Trump ordered an end to all censorship of Americans by the federal government.
• President Trump ordered a review of funding for all non-governmental organizations, so taxpayers are no longer funding those that undermine America’s interests.
  • The Department of State issued a “pause” on existing foreign aid grants to ensure accountability and efficiency.
• President Trump lifted last-minute collective bargaining agreements issued by the Biden Administration, which sought to impede reform.
• President Trump overrode bureaucratic red tape that limited water availability in California following the failure of the state’s water system during the devastating wildfires.
• President Trump terminated the Biden-era electric vehicle mandate.
  • President Trump suspended the Biden-era EV charging program, which had resulted in just eight charging stations despite $7.5 billion earmarked for the program.
• President Trump shut down the wasteful Biden-era “Climate Corps” program.
• The Federal Communications Commission took action against a Soros-backed radio station that leaked sensitive information about ICE operations.
• President Trump ordered the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• President Trump opened the White House Press Briefing Room to non-legacy media outlets as the White House sets a new standard for transparency in the digital age.
• President Trump reinstated press privileges for roughly 440 journalists who the Biden Administration sought to silence.
• President Trump fired members of The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees amid their obsession with perpetuating radical, left-wing ideology at taxpayer expense.
• President Trump revoked the security clearances of the 51 “spies who lied.”

EMPOWERING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

• President Trump established the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which redirects the national focus to promoting health rather than simply managing disease.
• President Trump took executive action to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• President Trump established the White House Faith Office to protect Americans’ religious liberty.
• President Trump ordered an end to the radical indoctrination of children in K-12 schools that receive federal funding.
• President Trump took executive action to support parents in choosing the best education for their children.
• President Trump established the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets to strengthen U.S. leadership in digital finance.
• President Trump granted full and unconditional pardons to 23 pro-life Americans who were unjustly persecuted by the Biden Administration.
• President Trump pardoned two Washington, D.C., police officers who were imprisoned simply for doing their jobs of apprehending criminals.
• President Trump has had his cabinet confirmed by the Senate at a far faster pace than his predecessors, with a majority of his cabinet earning confirmation in his first month.

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White house

America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started

The White House

February 20, 2025

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/02/america-is-back-and-president-trump-is-just-getting-started/