Donald Trump Addresses Congress in Lengthy Speech, Sparks Protests from Democrats
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Donald Trump addressed Congress in a televised speech that lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it the longest address to a joint session of Congress in at least 61 years. The speech was met with protests from Democrats, who held up signs reading “No King!” and “Save Medicaid”.
Trump’s Address: A Wide-Ranging Discussion
During his address, Trump discussed various topics, including the price of eggs, energy prices, supporting police officers and firefighters, and a peace agreement for ending the Russo-Ukrainian War. He also sent a message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was described as “conciliatory” by The New York Times.
One Notable Moment: Honoring a Young Cancer Survivor
One of the notable moments of the speech was when Trump made a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor, DJ Daniel, an honorary Secret Service agent [3]. The boy was dressed in a Houston police uniform and was sitting with his father in the gallery of the House of Representatives.
Democratic Response: Criticism and Concerns
The Democratic response to Trump’s address was delivered by Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, while Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York delivered the response in Spanish. Other responses were also delivered by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Slotkin criticized Trump’s speech, saying that it was “more of the same” and that it did not address the concerns of everyday Americans [4]. Ocasio-Cortez also criticized Trump’s speech, saying that it was “divisive” and that it did not provide a clear vision for the country’s future.
Sanders, meanwhile, focused on Trump’s economic policies, saying that they had “failed” to benefit working-class Americans. Espaillat criticized Trump’s immigration policies, saying that they were “cruel” and that they had caused “unnecessary suffering” for many families.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s address to Congress was a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion that covered various topics. While Trump’s speech was met with protests from Democrats, it also sparked a lively debate about the country’s future. As the country moves forward, it remains to be seen how Trump’s policies will shape the nation’s trajectory.
