Trump touts relentless start to term in speech to Congress, drawing catcalls from Democrats | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025
Trump touts relentless start to term in speech to Congress, drawing catcalls from Democrats

USA

REuters
05 March, 2025, 12:25 pm
Last modified: 05 March, 2025, 12:30 pm

Related News

  • Trump said he threatened to bomb Moscow if Putin attacked Ukraine, 2024 fundraiser: CNN
  • US farm secretary says 'no amnesty' for farmworkers from deportation
  • Presidents of five African nations to meet with Trump at White House
  • FBI launches probes into former FBI, CIA directors: Fox News
  • Gazans reject Trump's displacement plan despite death and destruction

Trump touts relentless start to term in speech to Congress, drawing catcalls from Democrats

The primetime speech, his first to Congress since taking office on January 20, followed a second day of market turmoil after he imposed sweeping new tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China

REuters
05 March, 2025, 12:25 pm
Last modified: 05 March, 2025, 12:30 pm
US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS
US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS

A triumphant President Donald Trump told Congress on Tuesday that "America is back" after he reshaped US foreign policy, ignited a trade war and ousted tens of thousands of government workers in six tumultuous weeks since returning to power, drawing jeers from some Democrats who walked out in protest.

The primetime speech, his first to Congress since taking office on January 20, followed a second day of market turmoil after he imposed sweeping new tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China.

At 100 minutes, the speech was the longest presidential address to Congress in modern US history, according to The American Presidency Project.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

World leaders were watching Trump's speech closely, a day after he paused all military aid to Ukraine in a stark reversal of US policy. The suspension followed an Oval Office blowup in which Trump angrily upbraided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in front of TV cameras.

The pause in aid to Ukraine has threatened Kyiv's efforts to defend against Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion three years ago, and further rattled European leaders worried that Trump is moving the US too far toward Moscow.

Trump devoted only a few minutes of his speech to foreign policy. He signaled a willingness to press ahead with a minerals deal with Ukrainethat was set aside after last week's disastrous White House meeting.

"Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace," Trump said. "Wouldn't that be beautiful?"

And he repeated his promises - though without adding detail - to bring peace to the Middle East and expand the Abraham Accords, deals signed during his first term that established relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors.

While Trump has appeared to fault Ukraine for starting the war, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found 70% of Americans - including two-thirds of Republicans - say Russia was more to blame.

Trump vowed to balance the federal budget, even as he urged lawmakers to enact a sweeping tax cut agenda that analysts say could add more than $5 trillion to the federal government's $36 trillion debt load. Congress needs to raise the nation's debt ceiling later this year or risk a devastating default.

The speech shared some of the hallmarks of Trump's campaign rallies. Trump repeatedly assailed his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, attacked immigrant criminals as "savages" and promised to ban what he called "transgender ideology," all while peppering his remarks with exaggerated or false claims.

DEMOCRATIC PROTESTS

"To my fellow citizens, America is back," Trump began to a standing ovation from fellow Republicans. "Our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again."

Democrats held up signs with messages like "No King!" and "This Is NOT Normal," and about half the Democrats had walked out by the end of the speech.

One Texas congressman, Al Green, was ordered removed after he refused to sit down.

Trump, a political brawler by nature, reveled in the disagreements.

"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," he said after Green's ejection.

The speech took place in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers huddled in fear for their lives four years ago while a mob of Trump supporters ransacked the Capitol in an unsuccessful effort to overturn Biden's 2020 victory over the then-incumbent Trump.

The lawmaker Democrats chose to give their rebuttal speech, moderate US Senator Elissa Slotkin, invoked an iconic Republican president in criticizing Trump.

"As a Cold War kid, I'm thankful it was Reagan and not Trump in office in the 1980s. Trump would have lost us the Cold War," Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who won election in Michigan in November even as Trump carried her state, said, referring to President Ronald Reagan. "Donald Trump's actions suggest that, in his heart, he doesn't believe we are an exceptional nation."

MORE TARIFFS COMING

Trump praised billionaire businessman Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, which has downsized more than 100,000 federal workers, cut billions of dollars in foreign aid and shuttered entire agencies.

The president credited Musk with identifying "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud," a claim that far exceeds even what the administration has claimed so far. Musk, seated in the gallery, received ovations from Republicans.

Trump reiterated his intention to impose additional reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a move that would likely roil financial markets even more.

"Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it's our turn to start using them against those other countries," he said.

On this point, many Republicans remained seated, a signal of how Trump's tariffs have divided his party.

Trump's 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, two of the country's closest allies, and an additional 10% on Chinese imports deepened investor concerns about the economy. The Nasdaq Composite is down more than 9% from its record closing high on December 16.

Trump, who has often taken credit for market increases, did not mention this week's downturn. He also barely addressed stubbornly high costs, blaming Biden for the price of eggs and saying he would bring down inflation via increased energy production.

Just one in three Americans approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, a potential danger sign amid worries his tariffs could increase inflation.

Trump called on Congress to pass a sweeping $4.5 trillion plan that would extend his 2017 tax cuts, tighten border security and fund massive deportations.

Trump noted that his administration had already launched a border crackdown, citing February's record-low total of 8,300 migrant arrests at the US-Mexico border. Those arrests are often used as a proxy to estimate illegal crossings.

The Republican tax proposal calls for $2 trillion in spending reductions over a decade, with possible cuts to education, healthcare and other social services.

The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Trump's full tax agenda, including elimination of taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits, could cost between $5 trillion and $11.2 trillion over a decade.

Top News / World+Biz / Politics

Donald Trump / Trump administration

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • CA orders police, BGB, Ansar to complete election preparation by December
    CA orders police, BGB, Ansar to complete election preparation by December
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Bangladesh-US two-day tariff talks begin in Washington
  •  Chinese investors want better infrastructure in Bangladesh to boost joint ventures
    Chinese investors want better infrastructure in Bangladesh to boost joint ventures

MOST VIEWED

  • File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Bangladesh faces economic impact as US introduces 35% tariff on exports
  • None saw it coming: What went wrong in Bangladesh’s tariff negotiation with US 
    None saw it coming: What went wrong in Bangladesh’s tariff negotiation with US 
  • Clashes took place between police and protesters in Sylhet on 2 August. Photo: TBS
    Hasina authorised deadly crackdown on protesters during 2024 July uprising, BBC verifies leaked audio
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    BB governor asks banks to create forced loans for unpaid import LCs
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    35% US tariff to be disastrous for Bangladesh's exports, say economists and exporters
  • Trump's 35% tariff zaps Bangladesh's $8.4 billion export lifeline
    Trump's 35% tariff zaps Bangladesh's $8.4 billion export lifeline

Related News

  • Trump said he threatened to bomb Moscow if Putin attacked Ukraine, 2024 fundraiser: CNN
  • US farm secretary says 'no amnesty' for farmworkers from deportation
  • Presidents of five African nations to meet with Trump at White House
  • FBI launches probes into former FBI, CIA directors: Fox News
  • Gazans reject Trump's displacement plan despite death and destruction

Features

Women are forced to fish in saline waters every day, risking their health to provide for their families. Photo: TBS

How Mongla’s women are bearing the brunt of rising salinity

3h | Panorama
Dr Mostafa Abid Khan. Sketch: TBS

Actual impact will depend on how US retailers respond: Mostafa Abid Khan

1d | Economy
Thousands gather to form Bangla Blockade in mass show of support. Photo: TBS

Rebranding rebellion: Why ‘Bangla Blockade’ struck a chord

2d | Panorama
The Mitsubishi Xpander is built with families in mind, ready to handle the daily carpool, grocery runs, weekend getaways, and everything in between. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

Now made-in-Bangladesh: 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander

2d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Leaked audio: Jinping thought Trump was crazy

Leaked audio: Jinping thought Trump was crazy

48m | TBS World
What can be done to counter the impact of US tariffs?

What can be done to counter the impact of US tariffs?

1h | Podcast
Elections can be held before Ramadan if preparations are complete: Press Secretary

Elections can be held before Ramadan if preparations are complete: Press Secretary

2h | TBS Today
US signals tougher action if Gaza ceasefire talks fail

US signals tougher action if Gaza ceasefire talks fail

1h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net