President Donald Trump delivered a long and blistering speech to the US Congress (Photo: Reuters)
Mar 6, 2025 12:25 IST First published on: Mar 6, 2025 at 12:25 IST
President Donald Trump delivered a long and blistering speech to the US Congress, highlighting issues that concern his core voter base. Never tired of attacking his predecessor, he condemned Joe Biden as the worst-ever president of America who, according to Trump, destroyed the country with an open border policy, encouraged illegal immigrants, created gender fluidity, and supported external wars. In contrast, he credited himself for heralding the golden age and “Make America Great Again” was the leitmotif of his speech. He harped on the virtues of high tariffs, containing illegal immigration, rejuvenating manufacturing industries and negotiating wars.
The address is an annual event where the president reports to Congress on his policies and mobilises representatives for their support. It is akin to the State of the Union address, where the president lays out his priorities on domestic and foreign policies. In the inauguration year, it is technically a joint address to Congress since the incumbent does not have much to report, barring lofty goals and ambitions for the next four years. However, Trump’s last six weeks have been momentous, given the sweeping executive orders that he has issued. He has wreaked havoc on the federal bureaucracy and appointed controversial figures in his cabinet. He is hell-bent on imposing high tariffs on friends and foes alike, has upended US foreign policy, and has sought to restore gender binaries (only he and she, no they) in federally-funded departments of education, sports and military services.
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Trump’s speech was divisive and rhetorical, high in emotional content and low on facts. But the delivery of his speech was powerful. As the saying goes, love him or hate him but you cannot ignore him. He connected well with his audience, who despise American elites, blame immigrants for their misfortunes, cherish conservative social values and live in a misinformation bubble. He made no attempt to sound conciliatory to a Congress that was split on ideological lines. He sneered at the Democrats for creating chaos in the country, and repeatedly reminded them of his magnificent mandate despite attempts to legally charge him of electoral and financial malpractices.
In a deliberate move to create a narrative against the Democrats, Trump had invited children and families who were either victims of crime committed by illegal immigrants or had suffered because of Biden’s “woke” policies on gender. He castigated Biden for allowing transgender people to participate in women’s sports. This was an ingenious attempt to humiliate the Democrats and earn brownie points with his core voters. Gender has become a sensitive issue in the US, and a majority of liberals also do not support gender fluidity. The Democrats were seething in anger but had no place to lay their heads.
On substantive issues, Trump underlined a slew of measures concerning immigration, border control, downsizing bureaucracy, tariffs, investment for manufacturing, tax cuts, and his negotiations for the Middle Eastern and Russia-Ukraine crisis. He blamed Europe for outsourcing its security to the US. There seemed to be a minor change in his attitude towards the war in Eastern Europe when he mentioned the “independence and sovereignty” of Ukraine. It is unclear what he meant by these terms, but since the sovereignty of Ukraine is compromised, one wonders whether he would bring about the issue of full sovereignty in his negotiations with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Further, Trump updated the audience about a letter he had received from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a fresh deal.
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Trump’s speech contained vague dreams and several unattainable goals. However, it is also a fact that most Americans subscribe to these dreams. This perhaps demonstrates the frustration and despondency prevalent in American society. Going beyond Trump’s rhetoric, one wonders if America can become great again in the next four years. First, it is unclear what Trump means by making the country great. America reached its peak in the post-World War II period. It pursued a policy which Trump is trying to reverse. Second, even if he refers narrowly to reviving the economy, most economists disagree with his strategy. The US economy is growing at a pace of roughly 2.5 per cent, a good number for a developed economy but hardly a figure to take the US to its past glory.
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Trump’s policies will intensify the trade war, fuel xenophobia and anti-Americanism, slow down the global economy, weaken the US Dollar, and encourage other countries to develop alternative multilateral trading arrangements and strengthen their militaries. All of this will precipitate the decline of the US as a global power. The US is losing its goodwill faster than Trump’s fantasies. It is no longer viewed as a credible and reliable partner. Europe will likely pursue its own course soon, while the Global South will inch closer to China, Russia, Brazil and India. The vacuum created by the global hegemon will offer tremendous opportunities for China, India and other regional satraps.
It has been over a month, but the international community is still trying to determine Trump’s real motives. He has set out ambitious, disruptive, and contradictory goals. Understanding his first term is not helpful because he has upended many of his own policies. Experts are in a quandary because Trump is unpredictable, unconventional, and impetuous. He has reiterated his claims over the Panama Canal and Greenland. One is unsure of his strategy to acquire these territories, but his measures are bound to create global chaos and disruption in the existing order. Fortunately, India is not Trump’s target, but as indicated in his speech, reciprocal tariffs are likely to begin next month. It’s time to fasten your seatbelts.
The author teaches at the School of International Studies, JNU. Views are personal
