Donald Trump, the President of the United States, set a record for the longest joint congressional address on March 4th. His speech, which lasted a remarkable 1 hour and 40 minutes, emphasized the theme of “America First”, outlining his government’s priorities for the year ahead.
With the opening phrase “America is back”, Trump highlighted the return of American momentum, spirit, pride, and confidence since he took office. He reiterated the principles of “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and America First across a range of domestic and foreign policy issues including immigration, education, healthcare, tariffs, and the conflicts in areas like Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump announced retaliatory plans against trade barriers such as tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by other countries. He also previewed the abolition of subsidies for electric vehicles and semiconductors provided by the previous administration. Furthermore, Trump reasserted U.S. interests in controlling the Panama Canal and extended an invitation for Greenland to integrate with promises of wealth and safety.
In his criticism of predecessor Joe Biden, Trump labeled him “the worst president in American history”, leading to jeers from Democrats, but he continued unabated. Notably, Democrat Rep. Al Green protested by standing and was subsequently escorted out, while other Democratic members brandished protest placards towards the podium.
According to CNN, Trump mentioned Biden 12 times, addressing a range of issues like the environment, inflation, and aid to Ukraine. In a pointed comment, Trump highlighted that South Korea’s average tariffs on America were four times higher than those imposed by the U.S., despite American military support.
He reaffirmed intentions to impose reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd, suggesting that non-tariff sectors such as VAT might also be considered, increasing tensions. Before Trump, Bill Clinton held the record for the longest presidential address to Congress since 1964, with a speech lasting 1 hour and 28 minutes in 2000. CNN noted that Trump’s address was longer than any president’s, including his own from his first term.