Trump speech to Congress: Trump airs familiar grievances in address before Congress

Trump touted his “gold card” immigration plan, which would give citizenship status to foreign applicants who pay $5 million.

He claimed it will be available “soon.”

“These people will have to pay tax in our country,” he said.

Democrats are continuing to hold up signs that say “False” as Trump’s speech carries on.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has a white board that reads, “That’s a Lie”

Other signs saying “Musk Steals,” “Save Medicaid,” and “Protect Veterans” were organized by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is chaired by Congressman Greg Casar.

Trump touted his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Attending the speech was Peyton McNabb, who Trump said was a former high school athlete.

“But when her girls’ volleyball match was invaded by a male, he smashed the ball so hard in Peyton’s face, causing a traumatic brain injury, partially paralyzing her right side and ending her athletic career,” Trump said.

As Trump turned to talking about the Department of Government Efficiency, the camera panned to Elon Musk standing in the House gallery. Trump then called him out by name and praised his work so far. Republicans gave Musk a hefty round of applause.

Some members exit the chamber while Trump is speaking. At least one was seen sporting a black t-shirt reading “RESIST” on the back.

Trump brought up rising egg prices, promising to tackle the issue, but didn’t give any details on a plan.

Instead he continued to blame Biden over the rising prices.

Trump blamed President Joe Biden for persistent inflation, saying he will bring prices down. But his new tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico could raise prices even more, economists have said.

In listing off the accomplishments of his second presidency, Trump took credit for ending weaponized government.

“And we’ve ended weaponized government where, as an example, a sitting president is allowed to viciously prosecute his political opponent. Like me,” he said.

“How did that work out?” he asked, receiving standing applause in return.

Trump boasted ending DEI programs in the federal government vowing that “our country will be woke no longer.”

He also got cheers from Republicans in the chamber when he championed his executive order that recognized only two genders and banning transgender athletes in school sports.

As Trump lists the executive orders he’s signed, many of which focused on culture war issues that defined the 2024 election, Democrats remain seated while Republicans routinely stand for applause.

Trump took aim at Democrats after they booed and interrupted his speech, saying “there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud.”

He then made a weak attempt at pitching unity, asking them for “just one night, why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America.” As Trump said the words, Vice President JD Vance was seen laughing behind him.

New Mexico Democratic Rep. Madeleine Stansbury, who was sitting on the aisle, held up a sign that said, “THIS IS NOT NORMAL.” GOP Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas then appeared to rip it out of her hands and threw it on the floor of the chamber.

Speaker Mike Johnson is standing up, slamming his gavel and trying to restore order and “decorum.”

As he did, he had the sergeant at arms remove Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas.

Trump claimed they “accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years and we are just getting started.” To date, he’s signed 76 executive orders — though several are being challenged in the courts.

Trump is now in the chamber, shaking hands and talking to members as he makes his way to the dais. At times, he’s raising his fists in the air, reminiscent of the moment he stood after being shot at a campaign rally last summer.

First lady Melania Trump has entered the chamber to a standing ovation. Her guests tonight include freed American Marc Fogel, the family of Corey Comperatore and the mother of Laken Riley.

In a rare move, the FBI director is in attendance at the president’s speech tonight.

Director Kash Patel has arrived to the House chamber.

In support of Ukraine, members of Congress sport blue and yellow attire, including ties and scarves.

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.

Four sitting members of the U.S. Supreme Court are in attendance for Trump’s address tonight: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy is also present.

This is a slightly smaller showing from the court compared with recent presidential addresses to Congress as six attended in 2024, five attended in 2023, and five attended in 2022.

During Trump’s first term, however, only four justices ever attended each of Trump’s addresses before Congress.

Trump will shake hands with and speak before members of the Supreme Court at a time when his administration is seeking its emergency intervention in two pending cases related to his executive actions — one involving his power to fire any employee of the executive branch for any reason, and the other involving his power to freeze foreign aid that Congress has authorized for specific programs.

To date, the Supreme Court has not yet weighed in in any meaningful way on Trump’s asserted presidential powers during his second term.

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

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.

Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández told ABC News the caucus called on women to wear pink because it is the “color of power and protest.”

Spotted in pink in the chamber is Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House.

Elon Musk was seen wearing a suit with no tie and enter the limo with Trump.

Trump is now leaving the White House for the U.S. Capitol. He walked out of the White House hand in hand with first lady Melania Trump.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that he was selected as the Democrats’ designated survivor by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

As designated survivor, Thompson will remain at a “secure, undisclosed location off campus” to ensure continuity of government in case of a catastrophic event.

Some Democrats have expressed they will not be in attendance tonight.

Many Democrats are bringing fired civil servants, farmers impacted by Trump’s tariff war, and folks who depend on Medicaid and Medicare, according to House and Senate members who have revealed their guests.

Republicans have invited a concentration of law enforcement officers and other officials.

Several Democrats have said they do not plan to attend President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he will be in attendance “to make clear to the nation that there is a strong opposition party ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance on the excesses of the administration.”

Here are the Democrats who have said they will skip Trump’s remarks Tuesday night.

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

• Sen. Chris Murphy

• Sen. Ron Wyden

• Sen. Patty Murray

• Sen. Martin Heinrich

• Rep. Gerry Connolly

• Rep. Becca Balint

• Rep. Don Beyer

• Rep. Sean Casten

• Rep. Diana DeGette

MORE | Some Democrats to skip Trump’s joint address to Congress

The House Freedom Caucus warned Tuesday they will move to censure any Democrats who disrupt or protest Trump’s speech tonight.

“We expect the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police to take appropriate action against any Members of Congress or other persons violating House rule,” the caucus said in an X post.

At President Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union, Republicans including Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert repeatedly interrupted the speech. Neither were censured.

U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday after the Trump administration’s long-promised tariffs took effect.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 670 points, or 1.5%; while the S&P 500 fell 1.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq ticked down 0.3%.

The policy taxes imports from Mexico, Canada and China — the three largest trading partners of the United States — meaning that it could raise prices for everything from gasoline to avocados to iPhones.

READ MORE | Stocks tumble after Trump tariffs take effect

The Trump administration’s long-promised tariffs took hold on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 670 points, or 1.5%.

A group of recent federal employees will be attending the speech as guests of Democratic senators and spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon.

Alissa Ellman, a disabled Army Veteran who was recently fired from the Buffalo Department of Veterans Affairs, is a guest of Sen. Chuck Schumer and discussed her sudden dismissal.

“I worked until this last Tuesday, when my boss and myself were not even notified about my layoff. I was just locked out of my computer. I gave up my Social Security Disability payment to return to work for less than $500 a month. My story is not unique,” she said.

Former Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal spoke about his concerns.

“By firing the inspectors general without proper notice, and without giving the detailed, case-specific reasons that the law requires, it’s going to chill independent and non-partisan oversight, and I worry about the impact it’s going to have on our government,” he said.

The White House has released the list of guests of first lady Melania Trump who will be attending tonight’s joint session of Congress.

It includes Marc Fogel, an American who was recently freed from a Russian prison and returned home to the U.S. last month.

American Marc Fogel lands in U.S. – meets with Trump after being freed from Russian captivity.

Also invited is the family of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who was killed by the gunman who also shot President Trump during his campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.

Other guests of the first lady are Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller; Allyson and Lauren Phillips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley; and Border Patrol agent Roberto Ortiz.