PRESIDENT Donald Trump declared during Tuesday’s marathon State of the Union that “we’re winning so much,” saying he’d sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad - hoping that offering a long list of his accomplishments can counter approval ratings that have been falling. His main objective was convincing increasingly wary Americans that the economy is stronger than many believe, and that they should vote for more of the same by backing Republicans during November’s midterm elections. In the process, he shattered his own record, going longer than the 100-minute speech he gave before a joint session of Congress last year. Trump tried at points to appeal to bipartisan patriotic sentiments, introducing a series of surprise guests that included US military heroes; a former political prisoner released after his administration toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro; and the Olympic gold-medal-winning US men’s hockey team. “Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mister President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore,” Trump said before introducing the team. The hockey players, wearing their medals and sweaters that said “USA” in large letters, drew a bipartisan standing ovation. Trump pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber and quipped, “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up.”

 

In another made-for-TV moment, Trump announced he would be awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honour, to the hockey team’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. Trump made a similar surprise announcement in 2020, bestowing the award on conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh during the speech. Trump championed his immigration crackdowns and his push to preserve widespread tariffs that the Supreme Court just struck down. He drew applause only from Democrats while describing the High Court’s overturning of his policies, which he called “an unfortunate ruling”, while insisting “everything was working well” before it came down. The President vowed to plough ahead, using “alternative” laws to impose the taxes on imports and telling lawmakers, “Congressional action will not be necessary.” He also made a bold prediction, suggesting that someday tariffs would “substantially replace” the modern income tax system. Trump argued that the tariffs are paid by foreign countries. Despite evidence that the costs are borne by American consumers and businesses. “It’s saving our country,” Trump said of tariffs. Democrats also stood for Trump vowing to crack down on insider trading by lawmakers, prompting Trump to offer, “I’m very impressed.” Not everybody applauded, though. Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat, yelled, “How about you first!” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, called out, “You’re the most corrupt President!” When some heckling continued, Trump proclaimed, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Later, he pointed at Democrats and proclaimed, “These people are crazy,” adding, “Democrats are destroying our country.” Democratic Rep. Al Green was escorted from the chamber after he unfurled a sign of protest that read “Black People Aren’t Apes!”

 

The sign appeared to be a reference to a racist video the President posted that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle. The President also put forward a new plan to give a modest boost to help some Americans save for retirement if they do not have a retirement account through their workplace, in which their employer matches contributions to the fund. Trump’s address came as two US aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. Trump said, “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy.” “But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror -- which they are, by far -- to have a nuclear weapon,” he added. The President also recounted US airstrikes last summer that pounded Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, and lauded the raid that ousted Maduro in Venezuela - as well as his administration’s brokering of a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.