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Trump Gives Ultra-Nationalist Address To Congress Sure To 'Renew The American Spirit'

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 1, 2017 5:05AM

Tuesday night His Grace Donald John Trump, first of his name, rightful President of the United States and Protector of the Homeland, handed down some of the best words that have ever been uttered in all of human history to a joint session of Congress.

“A new chapter of American Greatness is now beginning,” Trump assured us in his first major address to Congress as president. “What we are witnessing today is the Renewal of the American Spirit.”

Those words set the tone for the address, which was, as expected, ultra-nationalist with a focus on some of his more radical policy proposals—like the immigrant and refugee ban, a massive increase in defense spending, and the weakening of regulations across the board.

Whereas the Trump of Twitter is akin to your bellicose, conspiracy theory-spewing relative at Thanksgiving dinner, the Trump who addressed Congress was reserved and almost quiet, with just enough of an empathetic tone to make some of the effects of the first few weeks of his presidency seem somewhat muted.

“What will America look like as we reach our 250th year,” asked Trump. “What kind of country will we leave for our children?”

Trump speech made it sound like American children in 2026 will thank us for not allowing them to live in a so-called dystopia where America’s military doesn’t have enough superweapons, immigrants are allowed the freedom to move around the country, and industries are regulated to ensure business can’t poison the planet.

“We have undertaken a historic effort to massively reduce job‑crushing regulations, creating a deregulation task force inside of every Government agency; imposing a new rule which mandates that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated; and stopping a regulation that threatens the future and livelihoods of our great coal miners,” Trump said.

Despite stocking his cabinet with billionaires that poured plenty of money into his campaign fund and some who are set to benefit financially from policy decisions the administration is pushing, Trump patted himself on the back for taking on corruption in Washington, pulling out an old campaign favorite.

“We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a 5 year ban on lobbying by executive branch officials—and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists for a foreign government,” he said.

Turning to immigration, Trump made sure to hammer home familiar points his most ardent and loving supporters are well familiar with, painting every area in America that might have immigrants as a lawless hellscape teeming with drug cartels and violent extremists hiding in the shadows of every corner.

“It is not compassionate, but reckless, to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur,” said Trump. “Those given the high honor of admission to the United States should support this country and love its people and its values. We cannot allow a beachhead of terrorism to form inside America — we cannot allow our Nation to become a sanctuary for extremists.”

Trump pulled out familiar, broad strokes and cherry picked statistics to back up plans for what he believes will foster “unity” and not drive the “wedge of disunity and division.” Among them included a mention of his favorite example of a lawless hellscape that only he and perhaps the military can fix—Chicago.

“In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone—and the murder rate so far this year has been even higher,” he said.

One of the things Trump believes will help stop the violence in communities and foster unity is a new office he announced would be created by the Department of Homeland Security called VOICE - Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement. Because nothing fosters community quite like creating a propaganda arm that will spread fear and propaganda concerning immigrants.

“We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests,” said Trump, without a tinge of irony.

In a surprising move, the president actually acknowledged the sharp rise in hate incidents across the country, just a few hours after he seemed to suggest he believed the attacks on Jewish cemeteries and other incidents were “false flags” perpetuated by unknown but definitely left of center groups.

“Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week's shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its form,” he said.

Those words garnered one of dozens of standing ovations in the room, mostly led by the Republican side of the aisle. Perhaps the biggest and longest moment of applause for Trump came after he acknowledged his guest Carryn Owens, whose husband Senior Chief William “Ryan” Owens, was killed in the line of duty.




But most Democrats were less than impressed with the rest of Trump’s speech, particularly when he mentioned dismantling Obamacare.

“Obamacare is collapsing—and we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice—it is a necessity,” Trump said. “So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.”

While half the room jumped up to clap and cheer, the other side of the aisle sat still, mostly silent, with a few thumbs downs here and there.



U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer was also less than impressed with Trump's speech, saying that the American people want "actions that help them."

"President Trump's speech had an air of unreality because what he said tonight was so [different] than how he has governed in the 40 days...The President is simply using populist rhetoric to cloak his hard right, anti-middle class agenda," said Schumer in a statement.

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