US President Donald Trump delivered the longest presidential speech to a joint session of Congress in modern history on Tuesday night, marking his first major address since returning to power in January. In the nearly one hour and 40-minute-long speech, Trump outlined his ambitious agenda for his second term, declaring that “The American Dream is unstoppable” and promising to usher in a “new golden age” for the United States.
During the address, Trump emphasized the executive orders and actions he has already implemented since taking office six weeks ago. He has signed nearly 100 executive orders and more than 400 executive actions, setting the stage for sweeping legislative reforms. The president praised Elon Musk for spearheading efforts to streamline and reduce the size of the federal government, highlighting this as a key pillar of his administration’s focus on efficiency.
A significant portion of the speech was dedicated to defending the recent imposition of 25% tariffs on imports from three of the US’s largest trading partners—Canada, Mexico, and China. Trump justified these measures as necessary to protect American industries and workers, stating, “Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them.” While acknowledging potential short-term disruptions due to the tariffs, Trump reassured the public, saying, “There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re OK with that. It won’t be much.”
Addressing the ongoing challenge of inflation, Trump described it as an “inflation nightmare” impacting American families, particularly citing rising costs for essentials like eggs and energy. He vowed to combat this issue, asserting, “As president, I’m fighting every day to reverse this damage and make America affordable again.” His plan aims to restore economic stability and improve living standards for Americans.
Turning to international affairs, Trump addressed the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, reading from a letter received earlier in the day from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The letter expressed Kyiv’s readiness to engage in peace negotiations, stating, “We are ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.”
The president concluded his speech with an optimistic vision for the future, pledging to elevate the quality of life for all Americans. “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,” he declared. Trump also envisioned bold advancements in science and space exploration, committing to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on Mars—and beyond.
Public reaction to the speech was overwhelmingly positive, according to a CBS News poll conducted immediately afterward. A large majority of viewers (76%) approved of Trump’s address, with only 23% disapproving. Among the audience, which included 51% Republicans, 27% independents, and 20% Democrats, there was strong support for several key topics. Approval ratings stood at 77% for tackling government waste, 77% for immigration and border policies, 73% for handling the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and 65% for tariffs. Additionally, 68% of respondents believed Trump presented a clear plan for addressing inflation, and over 70% described him as presidential, entertaining, or inspiring.
