President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address Tuesday night, the night before the Senate is expected to acquit him in his impeachment trial, bringing the proceedings that have lasted the last few weeks to an end.
The atmosphere was tense in the chamber as the president approached the podium. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reached out to shake his hand, but Trump did not take it. The president was greeted with chants of 'Four more years' by Republicans in the audience as he began his speech that lasted a little over ninety minutes.
"Three years ago, we launched the Great American Comeback. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results," Trump began. "Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging and our country is thriving and highly respected again.
"In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American Decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny," Trump said. "We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never, ever, going back."
"The state of our union is stronger than ever before," Trump said to applause from the Republicans in the chamber.
The president focused on his administration's track record on job creation and record-low unemployment numbers in the U.S., calling it a "Blue Collar Boom" and touted his signing of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement which replaced the previous agreement, NAFTA (North American Trade Agreement).
"Many politicians came and went, pledging to change or replace NAFTA — only to do absolutely nothing," Trump said. "But unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises. We did our job. Six days ago, I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law."
Trump introduced one of his guests at the State of the Union, Juan Guaido, whom the United States and dozens of other countries recognize as the official leader of Venezuela. Guaido received one of the first standing ovations of the night from Congress.
"Please take this message back: That all Americans are united with the Venezuelan people in their righteous struggle for freedom," Trump said. "Thank you very much, Mr. President. Socialism destroys nations. But always remember, freedom unifies the soul."
President Trump also introduced a young boy from Arizona who has dreams of becoming an astronaut and joining the Space Force, to "look down on the world." Sitting next to him was his great-grandfather, Charles McGee, who was one of the Tuskegee airman and few combat missions during World War II.
"General McGee, our nation salutes you," Trump said to thunderous applause.
As President Trump announced he would sign a bill that would lower the price of prescription drugs immediately, Democrats began chanting "H.R. 3" which is a bill supporting lower prescription drug prices. H.R. 3, also known as the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, in memory of the Maryland congressman who passed away earlier this year, would allow the Health and Human Services Secretary negotiate drug prices on at least 50 brand-name drugs and 250 medications, including insulin, which has seen costs skyrocket in recent years. The plan would require drug companies to pay a rebate to the federal government if prices on drugs exceed the inflation rate.
Trump also promised to protect America's medicare plans and patients with pre-existing conditions.
"I've also made an ironclad pledge to American families we will also protect patients with pre-existing conditions," Trump said.
“My administration is also taking on the big pharmaceutical companies," Trump said. "We have approved a record number of affordable generic drugs, and medicines are being approved by the F.D.A. at a faster clip than ever before. I was pleased to announce last year that, for the first time in 51 years, the cost of prescription drugs actually went down."
Longtime conservative radio host, Rush Limbaugh, was introduced by the president as his guest at the State of the Union one day after Limbaugh announced he'd been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
"Thank you for your decades of powerful devotion to our country," Trump said of Limbaugh, who was sitting with Melania Trump.
"Almost every American family knows the pain when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness. Here tonight is a special man, someone beloved by millions of Americans who just received a Stage 4 advanced cancer diagnosis. This is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet," Trump said.
Trump then awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh, the country's highest civilian honor, with First Lady Melania Trump placing the medal around the radio host's neck.
Trump also took time to criticize "the sanctuary city of New York,” as well as the state of California, which he says passed legislation that created the nation's first sanctuary state.
talk about the wall being built on the border with the U.S. and Mexico, a signature policy of his administration.
"This will be a tremendous boon to our already very strongly guarded southern border where, as we speak, a long, tall, and very powerful wall is being built," Trump said. "We have now completed over 100 miles and have over 500 miles fully completed in a very short period of time. Early next year, we will have substantially more than 500 miles completed."
One of the longest and loudest applause breaks of the night came as Trump brought a soldier home from Afghanistan into the House chamber to be with his wife and children. Chants of U.S.A. were shouted by Republicans, even as Democrats did not join in.
"This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance. We are Americans, we are pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we built the modern world and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of almighty God," Trump said.
"America is the place where anything can happen, America is the place where anyone can rise," Trump said. "And here on this land on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true. This nation is our canvas and this country is our masterpiece, we look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers just waiting to be explored. Our brightest discoveries are not yet known our most thrilling stories are not yet told. Our grandest journeys are not yet made.
"The American age, the American epic, the American adventure has only just begun," Trump said. "Our spirit is still young, the sun is still rising, God's grace is still shining, and my fellow Americas, the best is yet to come," Trump said, finishing his speech for the night.
As Trump concluded speaking and people began to applaud, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be seen tearing up Trump's speech into several pieces, and refusing to clap for the president.
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