President Trump is touting a "great American comeback." Delivering his third State of the Union address to a joint – though very divided – session of Congress, Trump said the U.S. is thriving and highly respected again. Standing in the House chamber where he was impeached in December, Trump said the state of the American union is stronger than ever before.
It may be stronger, but it’s clearly not‘united.’ For one, Trump quickly turned away after handing a copy of his speech to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi...appearing to ignore her offer of a handshake. And then, Pelosi tore up the speech when Trump finished.Here’s a rundown of highlights from the President’s speech:
- The President did not mention impeachment during his lengthy address.
- Trump honored veteran radio talker Rush Limbaugh, calling him a fighter and a winner. Limbaugh is fighting advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh was seated next to First Lady Melania Trump in the House visitors' gallery and she presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- Trump took a shot at Democratic presidential candidates who are proposing Medicare-for-All. Trump said his administration "will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!"
- Trump defended his tough immigration policies and slammed sanctuary cities. He said the U.S. should be a sanctuary for "law-abiding Americans, not criminal aliens."
- Trump also defended his controversial, proposed peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians.
- On Iran, he said the Iranian regime "must abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, stop spreading terror and destruction, and start working for the good of its own people."
- Along the way, there were some emotional moments, too.Trump recognized a 100-year-old Tuskegee airman –Charles McGee–with his great-grandson, Iain Lanphier,who wants to join the Space Force.
- The president invited Philadelphia fourth-grader Janiyah Davis, and her mother, Stephanie, to be among the guests in Melania Trump's box in the House chamber. Little Janiyah had been denied entry to a local school because her state’s governor had vetoed a school choice bill. Turns out, Janiyah now has that scholarship.
- Trump introduced Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as a surprise guest...and as “the true and legitimate President of Venezuela.” It served as the first time the chamber united in a standing ovation (and one of the rare few).
- But no one could have been prepared for Trump surprising military wife with the return of her soldier husband. Amy Williams was also seated in the first lady's box with her two children — 6-year-old Elliana and 3-year-old Rowan. After explaining that her Army husband, Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams had been on four deployments in Afghanistan...he also revealed that Sgt. Williams was in the House...and he was reunited with his family before the cameras.
The President closed by calling America a "land of heroes." Trump said the U.S. is a place where "anything can happen." He also stressed that the "best is yet to come” – and depending on your reaction to Ms. Pelosi, it likely is either way.
Source:C-SPAN
Photo Credit: Getty Images