Trump News, Washington, D.C. – March 4, 2025 : In a fiery and unapologetic address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump hailed the dawn of a new economic era for the United States, spotlighting his freshly imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China as a cornerstone of his second-term agenda.
Trum Inauguration Congress Speech
Speaking before lawmakers just six weeks into his return to the White House, Trump declared “America is back” and took credit for what he called “the greatest start to any presidency—maybe ever.” The speech, delivered hours after 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and a doubled 20% tariff on Chinese goods took effect, blended boasts of swift action with sharp jabs at critics and foreign leaders alike.
The tariffs, enacted at midnight, target everything from Canadian steel to Mexican avocados and Chinese electronics, aiming to curb drug trafficking—especially fentanyl—and slash trade deficits.
Trump framed the measures as a long-overdue flex of American muscle, dismissing pushback from allies and economic analysts as “fake news from the radical left.” The address, met with roaring applause from Republicans and stony silence from many Democrats, underscored a stark partisan divide as the president laid out his vision with a list of bullet points he claimed to have written himself.
“These are my words, folks—straight from me, no teleprompter nonsense,” Trump said, waving a piece of paper to the delight of his supporters in the chamber. “I’m delivering for the American people like nobody else can.” Below are the key highlights from the speech, presented as Trump’s own bullet points, capturing his signature bravado and focus on the tariff rollout.
Remarks by President Trump in Joint Address to Congress
- "Tariffs Are Making America Rich Again!"
“Today, March 4, 2025, we hit Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs—beautiful numbers, folks. China? Doubled to 20%. They’ve been ripping us off for years, but not anymore. These tariffs are pouring money back into our country—billions, maybe trillions. Everyone said I couldn’t do it, but I did it on Day One of this new era!”
- "Stopping the Drug Invasion—Big League!"
“Fentanyl’s killing our kids, and it’s coming from Mexico, Canada, and China—disgraceful. These tariffs tell them: ‘Fix it, or pay up!’ I’m the only one tough enough to stop this poison at the border. Biden? Weak. Me? Stronger than ever. We’re saving lives, folks—believe me.”
- "Trade Deficits? Done. Finished. Over!"
“Our trade deals were a joke—Canada, Mexico, China, they laughed at us. Not anymore! These tariffs level the playing field. They pay us now, not the other way around. I’m bringing back jobs, factories, everything. People are calling it the Trump Economic Miracle—best ever!”
- "Allies Whine, I Win!"
“Trudeau’s crying, says I’m hurting Canada—boo-hoo! He called me out, said I’m ‘appeasing Putin.’ Ridiculous! I’m making America stronger while he’s weak. Mexico’s begging, China’s scrambling—good! They’ll learn: mess with us, you lose. I’m the greatest negotiator—nobody does it better.”
- "American Workers Are Number One Again!"
“If you don’t make it in America, you pay the Trump Tariff—simple! Companies are already calling me, saying, ‘Mr. President, we’re building here now!’ Steel, cars, you name it—back in the USA. My first term was fantastic, but this? This is historic, folks—historic!”
The speech came amid immediate fallout from the tariff announcement. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a same-day press conference, blasted the tariffs as “very dumb” and retaliated with duties on $155 billion in U.S. goods, warning of economic collapse.
China fired back with levies on American agriculture, while Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a measured response, holding off on retaliation for now. Markets shuddered, with the Dow dropping sharply as fears of inflation and supply chain chaos mounted.
Trump brushed off the criticism, doubling down on his tariff strategy as a cure-all for America’s woes. “They’ll come to the table—watch,” he told lawmakers, predicting foreign leaders would “beg for deals” within weeks. He also took a swipe at Democrats, noting their refusal to clap: “Nothing I say makes them happy—sad! But the American people love it, and that’s what counts.”
As the 100-minute address wrapped up—among the longest of its kind in modern history—Trump left no doubt about his intent to wield tariffs as a blunt instrument. Whether the gambit pays off or backfires remains unclear, but for now, the president is betting big on his economic nationalism, with Congress and the world watching closely.
