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Trump airs familiar grievances, charts MAGA plan in address before bitterly divided Congress

PHOTO: President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Mar. 4, 2025 in Washington.
5:34
Win McNamee/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Biggest moments from Trump’s joint session to Congress address
By Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: March 5, 2025, 4:36 AM

President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, six weeks into his historic return to the White House.

During the speech, Trump said "America is back" and defended the tariffs on key U.S. trading partners. He touched on immigration and the mineral deal with Ukraine, but neglected to go into detail on his economic plan. The speech was also met with protests and disruptions from Democrats.

Key headlines:

  • Slotkin encourages concerned Americans not to despair and organize
  • Slotkin: Reagan 'rolling in his grave' over Trump's foreign policy approach
  • Slotkin slams DOGE, Trump over mass firings of federal workers
  • Slotkin criticizes Musk's power in government
  • Slotkin starts with economy, says Trump talked a 'big game'
Here's how the news developed:

Mar 05, 2025 4:36 AM

Slotkin encourages concerned Americans not to despair and organize

Slotkin discussed the despair that many Americans are feeling and their anger over leaders who have not stood up to Trump and his administration.

"Hold your elected officials, including me, accountable. Watch how they're voting. Go to town halls and demand they take action. That's as American as apple pie," she said.

The senator also pushed Americans to organize.

"Pick just one issue you're passionate about and engage. And doomscrolling doesn't count. Join a group that cares about your issue and act. And if you can't find one, start one. Some of the most important movements in our history have come from the bottom up," she said.


Mar 05, 2025 4:23 AM

Slotkin: Reagan 'rolling in his grave' over Trump's foreign policy approach

Democrat Elissa Slotkin slammed Trump over last week's Oval Office dust-up between Trump, Vance and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying Ronald Reagan "must be rolling in his grave."

"We all want an end to the war in Ukraine. But Reagan understood that true strength required America to combine our military and economic might with moral clarity," she said. "And that scene in the Oval Office wasn't just a bad episode of reality TV. It's summed up Trump's whole approach to the world."

Slotkin said Trump "believes in cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and kicking our friends like the Canadiens in the teeth."


Mar 05, 2025 4:20 AM

Slotkin slams DOGE, Trump over mass firings of federal workers

Slotkin criticized DOGE and Trump for the "mindless" mass firings of federal workers, only to hire some of them back days later.

"No CEO in America could do that without being summarily fired," she said.



Mar 05, 2025 4:19 AM

Slotkin criticizes Musk's power in government

"Is there anyone in America who is comfortable with him and his gang of 20 year olds using their own computer servers to poke through your tax returns, your health information and your bank accounts?" Slotkin asked while delivering remarks on economic security.

While she agreed that America needs a more efficient government, she argued that there is "no oversight" with Musk's efforts.


Mar 05, 2025 3:22 AM

Democrats speak out after leaving speech

Democratic Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Maxwell Frost released statements after they left the speech.

"Through walking out, my message to Donald Trump is simple: stop the lies, stop the cheating, and stop the stealing -- enough is enough. The American people deserve better," Kamlager-Dove said.

"Donald Trump is many things -- a liar, a grifter, a wanna-be-dictator -- but no matter how hard he tries and how many Republicans in Congress bend the knee and kiss the ring: he will never be king," Frost said.

-ABC News' John Parkinson


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