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State of the Union: Trump attacks Russia investigation in address – live updates State of the Union: Trump makes pitch for border wall in address – live updates
(35 minutes later)
Trump now details negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan
I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor -- and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict.
Trump now describes his foreign policy as “principled realism.”
Trump takes a pointed shot at those on the far left of the Democratic Party.
Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence –- not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.
Trump gets bipartisan applause for announcing “two weeks ago, the United States officially recognized the legitimate government of Venezuela, and its new interim President, Juan Guaido.”
Trump tells Congress:
If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea with potentially millions of people killed. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one. And Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam.
Trump confirms second summit with Kim Jong-un will be in Vietnam within weeks
Trump pivots to cultural issues and calls on Congress “to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.”
This comes after he attacks embattled Virginia governor Ralph Northam, saying Northam “stated he would execute a baby after birth.”
In addition to funding to fight AIDS, Trump calls for an extra $500 million to fight childhood cancer over the next ten years.
In a bolder, bipartisan statement, Trump calls for increased funding to fight HIV and eliminate the disease in the next ten years
No force in history has done more to advance the human condition than American freedom. In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and Aids. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. We have made incredible strides, incredible. Together, we will defeat Aids in America and beyond.
Now Trump calls a tougher trade policy on China, for Congress to give him more freedom to impose tariffs as well as to pass the USMCA, Trump’s replacement for NAFTA.
Trump praises the increasing role of women in the work force to cheers, particularly towards the cluster of Democratic freshmen women wearing white in the chamber.
He then says “Don’t sit yet, you’ll like this” before noting “ we also have more women serving in the Congress than ever before.” Nancy Pelosi raises out her hands behind him to urge Democrats to stand as the chamber breaks out into chants of USA, USA.
Trump adds “that’s great and congratulations.”
Trump urges the efficacy of a border wall while asking Congress to compromise the subject which has become a symbolic totem for both parties.
Simply put, walls work and walls save lives. So let’s work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.
Trump now urges the building of a wall on the southern border, which he emphasizes will be a “smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier.”Trump now urges the building of a wall on the southern border, which he emphasizes will be a “smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier.”
In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall -- but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built.In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall -- but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built.
This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier -- not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by border agents as having the greatest need, and as these agents will tell you, where walls go up, illegal crossings go way down.This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier -- not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by border agents as having the greatest need, and as these agents will tell you, where walls go up, illegal crossings go way down.
Trump takes a shot at those on the left of the Democratic Party who have called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Trump takes a shot at those on the left of the Democratic Party who have called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
We will always support the brave men and women of Law Enforcement -- and I pledge to you tonight that we will never abolish our heroes from ICE.We will always support the brave men and women of Law Enforcement -- and I pledge to you tonight that we will never abolish our heroes from ICE.
The pledge comes after an extended tribute to Elvin Hernandez, an Hispanic-American ICE officer who fights sex trafficking. Per Trump, “Thanks to his work and that of his colleagues, more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from horror and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars in the last year.”The pledge comes after an extended tribute to Elvin Hernandez, an Hispanic-American ICE officer who fights sex trafficking. Per Trump, “Thanks to his work and that of his colleagues, more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from horror and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars in the last year.”
Trump gave one interesting ad lib in talking about immigration tonight adding that he wants legal immigrants “in the largest numbers ever.”
.@realDonaldTrump: “I want people to come into our country, in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally.” “In the largest numbers ever” was ad libbed, not in prepared remarks.
Strangest line of the night: Trump saying he wants legal immigrants coming into the country in “the largest numbers ever.” That directly contradicts his claimed policy. Stephen Miller did not write that line!
Illegal immigration is now being painted as a populist issue by Trump:
No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s working class and America’s political class than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards.
Meanwhile, working class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal migration -- reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools and hospitals that are so crowded you can’t get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net.
Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate -- it is actually very cruel.
Trump implores Congress to act on border security “out of love.”
Tonight, I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country.
Trump now warns of caravans of illegal immigrants approaching the southern border and claims Mexico is sending them in buses. Groans can be heard in the chamber.
Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection.
Trump now addresses the coming government funding deadline for the first time
The Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our Government, protect our homeland, and secure our southern border.
Trump goes on to hail the First Step Act
This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community. The First Step Act gives non-violent offenders the chance to re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now, States across the country are following our lead. America is a Nation that believes in redemption.
Trump is now spending a lengthy section of his speech talking the First Step Bill, the successful bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation which was passed last year.
He’s now talking about Alice Johnson, a first time non-violent drug offender who was sentenced to life in prison. Her case came to his attention due to lobbying from Kim Kardashian West and Trump commuted her sentence last year.
Trump now praises a variety of bipartisan legislation that passed in the last Congress including the farm bill, legislation to deal with the opioid crisis and to refigure the VA.
After hailing his economic successes , Trump attacks “ridiculous partisan investigations” as an obstacle, a pointed reference to Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in 2016 election. The line sparked a distinct eye roll from Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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. It just doesn’t work that way!
We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad.
Trump pronounces “the state of our union is strong” to chants of USA, USA in the chamber.
Trump adds “that sounds so good.”