Trump speech to Congress: Trump airs familiar grievances in address before Congress

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Last updated: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 4:56AM GMT
Trump defends tariffs, government cuts in address to divided Congress
The president touted the moves his administration has made in his first weeks in office, touching on tariffs, the war in Ukraine and the border.

President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, six weeks into his historic return to the White House.

During the speech, Trump said "America is back" and defended the tariffs on key U.S. trading partners. He touched on immigration and the mineral deal with Ukraine, but neglected to go into detail on his economic plan. The speech was also met with protests and disruptions from Democrats.

Mar 05, 2025, 4:48 AM

Fact-checking Pres. Trump's speech to Congress

ABC News, along with PolitiFact, is live fact-checking Trump's speech statements that are exaggerated, need more context or are false.

READ MORE | Fact-checking Pres. Trump's speech to Congress

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
ByDevin Dwyer ABCNews logo
Mar 05, 2025, 2:03 AM GMT

Four sitting members of SCOTUS attend address

Four sitting members of the U.S. Supreme Court are in attendance for Trump's address tonight: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy is also present.

This is a slightly smaller showing from the court compared with recent presidential addresses to Congress as six attended in 2024, five attended in 2023, and five attended in 2022.

During Trump's first term, however, only four justices ever attended each of Trump's addresses before Congress.

Trump will shake hands with and speak before members of the Supreme Court at a time when his administration is seeking its emergency intervention in two pending cases related to his executive actions -- one involving his power to fire any employee of the executive branch for any reason, and the other involving his power to freeze foreign aid that Congress has authorized for specific programs.

To date, the Supreme Court has not yet weighed in in any meaningful way on Trump's asserted presidential powers during his second term.

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Mar 05, 2025, 2:12 AM GMT

Elon Musk receives some applause upon arrival

Elon Musk is now in the House chamber. There was a smattering of applause and cheers as he arrived.

ByKatherine Faulders ABCNews logo
Mar 05, 2025, 1:53 AM GMT

VA Secretary Doug Collins is the designated survivor

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will sit out on Trump's joint address to Congress as the designated survivor, multiple sources tell ABC News.

FILE - Doug Collins appears at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
FILE - Doug Collins appears at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

A designated survivor is a Cabinet-level official selected by the White House who is ready to take the reins if everyone above him or her in the presidential line of succession dies in a crisis in the House chamber.

Collins will be given presidential level protection for the evening and escorted to an undisclosed location to watch the address.

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Mar 05, 2025, 1:46 AM GMT

Why Democratic women are wearing pink tonight

Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández told ABC News the caucus called on women to wear pink because it is the "color of power and protest."

Spotted in pink in the chamber is Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House.

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., takes a photo before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., takes a photo before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.