President Donald Trump delivered a historic and highly charged address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, just six weeks into his return to the White House.

During the speech—now the longest joint address in U.S. history—Trump declared “America is back”, defended his tariffs on key trading partners, and touched on immigration and the Ukraine mineral deal, though he offered few specifics on his economic plan. The event was punctuated by protests and disruptions from Democrats, underscoring the deep political divisions in Washington.

Key Takeaways from Trump’s Address

Trump opened his speech with a triumphant declaration:

“America is back.”

Republicans erupted into chants of “USA! USA!”, rising to their feet in celebration. Trump wasted no time boasting about his administration’s rapid policy rollout, claiming:

“We’ve accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years—and we are just getting started.”

Democrats Disrupt the Speech, One Lawmaker Removed

The tone shifted when Trump addressed the 2024 election, asserting that he won by “large numbers” and had a clear mandate from voters.

Democrats immediately pushed back, with Rep. Al Green (D-TX) rising from his seat and shaking his cane at Trump, shouting:

“There’s no mandate!”

House Speaker Mike Johnson repeatedly slammed his gavel to restore order before ordering Green’s removal from the chamber by the sergeant at arms.

The clashes continued throughout the speech, with Trump taunting Sen. Elizabeth Warren, reviving his 2018 nickname “Pocahontas”.

Democrats held up protest signs reading “False” and “Musk Steals”, while several lawmakers walked out in protest.

Trump Slams Biden

Throughout the speech, Trump attacked former President Joe Biden, blaming him for border issues, economic struggles, and foreign policy failures.

“The worst president in American history,” Trump declared.

Despite his confident rhetoric, Trump faces growing public dissatisfaction with many of his policies. A 538 analysis found his approval ratings underwater on healthcare, foreign policy, trade, and government funding.

Trump Praises Elon Musk and DOGE

One of the more unexpected moments came when Trump praised Elon Musk, who was in attendance, for his leadership of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Perhaps,” Trump quipped.

“The brand-new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight. Thank you, Elon. He’s working very hard. He didn’t need this. He didn’t need this. Everybody here, even this side, appreciates it, I believe.”

Trump then rattled off a list of wasteful government spending that DOGE had supposedly identified, including misleading claims about Social Security—such as millions of Americans over 100 receiving benefits, a statement that has been debunked.

He asserted that DOGE’s work would boost the economy, further strengthening his economic agenda.

A Divisive Speech Amid Mounting Challenges

While Republicans enthusiastically backed Trump’s vision, the deep divisions in Congress were on full display, with Democratic protests and disruptions highlighting continued resistance to his policies.

With his aggressive push for tariffs, his unwavering support for Elon Musk, and his bold rhetoric, Trump made it clear that his second term will be as combative and ambitious as ever.