President Trump's First State of the Union Address

Yesterday, Tuesday 30 January 2018 saw President Donald Trump deliver his first State of the Union Address to a joint session of the US Congress. 

What is the State of the Union address? 

First some background : "The State of the Union Address is an annual message presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress, except in the first year of a new president's term. 

The address has been usually held on a Tuesday.  The message includes a budget message and an economic report of the nation, and also allows the President to outline their legislative agenda (for which the cooperation of Congress is needed) and national priorities.

The address fulfills rules in Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, requiring the President to periodically "give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." 

During most of the country's first century, the President primarily only submitted a written report to Congress. After 1913, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. President, began the regular practice of delivering the address to Congress in person as a way to rally support for his agenda.  

With the advent of radio and television, the address is now broadcast live across the country on many networks, and thus is also used by the President as a platform to speak directly to the American people."

Here are some excerpts of President Trump’s first State of the Union Address, delivered 11 months after being elected into office.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles threaten our homeland

campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening… 

will not repeat mistakes of past administrations that got us into this position

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ECONOMY AND TRADE

Since election, 2.4m new jobs, including 200,000 in manufacturing 

finally seeing rising wages

African, Hispanic unemployment lowest record ever recorded

stock market added US$8 trillion since he was elected 

Trump praised tax cut approved by Congress.

typical family of four making $75,000 tax bill reduced by $2,000 — slash in half

tax cut made it interesting for large companies to repatriate money

Apple to invest $350bn in America, hire 20,000 workers

Exxonmobil announced $50b investment in United States

America has turned page on decades of unfair trade deals 

that sacrificed prosperity, shipped away our companies, jobs, wealth

era of economic surrender is totally over

we expect trading relationships to be fair and reciprocal 

We will fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones

Trump called on Congress to pass $1.5 trillion for American infrastructure

I am calling on Congress to produce $1.5 trillion for new infrastructure investment

​IMMIGRATION

generously offers citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants, "dreamers"

Congress must approve laws to prevent MS-13, criminal gangs from US

call on Congress to close loopholes that allow MS-13, criminal gangs into country

new legislation that will fix immigration laws

US needs wall along Mexican border 

build great wall on Southern border

end to visa lottery system 

visa lottery hands out green cards without regard for skill, merit, safety 

​MILITARY

we face rogue regimes, terrorist groups, rivals China, Russia 

challenge our interests, economy, and values

Iran's troublesome activities across the Middle East

North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

America stands with people of Iran in courageous struggle for freedom

North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles threaten our homeland

Trump said US foolishly released terrorists, including leader of ISIS 

we foolishly released terrorists, to meet them again in battle 

including leader, al-Baghdadi

signed order to keep Guantanamo Bay open

reexamine military detention policy, keep Guantánamo open 

US military in Afghanistan will not be restrained by artificial time-lines

in Afghanistan new rules of engagement

we no longer tell our enemies our plans

US must rebuild nuclear arsenal

deter aggression by any other nation or anyone else

US cleared "almost 100%"  ISIS territory in Iraq, Syria.

proud to report liberated 100% of territory held by ISIS in Iraq and Syria

​JERUSALEM

recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel

called Congress pass legislation cut aid to countries voted against US 

Dozens of countries voted against America's sovereign right 

American taxpayers generously send those countries billions in aid 

Congress to pass legislation US dollars only go to America's friends