• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
  • © 2026 ABC News
ABC News

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 1:59 AM

Four sitting members of SCOTUS attend address

Four sitting members of the U.S. Supreme Court are in attendance for Trump's address tonight: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy is also present.

PHOTO: (L-R) US Supreme Court John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Anthony Kennedy arrive for President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
(L-R) US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, US Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan, US Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, US Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy arrive for President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

This is a slightly smaller showing from the court compared with recent presidential addresses to Congress as six attended in 2024, five attended in 2023, and five attended in 2022.

During Trump's first term, however, only four justices ever attended each of Trump's addresses before Congress.

Trump will shake hands with and speak before members of the Supreme Court at a time when his administration is seeking its emergency intervention in two pending cases related to his executive actions -- one involving his power to fire any employee of the executive branch for any reason, and the other involving his power to freeze foreign aid that Congress has authorized for specific programs.

To date, the Supreme Court has not yet weighed in in any meaningful way on Trump's asserted presidential powers during his second term.

– ABC News’ Devin Dwyer


GMA Newsletters

Sign up for our newsletters to get GMA delivered to your inbox every morning!

Up Next in news

VIDEO: Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow sues his mother after drowning death

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow sues his mother after drowning death

July 22, 2026
PHOTO: A child uses a smartphone in this stock photo.

French lawmakers adopt social media ban for kids under 15

July 21, 2026
PHOTO: Lindsay Clancy sits as jury selection starts in her murder trial where she is charged in the 2023 killing of her three children, July 20, 2026, in Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass.

Trial begins for mom accused of killing her 3 children

July 20, 2026

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts— 

© 2026 ABC News