United States President Donald Trump delivered a high-stakes address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT), marking six weeks since his return to the White House.
Watch live here: LIVE: Donald Trump delivers speech to Congress
The speech follows steep market losses triggered by Trump’s newly imposed tariffs on key U.S. trading partners, which have fueled investor anxiety and geopolitical tensions.
Meanwhile, his administration is moving closer to signing a mineral trade deal with Ukraine, potentially finalising the agreement as early as today.
This follows a tense Oval Office meeting last week between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s address is expected to touch on economic policy, foreign relations, and internal shifts within his administration as he seeks to solidify his agenda amid mounting global and domestic challenges.
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1:18 pm AEDT: Trump Enters Congress for Key Address
President Donald Trump has entered the chamber for his highly anticipated address to a joint session of Congress.
According to excerpts from the White House, Trump is expected to highlight the swift actions taken during his first weeks back in office while laying out his vision for the next four years.
As he made his way down the aisle, he shook hands with lawmakers lined up along his path, receiving cheers from many in attendance. However, some Democratic members remained seated in silence, underscoring the political divide.
The president also took a moment to greet Supreme Court justices present for the address, setting the stage for a speech that is expected to cover key policy priorities and the direction of his administration.
1:26 pm: “America is Back”
President Donald Trump began his address to a joint session of Congress with a bold three-word statement: “America is back.”
“Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the ‘dawn of the golden age of America.’ From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country,” he said.
“We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years. And we are just getting started,” he added.
1:30 pm: Trump Declares His Presidency ‘Most Successful’ as Texas Democrat Ejected
President Donald Trump resumed his address to Congress after Democratic Texas Congressman Al Green was removed from the House chamber.
Continuing his remarks, Trump touted his sweeping use of executive power, stating that he has signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions in just six weeks since returning to office.
“Our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation,” he declared.
Trump went even further, ranking his administration above that of the first U.S. president, George Washington.
“George Washington’s presidency was ‘number two’ after my own, which makes it ‘even more impressive,’” he said.
1:37 pm: Trump Overhauls Federal Policies on DEI, Language, and Rights
President Donald Trump has enacted a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping government policies on diversity initiatives, language, and individual freedoms, according to a release from the White House.
Among the key actions, Trump officially designated English as the official language of the United States and abolished federal programs tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
“Lower standards in the name of discriminatory ‘DEI’ initiatives must end,” Trump stated, ordering the elimination of DEI offices, employees, and practices across federal agencies.
As a result, major organisations, including PBS, Disney, Goldman Sachs, and Institutional Shareholder Services, announced rollbacks of their DEI programs.
Trump also took steps to curb federal intervention in personal and business affairs, including:
- Ending censorship of Americans by the federal government.
- Banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools receiving federal funding.
- Rolling back the paper straw mandate introduced under the Biden administration.
- Directing an end to anti-Christian bias in federal institutions.
- Ordering a full review of regulations to assess any potential infringements on Second Amendment rights.
- Mandating enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, ensuring taxpayer funds are not used to support or promote elective abortion.
1:45 pm: Trump Vows to Expand U.S. Critical Mineral Production, Slash Government Waste
President Donald Trump announced plans to dramatically expand U.S. production of critical minerals and rare earths, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign sources for materials essential to national security and economic growth.
“Later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA,” Trump declared during his address to Congress.
These materials — such as graphite, lithium, uranium, and the 17 rare earth elements — are vital to industries ranging from electronics and clean energy to defense technology. They are used in wind turbines, energy networks, electric vehicles, and advanced weapons systems.
Government Overhaul: Cutting Waste and Bureaucracy
In addition to boosting domestic resource production, Trump has initiated a broad restructuring of the federal government to eliminate inefficiency, reduce spending, and curb agency overreach.
As part of these efforts, the president established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to optimise federal operations, a move that has already resulted in billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers.
Trump’s initiatives include:
- Mandating federal employees return to in-office work five days a week.
- Restricting federal hiring to one new employee for every four departures.
- Eliminating the Federal Executive Institute, which he described as a bureaucratic training ground.
- Terminating federal contracts with "Fake News" media outlets.
Cracking Down on Bureaucratic Overreach
Trump also took aim at government agencies he described as "overtaken by unelected bureaucrats", including:
- Halting wasteful spending at USAID, including controversial programs such as taxpayer-funded sex changes in Guatemala.
- Shutting down the Biden-era "Climate Corps" program.
- Freezing foreign aid grants to ensure accountability, identifying 15,000 grants worth $60 billion for potential elimination.
- Ordering a review of taxpayer-funded NGOs that may be undermining U.S. interests.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also been directed to cancel millions in contracts to left-wing advocacy groups, investigate Biden-era spending schemes, and place 168 “environmental justice” employees on leave.
Trump further reversed the Biden administration’s IRS expansion and lifted last-minute collective bargaining agreements that, he said, were designed to impede reform.
2:05 pm: Trump Secures Nearly $2 Trillion in U.S. Investments Amid Tariff Push
President Donald Trump has announced a wave of historic investments in the U.S. as companies seek to shift manufacturing stateside rather than pay tariffs.
He noted during his speech, “If you don’t make your product in America, however, under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff and in some cases, a rather large one. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.”
According to the White House release, several major automotive manufacturers are reconsidering their global supply chains in response to Trump’s tariff policies:
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida indicated that tariffs may push the company to move production from Mexico to the U.S., while Honda is set to manufacture its next-generation Civic hybrid model in Indiana.
Stellantis also announced plans to reopen its Belvidere, Illinois, assembly plant, restoring 1,500 jobs. The company will also build the next-generation Dodge Durango in Detroit, Michigan, while expanding facilities in Toledo, Ohio, and Kokomo, Indiana.
Beyond the auto sector, Trump’s administration reportedly secured nearly $2 trillion in new U.S. investments, driving economic growth across key industries:
- TSMC announced a record $100 billion investment in U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing,
- Apple committed to a $500 billion expansion, creating 20,000 new U.S. jobs.
- DAMAC Properties committed $20 billion to develop new U.S.-based data centres, Clarios, a leader in energy storage, pledged a $6 billion expansion of U.S. manufacturing,
- Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment in domestic pharmaceutical production.
- Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.
- Taiwan pledged to increase its U.S. investments, further strengthening economic ties.
- Samsung and LG are reportedly considering relocating their Mexican plants to the U.S. following Trump’s return to office.
2:35 pm - ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defence System for Homeland Protection
Trump asked Congress to fund a new U.S. missile defense system, dubbed the "Golden Dome", modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome but designed specifically for U.S. national security.
A “Golden Dome shield to protect our homeland, all made in the USA”, Trump declared, emphasising that the system would be fully developed and manufactured domestically.
The initiative is part of Trump’s broader effort to bolster America’s defense infrastructure, ensuring that the nation remains protected against evolving threats.
“We want to be protected, and we will protect Americans like never before,” Trump said.
2:45 pm - "We’re Going to Get Greenland – One Way or the Other"
Trump has revived his interest in acquiring Greenland, stating that the U.S. will pursue the territory “one way or the other”.
“We strongly support your right to determine your own future,” Trump said, addressing the people of Greenland during his speech. “If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.”
“I think we’re going to get it – one way or the other, we’re going to get it … We will keep you safe. We will make you rich, and together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.”
In a sweeping foreign policy declaration, Trump also announced his administration’s intention to “reclaim” the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway the U.S. controlled until 1999.
2:52 pm - Trump Touts Ukraine Support
President Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, saying he is working “tirelessly” to bring an end to the “savage conflict”.
“Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict, with no end in sight,” Trump said. “The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense, with no security, with no anything.”
Trump revealed that he received an “important” letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the day, in which Kyiv expressed its readiness “to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
Zelenskyy assured Trump that his team is prepared to work “under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts”. According to Trump, the letter also stated, “Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you”.
According to the White House release, Trump's Administration also noted efforts to secure the release of American hostages abroad, including six in Venezuela, two in Afghanistan, an American-Israeli citizen in Hamas captivity, a Pennsylvania teacher in Russian custody, and an American citizen in Belarus.
With these latest efforts, the administration has secured the freedom of 11 hostages.
The White House detailed Trump’s actions against terrorism, noting that U.S. military operations have “eliminated 23 radical Islamic jihadists” since he took office.
Additionally, Trump has reinforced sanctions on Iran, targeting a network that facilitates the shipment of millions of barrels of crude oil to China.
The administration also officially reclassified the Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, reversing a policy from the Biden era.
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