Roughly four years ago, former US President Joe Biden declared “America is back”, promising to “restore the soul” of the country after Donald Trump’s first term. Fast forward to March 2025—standing before a joint session of the US Congress—President Trump, making his first appearance before Congress after his decisive electoral victory, declared, “America is back”. Unlike previous presidential transitions at the White House, Trump’s presidency marks a sharp break from his predecessor’s, calling Biden the “worst president in American history.” So, what does this speech mean for Trump’s radical policy shifts regarding how America is run and how Washington engages with friends and foes in the world?
A Polarised Legislature
In one of the longest presidential speeches to Congress in recent times—running around 100 minutes—it was a no-holds-barred self-eulogy of President Trump’s accomplishments in the first six weeks of his second term. From national emergencies to tackling illegal immigration at the southern border to imposing tariffs on some of America’s closest economic partners, he claims that all these actions lead to— “Make America Great Again.”
The atmosphere in the US Congress was unlike anything witnessed in recent times. The mood among Democratic lawmakers, the voluntary and forced walkouts, the anti-Trump protest cards, and the loud chants of “USA, USA…” from Republicans showcased an American legislature more polarised than ever before. Trump came armed with his trademark salvos and anti-Biden one-liners to show how he and his team of loyalists planned to run America over the next four years. Pointing out his detractors, Trump said, “I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realise there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud, nothing I can do.”
