President Donald Trump Congress address recap: ‘Renewal of the American dream’ theme of Republican’s speech

This concludes our live coverage of US President Donald Trump’s Congress address.

Scroll back through to read all the highlights from Mr Trump’s hour and 40-minute long speech.

First-term Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin has delivered the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s joint congressional address.

Ms Slotkin, a “rising star” for the Democrats, kept her rebuttal short, saying everything she needed in about 10 minutes, compared to Mr Trump’s hour and 40 minute long speech.

Speaking from Wyandotte, Michigan, a community south of Detroit, Ms Slotkin spoke a little about the proud history of working class America before telling Americans Mr Trump’s policies would make them pay “in every part of your life”.

Ms Slotkin focused on economic issues amid Trump’s announcement 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada would begin Tuesday.

“The president talked a big game on the economy,” she said. “But it’s always important to read the fine print.”

Ms Slotkin accused Mr Trump of prioritising tax cuts for billionaires over working-class families and warned his policies could lead to higher healthcare costs and threaten benefits.

Ms Slotkin also took aim at Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“Is there anyone in America who is comfortable with Elon Musk and his gang of 20-year-olds using their own computer servers to poke through your tax returns, health records, and bank accounts?” she asked.

As a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, Slotkin hit out strongly against Mr Trump’s decisions on foreign policy, zoning in on his approach to NATO and Ukraine.

“Trump believes in cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and kicking our allies in the teeth,” she said. “That’s not strength—it’s short-sighted and dangerous.”

Ms Slotkin then called on voters to hold their elected officials accountable and push for responsible leadership, urging all Americans to stay engaged.

“America is going through something right now,” she said.

“But we’ve been here before. The question is: will we choose chaos, or will we choose to fight for something better?”

US President Donald Trump has vowed to “end the senseless war” in Ukraine by talking to both sides of the conflict, offering a hint of a thaw in tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy.

“It’s time to stop this madness. It’s time to halt the killing. It’s time to end the senseless war. You want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides,” he said in his address to the House chamber on Tuesday night.

Mr Trump said he “appreciated” a letter sent by Mr Zelensky following a shocking showdown in the Oval Office on Friday over the terms of reaching a ceasefire with the Russians. He also said he was in talks with the Russians.

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Democrat Al Green was ejected from the US House of Representatives chamber on Tuesday after heckling President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.

The Texan, who shook his cane during his protest in the opening minutes of Mr Trump’s speech, has long demanded the president’s impeachment.

“You have no mandate!” he shouted at the president.

House Speaker Mike Johnson instructed the House Sergeant of Arms to remove Mr Green, prompting Republicans to rise on their feet, shouting and cheering “Get out!” and “Goodbye!” at the lawmaker as he was escorted out by police.

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In closing, Mr Trump spruiked about the strength and love within America.

“Americans today are a proud nation that will always be free,” he said. “We will fight till death to keep it that way.”

He went on to say America was “a country of doers, dreamers, fighters and survivors”.

The President listed The Empire State Building, the Hoover Dam, and the Golden Gate Bridge as some of the countries incredible architectural achievements.

Mr Trump then called on his fellow citizens to “take up the righteous cause” with him in the “Golden age” of America.

“This will be our greatest era, over the next four years we are going to lead this nation even higher,” he said.

“We are going to create the highest quality of life.”

He boasted that the possibilities were endless, saying, “We are going to plant the American flag on Mars and even far beyond”.

Lastly, Mr Trump reiterated he would never stop fighting for America.

“We will fight, fight, fight for the country our citizens believe in and the country our people deserve,” he said.

The crowd began chanting and clapping when Mr Trump paused.

“My fellow Americans get ready … The golden age of America has just begun,” he said.

“Thank you, God bless you and God bless America.”

Mr Trump left the stage to mingle and shake hands with attendees.

Mr Trump says he believes that Ukraine and Russia are now ready for peace.

He revealed he had received a letter from the Ukraine President who has committed to signing the rare-mineral deal with the UN at a time that is convenient for Mr Trump.

Mr Trump said he has also heard from Russia, who are ready for peace.

The president stopped short of saying the deal was signed or a ceasefire had been agreed to, instead saying “Wouldn’t that be nice”.

Sources claimed ahead of Mr Trump’s address that he may announce a deal had been reached during his speech.

“To further enhance our national security, my Administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal and we’ve already started doing it,” Mr Trump said.

“The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others. But others could use it.

“It was built at tremendous cost of American blood and treasure.

“The most expensive project also that was ever built in our country’s history if you bring it up to modern-day costs.

“It was given away by the Carter Administration for one dollar, but that agreement has been violated very severely.

“We didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama and we’re taking it back.”

“To boost our defence industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American ship building industry including commercial ship building and military ship building,” Mr Trump said.

For that purpose, I am announcing tonight that we will create a new office of ship building in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America where it belongs.

“We used to make so many ships. We don’t make them anymore very much but we’re going to make them very fast, very soon.”

“I also signed an order to cut off all taxpayer funding to any institution that engages in the sexual mutilation of our youth,” Mr Trump said.

“I want Congress to pass a bill permanently banning and criminalising sex changes on children and forever ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.

“This is a big lie.

“Our message to every child in America is that you are perfect exactly the way God made you.

“Because we’re getting wokeness out of our schools and out of our military.

“It’s already out. It’s out of our society. We don’t want it. Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is bad. It’s gone.”

“Since 1975, rates of child cancer have increased by more than 40 per cent,” Mr Trump said.

“Reversing this trend is one of the top priorities for our new presidential commission to make America healthy again chaired by our new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr.”

Cheers erupted from the Republican side of the room, as Democrats sat silently.

“With the name Kennedy you would have thought everybody over here would have been cheering. How quickly they forget,” Mr Trump said.