(NETWORK INDIANA) President Trump gave the third and final State of the Union address of his first term as president Tuesday evening.
Trump said the state of our union is “stronger than ever before”, adding the U.S. is thriving and highly respected again. He stressed that the years of economic decay are over and that the economy and the military are in the best shape ever.
“Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback,” Trump said opening the speech. “Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results. Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting.”
Trump said his administration has fulfilled its promise of replacing the “disastrous” NAFTA trade deal with the USMCA. He also called on Congress to pass legislation approving school choice across the U.S., arguing that no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing government school.
He also had his the First Lady, Melania Trump award conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, just days after Limbaugh announced his cancer diagnosis.
Trump also discussed immigration and sanctuary cities in the United States.
“In sanctuary cities local officials order police to release illegal aliens to prey upon the public,” he said. “Instead of handing them over to ICE to be safely removed.”
Much of the president’s speech ruffled many feathers on Capitol Hill Tuesday evening, as indicated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripping her copy of the Trump’s address in half once the speech was over. Pelosi called it “a dirty speech” speaking to reporters afterwards.
“President Trump was simply not being honest with the American people in his address,” said Rep. Andre Carson on Twitter. “His pledge to protect Americans’ health care, and vital lifelines like Medicare and Social Security, don’t line up with his record. We’re headed down the wrong path under his presidency.”
Others, like Sen. Todd Young applauded the speech.
“Tonight’s address provided a clear contrast between the Republican policies that are working for American families and the socialist policies being championed by national Democrats on the far left, which would lead to higher taxes, fewer jobs, and less freedom,” Young said.
“President Trump delivered an optimistic message tonight,” Rep. Jim Banks said. “America’s future is bright. We have a president who has fought so hard to deliver on his campaign promises. He’s fought for results, and we are now beginning to enjoy the fruit of those results.”
Speaking in New Hampshire, Pete Buttigieg said the president attempted to tell a “rosy story” about the economy that is not entirely representative.
“Then it turned into this highly partisan, highly polarizing check list,” Buttigieg said. “Almost as of he was trying to find every special interest group in his base to talk to.”
Buttigieg added that the president “demonized” undocumented people living in the country.
