But the 79-year-old remains deeply unpopular in opinion polls and Republicans fear they could lose their wafer-thin majority in the House to the Democrats – paralysing the rest of Trump’s second term and exposing him to a possible third impeachment
US President Donald Trump has said that his first year in office has achieved a “turnaround for the ages” as he gave his State of the Union Address on Tuesday (local time).
“Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages,” Trump said.
He added, “And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We’re not going back. Today, our border is secure.”
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But the 79-year-old remains deeply unpopular in opinion polls and Republicans fear they could lose their wafer-thin majority in the House to the Democrats – paralysing the rest of Trump’s second term and exposing him to a possible third impeachment.
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The president opened his speech by saying, “Our nation is back,” adding that his administration has started a “golden age of America.”
“Today, our border is secure. Our spirit is restored. Inflation is plummeting. Incomes are rising fast. The roaring economy is roaring like never before, and our enemies are scared. Our military and police are stacked,” Trump said.
Trump mentions third term
The president said that he should be in his third term in office, as he discussed his TrumpRx initiative. “So in my first year of the second term — should be my third term. But strange things happen,” he said.
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution bars presidents from serving more than two terms.
In what promised to be a marathon speech to lawmakers, Trump was trying to sell voters on the achievements of a breakneck and deeply divisive first year back in power.
‘Black people aren’t apes’
As Trump walked down the aisle into the House chamber, Representative Al Green, a Texas Democrat, tried to wave a sign at him and was blocked by Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Green’s sign read: “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!” in all caps.
Trump recently received widespread condemnation after his social media account posted – and then deleted – a video that displayed former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
With inputs from agencies