Trump airs familiar grievances, charts MAGA plan in address before bitterly divided Congress

Sen. Elissa Slotkin delivered the Democratic response to Trump's address.

Last Updated: March 5, 2025, 12:09 AM EST

President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, six weeks into his historic return to the White House.

During the speech, Trump said "America is back" and defended the tariffs on key U.S. trading partners. He touched on immigration and the mineral deal with Ukraine, but neglected to go into detail on his economic plan. The speech was also met with protests and disruptions from Democrats.

Mar 04, 2025, 8:53 PM EST

Trump will defend his tariffs, according to speech excerpts

Trump will defend the steep tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico after markets roiled and the key U.S. trading partners vowed retaliation.

"Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them. If they do non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market. We will take in trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before," Trump will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by the White House.

Mar 04, 2025, 8:53 PM EST

Elon Musk receives some applause upon arrival

Elon Musk is now in the House chamber. There was a smattering of applause and cheers as he arrived.

Elon Musk arrives for President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Mar 04, 2025, 8:52 PM EST

Riley Gaines in the speaker’s box

Riley Gaines -- a former University of Kentucky swimmer that has been outspoken against transgender athletes participating in female sports -- is seated in the speaker's box for Trump's address.

Political activist and former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines watches as President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the East Room at the White House, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gaines recently joined Trump at the signing ceremony for his executive order titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," which seeks to bar transgender athletes from participating in women's sports.

Mar 04, 2025, 8:47 PM EST

VA Secretary Doug Collins is the designated survivor

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will sit out on Trump's joint address to Congress as the designated survivor, multiple sources tell ABC News.

A designated survivor is a Cabinet-level official selected by the White House who is ready to take the reins if everyone above him or her in the presidential line of succession dies in a crisis in the House chamber.

Collins will be given presidential level protection for the evening and escorted to an undisclosed location to watch the address.

– ABC News’ Katherine Faulders

Sponsored Content by Taboola