Trump, Kim to meet in Vietnam
STATE OF THE UNION US prez uses address to Congress to defend foreign and domestic policies, pitch border wall
US President Donald Trump pitched hard his immigration agenda, which includes a Mexico border wall, at his State of the Union address to Congress.
Trump also announced that he would hold the second summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Vientam on February 27-28, even as he defended his foreign policy.
Without mentioning a timeline or number for a drawdown from Afghanistan, Trump said the US will be “able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counterterrorism” as peace talks with the Taliban continue.
While a “new trade deal” is being worked out with China, he said the US will not accept anything that doesn’t include “real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs”.
He declared victory in the battle against the IS, saying it has been evicted from “virtually” all of the territories it had held when he took office.
He didn’t mention the longest government shutdown that had led to the postponement of his address by a week, but started the speech with a lofty call for unity.
“Together, we can break decades of political stalemate. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness,” he said.
To defend his plan to build a border wall, Trump used his usual trope of caravans of illegal immigrations, drugs, human traffickers, murders, rape and gang violence. “This is a moral issue. Not one more American life should be lost because our nation failed to control its very dangerous border,” he said. “Walls work and walls save lives. So let’s work together, compromise and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.”
On legal immigrants, he said, “We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today, who followed the rules and respected our laws. Legal immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country, but they have to come in legally.”
Trump took a shot at the probe into alleged Russian meddling in US elections, saying, “An economic miracle is taking place in the US and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way.”
Trump’s 82-minute speech was interrupted many times by mostly partisan applause from Republicans and his cabinet.
Stacey Abrams, a Georgia state leader, delivered the Democratic rebuke of Trump’s speech. “Compassionate treatment at the border is not the same as open borders. Americans understand this and the Democrats stand ready to effectively secure our ports and borders.”