US President Donald Trump delivered his first address to Congress after 43 days in office. His speech was full of ambitious statements and loud promises aimed at restoring America's greatness. The main theses concerned foreign policy, import tariffs and territorial ambitions of the United States. As reported by IZ with reference to the video recording of FOX 5 New York.
Trump began with his favorite tactic of comparing himself to his predecessors, declaring that he was “the greatest president since George Washington.” He then outlined plans for the Panama Canal, noting that returning it to U.S. control would not be difficult because “Panama is a small country.”
Trump plans to impose tariffs on goods imported into America starting April 2. He did not specify which countries would be subject to these measures, but hinted at Europe and China. Regarding Canada and Mexico, the president was ambiguous, leaving the issue open.
The most surprising statement was about Greenland: Trump “friendly” offered the island to join the United States. At the same time, he hinted at a possible forceful solution to the issue, stating that Greenland “will be with us one way or another.” This approach caused a resonance among international experts and politicians, who are already expressing concern about the new territorial ambitions of the United States.
The Ukrainian issue was also not left without attention. Trump repeated the rhetoric he used during the election campaign, calling the war in Ukraine a “conflict.” He said that America had already provided Ukraine with $350 million in aid, although the Pentagon had previously reported a much smaller amount — up to $100 million. In his speech, the president read out Volodymyr Zelensky’s letter in full, noting the Ukrainian leader’s readiness for peace. Trump also added that he had received “strong signals” from Russian President Vladimir Putin, without specifying what exactly was being discussed.
Of particular concern were Trump's words about his readiness to “fight to the death” for America. Emphasizing the dominant role of the United States in the world, the president repeatedly used the word “fight”, which added an aggressive tone to his speech. Analysts already suggest that such statements may indicate a further aggravation of international relations.
Trump's address to Congress confirmed a course toward increased protectionism, territorial ambitions, and a tougher foreign policy. Experts believe that the president's further steps will depend on the reaction of both the domestic audience and the international community.
As previously reported in our news story “Trump's Trade War Has Crashed the US Stock Market,” the president's aggressive tariff policy has already led to serious economic consequences.