Less than two months since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump delivered his fifth address to Congress on Tuesday night — and it did not disappoint.
Speaking before lawmakers, the president covered a variety of issues affecting the American people, while also having fun prodding Democrats for their insane policy prescriptions. From roasting warmongering leftists to recognizing American heroes, the president unequivocally let the world know that America is, in fact, “back.”
In no particular order, here are the biggest moments from Trump’s address to Congress.
1. Blasting Dems for Rooting Against American Success
Noting that his Tuesday speech was the fifth time he’s addressed Congress, Trump highlighted how there is no amount of success he could achieve for America that would satisfy Democrats.
“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,” Trump said.
As The Federalist’s Jordan Boyd reported, the president went on to note how Democrats would still not celebrate American success even if he were to achieve significant milestones, such as discovering the “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,” Trump said.
2. Restoring Representative Government
In decrying the unconstitutional and corrupt nature of America’s vast federal bureaucracy, Trump declared, “The days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are OVER!”
3. Honoring Victims of Biden’s Open Border Policies
The president remembered several victims of Joe Biden’s open border policies, including murdered University of Georgia student Laken Riley. In honoring her memory, Trump touted signing the Laken Riley Act, a bill which, according to the Department of Homeland Security, authorizes the detention of illegal aliens accused of “theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury.”
Trump also honored Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Texas girl who was brutally raped and murdered by two Venezuelan nationals. The president signed an order renaming a Texas wildlife refuge after Jocelyn.
4. Al Green Gets the Boot
Not long into Trump’s speech, Democrats attempted to shout down the president, prompting Speaker Mike Johnson to warn attending members that continued disruptions would result in the House Seargeant at Arms removing them from the chamber.
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, apparently didn’t get the message. After continuing to interrupt Trump, the Democrat congressman was promptly removed from the House.
5. One Healthy Country!
While detailing potentially deceased individuals reportedly discovered by the administration on the Social Security database, Trump humorously quipped to Heatlh and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy that America is healthier than he originally believed.
“Over 130,000 people — according to the Social Security databases, are aged over 160 years old. We have a healthier country than I thought, Bobby!” Trump said.
6. A ‘New President’
Trump blasted the phony Biden-era narrative pushed by Democrats and weak-kneed Republicans that Congress needed to pass a bill to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The president eloquently noted, “The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”
7. Dunking on Democrat Lawfare
Trump took a victory lap on defeating Democrats’ use of lawfare to try and imprison him ahead of the 2024 election.
“We’ve ended weaponized government where, as an example, a sitting president is allowed to viciously prosecute his political opponent — like me!” Trump said. “How did that work out? Not too well!”
8. A New Member of the Secret Service
Trump designated D.J. Daniel, a young boy diagnosed with brain cancer who wants to become a police officer, as an honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service.
9. Standing for Gender Sanity
The president offered a strong condemnation of radical leftists’ efforts to force radical gender ideology on children. Speaking against this barbaric obsession with “transing” minors with harmful chemicals and surgeries, Trump affirmatively told America’s children that they “are perfect exactly the way God made [them].”
10. Revitalizing America’s Military
Trump spoke of the importance of revitalizing America’s depleted military. He specifically noted the boost in recruiting numbers since coming into office, and how the Army “had its single best recruiting month in 15 years” for the month of January.
The president subsequently announced that his administration is launching a “new office of shipbuilding in the White House that offers special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America,” and revitalize the Navy’s depleted fleet.
In a surprise moment, Trump also informed attending West Point applicant, Jason Hartley, that he had been accepted into the Army academy.
11. Justice for Abbey Gate Bombing
While remembering the 13 service members killed during Biden’s “disastrous and incompetent” 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, Trump revealed that his administration has “apprehended the top terrorist responsible” for the deadly Abbey Gate bombing, and that “he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
12. Honoring Corey Comperatore
The president took the time to remember Corey Comperatore, a firefighter killed during the assassination against Trump during his July 13, 2024, rally in Buter, Pennsylvania. Trump recognized Comperatore’s wife and daughters, all of whom attended Tuesday’s address.
13. Roasting ‘Pocahontas’
While discussing his attempt to bring about a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump asked Democrats — who have attacked him for his efforts — if they “want to keep it going for another five years.” After noticing Sen. Elizabeth Warren clapping in response to his remarks, the president quipped, “Pocahontas says yes.”
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
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