Shout-out to DOGE, defending tariffs: Takeaways from Trump’s address to Congress
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WASHINGTON −  delivered a sharp defense of his "America First" direction for the country before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, marking his first major address since a dizzying return to power six weeks ago that has delighted allies and infuriated opponents.

Trump's speech − clocked at 1 hour and 39 minutes, the longest of its kind in modern U.S. history − offered ample reminders of how the second-term Republican president has already tested the limits of executive authority in almost every facet of the job.

He mentioned the firing of tens of thousands of federal workers; offered an update after publicly scolding Ukrainian President , who is fighting a war against Russia, in the Oval Office; and hyped the trade war launched against China, Mexico and Canada.

"Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them," Trump said in defense of one of his biggest early economic policy moves. "Whatever they tax us, we tax them."

Trump's early efforts have inflamed Democrats, who were rowdy from the start of the president's heavily partisan speech in the U.S. Capitol;  had to be removed. Still looking for a crack in Trump's political armor, Democrats who just a year ago were cheering on President Joe Biden in his final State of the Union address spent the 2025 version holding up all manner of signs of protest.

Here are key moments from Tuesday's address.

### Trump defends trade war amid growing economic anxiety

America's anxiety about rising food prices and other living expenses sat at the center of the 2024 election that catapulted Trump back into the White House.

But now he faces an impatient nation skittish over his own actions − namely imposing 25% tariffs on foreign allies − that many fret will raise costs and disturb the stock market.

An  shows 57% of U.S. adults think grocery prices will increase over the next six months.

On Tuesday, Trump told Congress not to worry, saying that getting "dramatic and immediate relief" for average Americans is a top priority. But he declared that the country's friends and foes alike are undermining the U.S. on trade and that he won't stand idly by.

"We've been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth, and we will not let that happen any longer," Trump said.

GOP allies on Capitol Hill have tried to downplay the economic concerns over a trade conflict, saying they have concerns but that Americans are ready and willing to weather a storm to tackle the nation's debt and change international trade deals that have been unfair to the country.

### Trump targets his predecessor

It has been six weeks since Biden left office, but Trump eagerly used his Democratic predecessor as a punching bag at various points in Tuesday's address.

At the outset of the speech, Trump called his longtime foe, who dropped out of the 2024 contest, "the worst president in American history" when talking about his crackdown on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump then blamed the former president for the rising cost of eggs, saying that Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control − the egg price is out of control − and they're working to get it back down.

The  has said more than 18 million commercial egg layers were infected by bird flu in January 2025, which represents the "highest monthly total since the outbreak began in 2022," fueling an egg price increase of 53% from January 2024 to January 2025.

### Shout-out to Elon and DOGE team

The world's richest person, Elon Musk, sported a suit and a blue tie (and noticeably no DOGE or MAGA merch) from his prime seat in the House gallery.

Trump praised Musk's work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which since Inauguration Day has bulldozed through scores of federal agencies. DOGE is responsible for terminating tens of thousands of government workers and has moved with lightning speed to cut the overall size of the U.S. government, which has sparked a growing backlash.

But Musk is "working very hard," the president said, before tallying federal spending he described as "scams" that DOGE has targeted. Musk "didn't need this," Trump said. "Thank you very much. We appreciate it."

Polling shows Musk is one of the Trump administration's biggest liabilities, however. About 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the entrepreneur, but 50% said they hold an unfavorable opinion of him, according to the NPR/Marist poll.

As far as DOGE is concerned, the survey shows 44% have an unfavorable opinion of the newly created department versus 39% who have a favorable opinion.

More than three dozen Democratic lawmakers have , arguing his efforts have led to illegally firing dozens of government officials whose agencies were investigating or prosecuting Musk’s companies.

### Making nice with Ukraine




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by Taboola

     
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