Last year, President Donald Trump was coming from a high point after singing the Republican tax cuts into law before giving his first State of the Union address, but this year his administration is still recovering from one of the longest government shutdowns in U.S. history before he makes the historic speech on Tuesday night, according to CBS News.
There have also been major shifts in Congress after both the House and Senate were controlled by Republicans last year but now the House has been taken over by Democrats, who have provided more of a challenge to Trump's agenda.
The Trump administration is also still facing intense scrutiny from the special counsel Robert Mueller probe which is investigating Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election and any possible links between Moscow and the Trump campaign or transition team.
One senior administration official told CNN the theme of Trump's speech is "choosing greatness" and will include points about the economy, immigration, trade, healthcare, and foreign policy.
Trump told reporters earlier this week his speech would "cover a lot of territory," which was likely true since his administration has been dealing with several major issues in recent weeks, including border security, withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, rising drug prices, the continued trade war between the U.S. and China, and the second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam.
The White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the speech will include policies "both parties can rally behind."
The Democrats will have former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams deliver the Democratic response, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will give the Spanish-language remarks.
Officials said the "designated survivor" for Trump's speech is Energy Secretary Rick Perry
With Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seated behind him, Trump began his speech on Tuesday night by describing "a moment of unlimited potential."
Trump said he would work with the new Congress to create major breakthroughs for American citizens, who were hoping for Congress to work as not only two parties, but one nation.
"The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It's the agenda of the American people," including free trade, demanding more jobs, revitalizing infrastructure in the U.S., reducing the price of healthcare and prescription drugs, immigration reform, and pursuing "a foreign policy that puts American interests first."
Trump took aim at Mueller during his speech while claiming "an economic miracle" was taking place across the country while the "only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation."
Trump also made his case for tighter immigration controls, stating it was a "moral issue."
"The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well being of all Americans," Trump said while explaining he ordered another 3,750 troops to the Southern border "to prepare for the tremendous onslaught."
Democrats responded to Trump's discussion of the Central American migrants in "large, organized caravans"" with groans since Trump has previously attempted to use the issue to make the case for his border wall demands during the recent shutdown and before the November midterm elections last year.
Trump also spent several minutes discussing his demand for a border wall along the southern U.S. and Mexico.
The President also congratulated the record number of women who have been elected to Congress during the midterm elections, which made the group of Democrats, mostly wearing white in honor of the Suffragette movement, stand and cheer.
Trump also vowed to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, even though Republicans have been standing by a lawsuit that would strike down the Affordable Care Act's protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
He also said his administration was planning to eliminate HIV by 2030.
"My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the U.S. within 10 years," said Trump.
After briefly talking about his plan for paid parental leave, Trump quickly pivoted to announce his plans for a federal 20-week abortion ban, to the cheers of the Republican men while women sat silently in the audience.
The President then began talking about issues of national security, including his recent decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty from 1987.
Trump also claimed if he were not the president, the U.S. would be in a war with North Korea since he was able to create a rapport with Pyongyang's leader Kim.
He also said the U.S. would not become a socialist country, using the example of Venezuela which is in the midst of a political crisis between President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition congress leader Juan Guaidó.
The Trump administration, along with several Latin American countries and the European Union, have voiced their support for Guaidó after the country has suffered from widespread hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine, and seen more than 2 million people flee the country due to the economic crisis over the past four years.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Andrew Harnik
