Republicans chanted “USA! USA!” as Trump, wearing a long red tie and a blue suit, stepped to the lectern in the House. Most Democrats remained seated without applauding. More than 80 Democrat lawmakers didn't even show up for the speech.
He tried to appeal to bipartisan patriotic sentiments, dramatically inviting the Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team into the House chamber to applause. The team came to the Capitol after an afternoon visit to the White House.
“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, please, please, please, Mister President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore," Trump said before introducing the team. “We’re not used to winning in our country until you came along.”
The hockey team, wearing their medals and sweaters that said “USA” in large letters, drew a bipartisan standing ovation. Trump pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber and quipped, “That’s the first time I ever I’ve ever seen them get up.”
As expected, Trump expressed disappointment with the recent Supreme Court decision against his imposition of trade tariffs on a variety of countries around in the world. But he said most of the countries will continue to honor those deals.
President Trump also praised what his administration is doing in the area of health care, particularly reducing the cost of many prescription drugs.
Trump also announced that Vice-President Vance will head, what he called, The War on Fraud. He singled out the Somali community in Minnesota as being one of the key problem areas for fraud, amounting to billions of dollars.
President Trump also honored Christian conservative,Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a rally in Utah last year. His widow, Erika, was in the crowd and when Trump introduced her, it was one of the few times that most Democrats applauded.
