Trump’s Address to Congress: A Look at the Key Moments

President Donald Trump delivered a sweeping address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening, marking his first such appearance since returning to the Oval Office in January. The speech, which stretched over 90 minutes, served as both a victory lap celebrating his administration’s initial accomplishments and a preview of his vision for the future of the nation.

While the address bore similarities to a State of the Union speech, it was not formally designated as such, given that Trump has not yet completed a full year in office. Fox News Digital highlighted five key moments from the address, encompassing Democratic protests, enthusiastic chants of "USA, USA, USA," and the announcement of the apprehension of a top terrorist figure.

Trump’s speech clocked in at approximately one hour and forty minutes, making it the longest address ever delivered before a joint session of Congress, according to data from the American Presidency Project at the University of California at Santa Barbara. The previous record was held by former President Bill Clinton, whose State of the Union Address in 2000 lasted for one hour and twenty-eight minutes.

"To my fellow citizens, America is back," Trump declared at the outset of his speech, setting a tone of optimism and national revival. He continued, "Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden Age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country. We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years. And we are just getting started."

These opening remarks were met with resounding chants of "USA, USA, USA" from the audience, signaling strong support for the president’s agenda. Trump then proceeded to outline a series of accomplishments since assuming office, focusing on the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to combat government overspending, fraud, and mismanagement, as well as initiatives to secure the border. He also hinted at his tariff plans, projecting that they would stimulate an economic "boom" for American citizens.

In his concluding remarks, Trump reiterated his commitment to fighting for the country and its citizens. "Every single day, we will stand up and we will fight, fight, fight for the country our citizens believe in and for the country people deserve," he asserted. "My fellow Americans, get ready for an Incredible future, because the golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America."

However, the address was not without its moments of discord. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ordered the sergeant at arms to remove Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green after Green repeatedly disrupted Trump’s opening remarks. Johnson warned that members were engaging in "willful and continuing breach of decorum" and that he was prepared to restore order. Despite Johnson’s attempts to quiet him, Green continued shouting and shaking his cane at Trump, ultimately leading to his removal from the House chamber. Green, a vocal critic of Trump, had previously filed impeachment articles against the president over what he termed "ethnic cleansing in Gaza."

Other Democrats also protested Trump’s address, despite warnings from some of their colleagues, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who suggested that they should let him "stew in his own juice." Some Democrats remained seated during Trump’s celebrations of his policies, while others held up signs with messages such as "false," "lies," "Musk steals," and "Save Medicaid." Some female Democratic lawmakers donned pink suits in protest of policies they perceived as anti-woman, while others were heard jeering Trump throughout the speech.

During his address, Trump also honored the lives of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, both of whom were tragically killed by illegal immigrants under the Biden administration. He announced that an animal refuge would be named after Nungaray. He recounted the details of Jocelyn Nungaray’s murder, emphasizing the brutality of the crime and the alleged involvement of two illegal immigrants from Venezuela.

Trump also celebrated the life of Laken Riley, who was allegedly beaten to death by an illegal immigrant in 2024. He highlighted the Laken Riley Act, which he signed into law upon taking office, mandating that Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes, or those accused of assaulting a police officer.

He further declared that the U.S. would "never, ever forget our beautiful Laken Riley" through the legislation he signed into law. Trump also stated that the suspects in both Jocelyn and Laken’s murders were members of the Venezuelan prison gang, Tren De Aragua, which he had designated as a foreign terrorist organization, putting them in the same category as ISIS.

Trump then announced that the top terrorist suspect behind the 2021 Abbey Gate attack in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, had been apprehended and was on his way to face justice in the United States. The suspect was identified as Muhammed Sharifullah. Trump thanked the government of Pakistan for their assistance in the arrest. He also said that he had spoken with the families of those who were killed, bringing them tears of joy.

The address also included a heartwarming moment when Trump recognized DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer survivor who dreams of becoming a police officer. Trump announced that he was being made an agent of the United States by the Secret Service. Secret Service chief Sean Curran presented Daniel with a customized Secret Service badge, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.