State of the Union: Trump extends ‘open hand’ to Dems on immigration, touts tax cuts, warns N. Korea
President Trump extended an “open hand” to Democrats during his first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night, boasting of political accomplishments in his first year as president as he declared “this is our new American moment.”
"Tonight, I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties -- Democrats and Republicans -- to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed," he said.
The president used his more than an hour long speech to extend an olive branch to his critics and signal a willingness to make bipartisan deals on second-year-agenda priorities like immigration and infrastructure.
“Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,” the president said.
The president described his recent offer for an immigration deal as a "fair compromise" for both sides. The White House is pushing a plan to broaden eligibility for the DACA program – which gives a reprieve to illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and which Trump is planning to end absent a legislative solution – in exchange for border wall funding and other big changes.
“We presented the Congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs and must have,” he said.
Even as he pushed for an immigration deal, the president didn’t stray from messaging aimed at his base. He emphasized that his “highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, and my constant concern is for America's children, America's struggling workers, and America's forgotten communities.”
The president also warned that North Korea's “reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles” could “very soon” threaten the United States.
The White House has invited several guests to attend President Trump's first State of the Union address. Here's a look at some of the attendees.
“We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening,” he said. “Past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation. I will not repeat the mistakes of past administrations that got us into this dangerous position.”
During the speech, the president recognized the parents of Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student who died over the summer after being injured while imprisoned in North Korea, who attended Tuesday’s address.
Vowing to fight terrorism, the president said he ordered Defense Secretary James Mattis to reexamine the military’s detention policy toward terrorists and keep open the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay.
John Roberts previews the talking points from the White House.
The president called for bipartisan cooperation on infrastructure, saying "together, we can reclaim our great building heritage."
"We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways and waterways all across our land, and we will do it with American heart, and American hands, and American grit," Trump said.
Like other presidents before him, Trump used the address to tout first-year accomplishments like the GOP tax cut bill, regulation rollbacks, the elimination of ObamaCare’s individual mandate and gains made over the last year against the Islamic State.
“This is our new American moment,” Trump said. “There has never been a better time to start living the American dream.”
He began his speech by praising heroes during natural disasters and tragedies over the last year, including during the summer shooting of Republican lawmakers at a baseball practice.
“With us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this House -- a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work three and a half months later: the legend from Louisiana, Congressman Steve Scalise,” Trump said.
Earlier Tuesday, during a pre-speech lunch with television anchors, Trump -- who does not shy away from conflict with his detractors -- said “unity is really what I'm striving for, to bring the country together."
"If I could unite this country, I would consider it a tremendous success,” Trump said. “I would love to be able to bring back our country in a great form of unity, without a major event - very tough to do. I would like to do it without a major event, because that major event is usually a bad thing.”
The address comes after a year of partisan clashes in Washington over health care, the 'travel ban,' regulations and more.
TRUMP READY TO DEAL IN STATE OF THE UNION – ARE DEMOCRATS?
Ahead of the speech, leaders were bracing for potential conflicts.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered a stern warning to House Democrats attending the speech during a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday, imploring them to play nice.
Pelosi advised Democrats against a walk-out, with sources in the room saying Pelosi told members “if you want to walk out, don’t come” and to let Trump be “his slobbering self.”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus wore traditional Kente cloth in protest of Trump's reported comments about immigration from “s---hole countries.”
During the speech, some caucus members declined to stand even to honor a 12-year-old guest of the first family who was recognized for gathering flags for veterans' graves.
Trump praised Preston Sharp, a boy from California, who started a movement to place flags at the graves of fallen service members.
Massachusetts senator Joseph Kennedy III will deliver the Democrats' response to President Trump's State of the Union address. Who is Sen. Kennedy?
“Preston's reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem,” he said.
Trump's comments were aimed at the NFL football players who have been kneeling during the national anthem as a protest against police shootings of African-Americans.
First lady Melania Trump and all of the president’s children – with the exception of 11-year-old Barron Trump – attended the primetime speech at the Capitol. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/30/state-union-trump-extends-open-hand-to-dems-on-immigration-touts-tax-cuts-warns-n-korea.html
"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans:
Less than 1 year has (sniff) passed since I first stood at this podium, in this majestic chamber, to speak on behalf of the American People — and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night, our new (sniff) Administration had already taken swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land.
Each day since, we have gone forward (sniff, gasp for air) with a clear vision and a righteous mission — to make America great again for all Americans.
Over the last year, we have made incredible progress and ( odd pause) achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected, and others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights ( lost his place) of victory and the pains of hardship. We endured floods and fires and ( sniff) storms. But through it all, we have seen the beauty of America’s soul, and (gasp for air) the steel in America’s spine.
Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be. (sniff)"
What did you do, add the "sniffs" to the transcript? I don't worry about the sniffs, but I was also looking at some of my stocks and noticed my PayPal stock was around $30 when I bought it several years ago. It was $40 on the day of the election and $40 on January 20, 2017. But now it is $84. It was $85 yesterday. Obama sure had a lot to do with this boom. The best thing he ever did was get out of the way, don't you think?
Don't forget to look at the longer term, not the daily quote. It's interactive.
Here's some more good news for you.
More than half of S&P 500 stocks are up 20% or more since Trump took office
Morning in America!!! No more mourning in America!!!
Didn't hear all those "sniffs", but its nice to know you are still hanging on his every word. My advice to you is to take note of the booming economy. Don't bother telling us Obama finally got it rolling - nobodys buying it!
Para mi gente:
If he did sniff as you say he ciuldnt help it. The stench of Pelosi and Schumer filled the room along with the rest of the democrat pollution. It was purely an involuntary respritory defense action.
It was just laughable. The Trumpanzees have spent the last year attacking every democrat in America, spent enormous political capital to pass a "tax reform" that contained a large punishment aimed, with malice and forethought, at democratic states.Suddenly, now that he realizes that he can't pass much else without democrats, he extends his orange hand. Democrats should piss on it. Holding DACA recipients hostage will not get you your wall, and republicans will get the blame once these children are torn away screaming from their families and deported. The republican legislative agenda is DOA, and if democrats win the House in November, the next 2 years will be taken up with Trumps impeachment.
He offered amnesty & citizenship to 1.8 million people in exchange for border security. If democrats reject that who will get blamed by the DACA people?
I don't think the democrats will shut down government again after the public reaction last time, but I know they will get serious when the March 5 deadline approaches.
Huh? The parents of these 'children' are undocumented as well, so there will be NO tears from a family torn apart - the whole family would go together.
What is it with illegal families being separated that disturbs individuals so much - across the nation courts are tearing families apart daily .. the foster care system is severely broken, but there is NO gnashing of the teeth when legal American children are forced into the system by NO choice of their own.
I think that there is NO choice but to allow 'Dreamers' to remain, it is the right thing to do! Roughly 800k have signed up under DACA, there needs to be a path for these individuals (as they are hard working dedicated individuals) be happy that the remaining loafers that make up 1.8 million so called 'Dreamers' are even being considered in the process moving forward.
.. but save all the 'boo hoo's' about undocumented families being separated. It is a fact of life that there are consequences when one chooses to violate the sovereignty of another country.
Chain migration (family reunification) needs to be stopped, and then addressed by Congress - I believe there needs to be a path for the families to be able to bring grandma (especially when health is a factor) to America to be with her children and grandchildren in her final days (or grandpa) .. yet the extended family needs to apply for their entrance into the country the way all others that choose to emigrate do.
75% of viewers approved according to cbs.
Yup, The economy still matters!
"Americans" ...... are dreamers too !
BEST line of the night...finally nice to be able to watch a SOTU address without throwing something at the TV (well, I wanted to at some of the jackasses who were sitting on their fat A$$es when Trump and others applauded our military, the great economic news, and our country)! Found it quite telling when Trump talked about the Capitol being the people's house and all the Dems sat there...they think it is theirs, apparently.
I'm having a hard time finding the last time the "American" people got a thumbs up shout out, for just being ....... Citizens of America.
The other part of his speech that was fun to watch, is when he looked right at the democrats, basically pointed to them and said "I'm giving you 1.8 million Dreamers, instead of the 800,000 you wanted ....and the Democrats STILL sat on their asses !
Stupid idea Mzzzzz. Pelosi and Mzzzzter. Schumer !
Greg Gutfield:
"if the old saying is true – that "progressivism is the fear that someone somewhere is making America look good" – this is one of the worst nights ever for progressives."
This sentence cancels itself out. You can clearly see this, no? "The people" are in opposite corners. And, our Leader is cheering and farming one corner.
Kinda reminds us of President (I won) Obama.
My friend, and I do love having your friendship, it sounds more like forked-tongue rhetoric. People delivering speeches should be more precise with sentences designed to construct unity.
Bringing back the "Days of a King", just isn't going to cut it these days. That's what bipartisan is. No need for parties if that's what you are looking for.
President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton....ALL called for unity. Guess how that worked out.
I always hear Liberals talk about diversity and it's importance. "Diversity" does not mean.....the SAME ! Should this country become less diverse to fulfill bipartisanship needs ?
What??
Come on.
It was a very simple conclusion.
Many on the Left are claiming otherwise. However, get in to your Wayback Machine and contrast Trump with his predecessor, who said Republicans had driven the country into a ditch. Remember? He was taking away the keys and making them sit in the back seat. He said it repeatedly.
Then, when Trump became president, it wasn't a legitimate election. Electors were urged to go against the vote of the people. The president has been accused of winning only because he conspired with Russia to somehow change votes.
Meanwhile, the most "divisive" thing Trump does is press an agenda that is important to him, while repeatedly inviting Democrats to be part of the solution. We even saw a 45 minute meeting live on TV, hosted by Trump with leaders from both parties having the floor. And that's not even the only time Trump has invited Democrats to meet with him.
And now with the Dreamers, contrast Trump to Obama. Obama protested for years that there was nothing he could do and finally only decided to defer deportation proceedings regarding 800,000 Dreamers. But Trump is pushing for legislation to make 2 MILLION of them citizens! Citizens! And the Left has the nerve to accuse him of being divisive and racist. Nancy Pelosi has the nerve to sit on her hands in the SOTU and pretend Trump hates Dreamers.
The Left slaps away Trump's "open hand" because they prefer this division and partisanship to actually solving problems. They would much prefer to promise to solve problems than to actually solve them.
Breitbart.com cut and paste. Come on C4P! Any one commenting on this farce of an article, is just putting money into XXXs' pocket for his obvious pay for comment deal he has. Shotguns an article, and then disappears.