Key takeaways from Trump's speech to Congress: A focus on culture wars and GOP unity, as Democrats protest

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

78% : "Everybody here -- even this side -- I appreciate you," Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the GOP side of the aisle.
64% : Trump soaks in GOP adulation It has been months since Trump played to the crowd at one of his signature political rallies.
54% : But the biggest thing Congress may work on this year will be a massive tax and spending bill, and Trump outlined his priorities.
54% : Trump also called for repealing the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan law that passed the Senate 64-33 and was signed by Biden in 2022.
46% : as Trump spoke.
43% : "There'll be a little disturbance," Trump added.
42% : Trump asked.
40% : Key takeaways from Trump's speech to Congress: A focus on culture wars and GOP unity, as Democrats protest Sahil Kapur March 5, 2025 at 5:18 AM WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump touted his newly imposed tariffs and basked in Republican applause for his administration's swift early actions, while he drew a wave of protests from Democrats as he spoke to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Leaning into culture wars, Trump inveighed against transgender rights, "they/them" pronouns and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
40% : Trump reiterated his calls to cut taxes and include several campaign trail tax promises in a bill later this year -- specifically killing taxes on tips and overtime.
39% : "It's very unfair," Trump said as scores of Republicans stood to applaud his tariffs, which he said "are about protecting the soul of our country.
37% : Trump, meanwhile, chided Democrats early in his speech for refusing to give him enough.
36% : " It's a sign of how Trump has transformed the traditionally pro-free trade GOP, though there is some unease in the party about the tariffs' effects on prices and the broader economy.
36% : " Trump had no olive branch to offer his opponents, instead needling Democrats at the beginning of his speech, saying there was nothing he could say that would make them clap or smile -- and later blasting "radical left lunatics" whom he called weak on crime.
35% : They are still seeking to find room for the trillions of dollars in tax breaks Trump has called for.
34% : Ukraine, Panama Canal and Greenland Trump lamented the billions of dollars the United States has spent to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's incursion, drawing ironic and extended applause from Democrats who support the military and economic assistance.
33% : Trump also kept up his calls to bring the Panama Canal and Greenland into U.S. control.
31% : We're taking it back," Trump said of the Panama Canal.
30% : They, like most others in the party, sat quietly and listened without disrupting Trump's remarks, as Democrats work through their loss last year and how best to advance their agenda and oppose Trump's in 2025 and beyond.
26% : " Some Democrats laughed out loud when Trump said the era of rule by "unelected bureaucrats" is over, and they pointed at Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who watched from the gallery.
24% : Trump also promised an economic revival and blamed ongoing problems like inflation and egg prices on Biden.
22% : "Wokeness is bad," Trump said.
21% : Trump outlines his policy agenda Trump spent significant time on issues from transgender athletes to the work of the Department of Government Efficiency.
19% : Trump defends his tariffs Trump defended the sweeping 25% tariffs he imposed Tuesday on products from Canada and Mexico, saying "now it's our turn" after other countries have levied them against the United States.
14% : As Trump said he is waging the "most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history" and touted actions he has taken, the GOP side of the aisle erupted into chants of "Trump!
12% : " Congressional Democrats in the room heckled and disrupted Trump, shouting at him not to cut Medicaid, waving an eclectic mix of signs to protest him and periodically shouting antagonistically at him.
11% : "We should get rid of the Chip Act," Trump said, referring to the law that invests in domestic research and semiconductor manufacturing. Democrats heckle, wave signs and interrupt Within minutes of Trump's beginning, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, interrupted and heckled him, yelling, "You have no mandate to cut Medicaid."

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