US President Donald Trump has vowed to continue his “fast and relentless action” initiative to reorient the country's economy, immigration policy and foreign relations.
His words came in a forceful address to Congress in which Democratic lawmakers expressed their opposition to stone faces, signs reading “lies” and the expulsion of one member.
The president's speech, which lasted a record 99 minutes, was a brazen advertisement for the policies he promised during the campaign and which he has implemented in his first weeks in office.
He promised to continue making sweeping changes to save the country from what he called the destruction and mistakes left by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump rarely speaks directly to the American people, who are struggling to cope with recent turmoil, while constantly poking fun at the Democratic lawmakers who sit before him.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who delivered the Democratic response, said: “America is hungry for change, but there is a responsible way and a reckless way to make it happen, and we can create that change without forgetting who we are as a country and as a democracy.”
Emboldened by overcoming impeachments in his first term, facing criminal prosecutions between two administrations and winning control of the Republican-led Congress, Trump embarked on a mission to dismantle parts of the federal government, renegotiate relationships with America's allies and impose tariffs that have sparked a trade war in North America.
“It was just quick and relentless action,” he said of his first weeks in office. “The people elected me to do this job, and I’m doing it.”
Trump, whose billionaire adviser Elon Musk is leading efforts to shrink the size and scope of the federal government, said he was seeking to “bring democracy back to this unaccountable bureaucracy” and again threatened federal workers with firings if they opposed his plans.
Musk, who was in the House gallery, received two standing ovations from Republicans in the chamber as the president exaggerated and shared false claims about alleged government abuses uncovered by the Tesla and SpaceX founder and his wrecking crew.
Trump repeated false claims that tens of millions of deceased people over 100 are receiving Social Security payments, prompting cries of “Not true!” and “That's a lie!” from some Democrats.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
