US President Donald Trump delivered his first address to Congress since returning to the White House on Tuesday, proudly declaring that ‘America is back’ to lawmakers in the Capitol.

Delivering the longest speech by an American president in modern history, Trump used the opportunity to solidify his foreign and domestic policy agenda and heap scorn on his opponents, chiding Democrats for not applauding his ‘astronomical achievements’ since assuming office.

Over the course of 99-minutes, Trump took the opportunity to list every single one of his achievements since his return to power on January 20, taking credit for everything from slashing the federal budget to renaming the Gulf of Mexico to shaking up the trans-atlantic alliance over the war in Ukraine.

Here are the key takeaways from the speech which Trump promised would be like ‘nothing that has ever been seen before’:

Democrats heckle the president

Trump started his speech by puring scorn on his predecessor Joe Biden, and said his administration has accomplished ‘more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years, eight years, and we are just getting started’.

But just minutes into his speech, Democratic Rep Al Green stood up and shouted at the president: ‘You have no mandate.’

Trump paused his speech as Republican lawmakers chanted ‘USA! USA!’ to try to drown out Green’s protest.

Heckles and jeers soon broke out in the chamber as both parties began shouting at eachother, and Green, who waved a walking stick in protest, was escorted out of the room a short time later.

As Trump spoke, other Democrats held up signs saying ‘This is a lie’ and ‘No Kings here’, while other wore blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine’s flag.

Dozens of Democratic women wore pink pansuits with the word ‘resist’ printed on the back and stormed out of the chamber midway through the speech.

After they were escorted from the chamber, Trump said ‘There is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy,’ and  proclaimed that ‘our country will be woke no longer’.

Peace talks in Ukraine

Trump told Congress that Vladimir Putin has sent ‘clear signals’ he is ready to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had sent him a letter requesting a desire to return to the negotiating table.

‘I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago,’ said Trump, indicating a thawing of realtions following the pair’s explosive argument in the Oval Office last week.

Reading it out loud to the House, he said: ‘We really do value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.’

The president said he ‘appreciated’ Zelensky’s response, and urged him to sign a deal which would allow the US to extract rare earth minerals from Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees.

Trump also claimed he had spoken to Russian officals, who had signalled their willingness to sign a peace deal.

‘Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace,’ he added.

‘Wouldn’t that be beautiful? It’s time to stop this madness.’

Trump sets sights on Greenland

The president also reitered his desire to aquire Greenland in a further escalation of rhetoric and towards the self-governing Danish territory. 

‘One way or the other, we’re going to get it,’ Trump declared. ‘We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.’

Trump has long been fixated on the arctic territory, which he views as a vital strategic location for national security. However, both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly stressed the territory is not up for sale.

Appearing to offer Greenland a choice on its future, Trump offered the territory a chance to make a ‘deal’.

‘We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America. We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it, but we need it really for international world security, and I think we’re going to get it,’ Trump said.

The president also detailed his plans to ‘reclaim’ the Panama Canal.

Elon Musk receives warm welcome

Billionaire Elon Musk, who has become a key part of Trump’s administration, was in attendance at the address and received personal thanks from the president for his role in reshaping the federal government.

‘Thank you, Elon,’ Trump told the SpaceX founder, who wore a dark suit with a blue tie and acknowledged the cheers from the crowd. ‘He’s working very hard. He didn’t need this.’

Referencing the Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE for short, Trump listed some examples of wasteful spending he said had been eliminated by Musk’s cost-cutting initiative.

‘Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of,’ he said much to the enjoyment of Republicans in the audience.

DOGE claims to have slashed $105bn from the federal budget already, altough the figures have not yet been independently verified.

‘Everybody here, even this side, appreciates it, I believe. They just don’t want to admit that,’ said Trump.

The president also delivered a warning to federal workers that anyone who resists his administration’s policies will be swiftly removed from their roles.

Trump doubles down on ‘anti-woke’ agenda

The president used a key portion of his speech to rail against the dangers of ‘transgender ideology’, and proudly declared that ‘Our country will be woke no longer.’

Joining Trump on stage was Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a match against a team that included a transgender woman in 2022.

McNabb has since reinvented herself as an anti-transgender activist who campaigns to keep trans athletes out competing in women’s sports, which has earned her two presidential honors.

McNabb’s presence underscored one of Trump’s key policy initiatives—his recent executive action banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

Her presence underscored one of Trump’s most divisive cultural policies- the banning of transgender athletes in sport.

Trump said trans inclusion in sports is ‘demeaning for women and it’s very bad for our country,’ and reiterated his longstanding promise to ‘get men out of women’s sports’, which earned him the loudest applause of the night from Republicans.

‘We believe whether you’re a doctor, a lawyer or air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skill and confidence, not race or gender,’ he said to cheers.

‘You should be hired based on merit, and the Supreme Court in a brave and very powerful decision, has allowed us to do so.’

‘Beautiful’ tariffs are defended despite looming trade war

Trump previously referred to Tariffs as ‘the most beautiful word in the English language, and one of the most noteworthy moments of the night came as he defended his liberal use of them to advance his trader agenda.

Just hours before the announcement, both China and Canada announced retailiatory measures against the US in response to Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, risking a burgeoning trade war.

But Trump defended the practice and said ‘Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again, and it’s happening, and it will happen rather quickly.

‘There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re OK with that.’

Reiterating his trade agenda, Trump said: ‘Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them.

‘If you don’t make your product in America … you will pay a tariff and, in some cases, a rather large one. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.’

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