First
Formal Address – Trump in Congress
2/28/2017
Link to 12 pages of text, referenced from the Drudge Report:
Here are our NOTES, a running commentary capturing the moments of
brilliance.
VP Mike Pence comes in to applause and goes to the podium, hugs Paul
Ryan. Soon after, Speaker Paul Ryan
gravels those attending to order and reads the dozen that will escort President
Trump in.
On FoxNews, Bill O’Reilly turns it over to Bret Bauer and Martha
MacCallum, others are standing by including Brit Hume. It is often split-screen to show the gallery
and legislators. Chris Wallace speaks of
division among Republicans who will be looking for guidance: there are limits to what the president can do
via executive actions. The Justices are
announced and escorted in. It’s five
minutes to 9pmET. First Lady, Melania,
walks in (black, sparkling, narrow-neck-plunge, dress) to long applause. The Cabinet comes in, some of them yet to be
confirmed. Elaine Chao gives
cheek-kisses to some Supremes.
The theme is “Renewal of
American Spirit” – Trump comes in to applause and has a greeting to each of the
Supremes, then his generals. He
stands at a podium in front of the larger podium of the House where Paul Ryan and Mike Pence are both standing
(matching blue ties—Trump will have a nice stripped blue tie, obviously
appealing to Democrats attending. All
through the evening you see the three ties, Pence and Ryan on either side of
Trump.)
President Trump begins, recognizing Mr Speaker, and First Lady of the United
States [applause]. He begins by noting
Black America Month, and recent threats [applause]. We are a nation that stands united against
threats of hate. We have a message of
unity and strength, delivered from deep in my heart. We are witnessing the renewal of the American
Spirit—our allies will witness that we are once again willing to lead. America is strong, proud, and free. …
We’ve defended the borders of other nations, watching our own border
being crossed [drugs]. Families of all
colors and creeds created a [MOVEMENT].
Finally the quiet voices became a loud chorus across the nation. Put America First, because only then can we Make America Great Again. [He speaks with great passion, slow enough,
deliberate.] We will keep our promises
to the American people.
… New American JOBS …
Stock Market gained almost $3trillion since the Election; we brought down the cost of Military
planes, etc. We will drain the swamp by imposing a 5yr ban
on lobbyists. [Someone on the Democrat Party side yells something, but Trump is
talking loudly enough that no one hears it.]
He speaks of two regulations being tossed when a new regulation needs to
be approved. … Coal miners … Pipelines
gets the largest/loudest applause, with “American steel”.
Loud applause for the agreement w/Canada for women small business
owners to realize their dreams.
Dismantle the criminal cartels that have spread all across our
nation. We will stop the drugs from
pouring and poisoning our youth, and will help those that [need
rehabilitation]. At the same time,
[border]. Make our communities safer for
everyone. We want all Americans to
succeed, but that can’t happen [in chaos].
For that reason, we will soon begin construction of a Great-Great WALL
along our Southern border.
President Trump poises a QUESTION to those who would oppose: “What would you say to the American family
that loses their jobs, their income, or a loved one, because America refused to
uphold its laws and defend its borders?”
Great standing ovation concerning rescuing our nation from Radical-Islamic-Terrorism. They came here from outside our borders. It is not compassionate, but reckless, to
allow them in from countries where proper vetting cannot occur. Camera show standing ovation from the Republican
side, and seated Democrats following instructions like stupid ducks in a row. Those
given the high honor of admission to the United States should support this
country and love its people and its values.
DoD will develop a plan to destroy ISIS. We will work with our allies, including those
in the Muslim world, [pronounced Moos-lim;
Obama must be happy that Trump says it this way—Moos-lims too] to
extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.
Finally, I have kept my promise to appoint a Justice to the United
States Supreme Court – from my list of 20 judges – who will defend our
Constitution.
Mrs Antonin Scalia (Maureen) is
recognized and is touched when even the Justices of the Supreme Court give her
applause. She, also, applauds when the
name Neil Gorsuch is mentioned by President Trump. “I am asking the Senate to swiftly approve
his nomination.”
President Trump reviews trade and foreign policy disasters. We will need to work past differences. Even many of the Democrats applaud when
President Trump mentions [border tax].
President Trump is doing great, looking extremely ‘presidential’ with
substance and delivery that impresses.
He interjects humor by saying Harley Davidson even parked motorcycles on
the front lawn. Some countries tax them coming in at 100%. I’m asking for change.
I believe strongly in Free Trade, but it has to be Fair Trade. Lincoln warned that “abandonment of the
protective policy” will produce want and ruin for our people.
President Trump talks about merit-based Immigration and Chuck U.
Schumer is not looking happy.
Focus on the following goals:
JOBS/wages; strengthen national security; and restore respect for our
laws. Work together. [Applause again] He quotes Dwight D. Eisenhower who built the
national freeway system. I will ask Congress
to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in the
infrastructure of the United States – financed through both public and private
capital – creating millions of new jobs.
Six Trillion Dollars spent in the Middle East; (we could have rebuilt our American
infrastructure two times, three times with good negotiating.) That gets a
knowing smile from Paul Ryan.
“Buy American, and Hire American.”
Tonight I am calling on Congress to REPEAL AND REPLACE OBAMACARE [wild
ovation] and at the same time lower costs and provide better healthcare . Mandating was never the right solution for
our country.
We must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action, is not a choice, but a
necessity. Principles, transition and
keep preexisting conditions. Second, the plan that they want; Third, Give
governors the flexibility including Medicaid so no one is left out; Fourth, legal
reform to protect patient and doctor;
and bring down costs of pharmaceuticals. Finally: purchase across
state lines for competition and far better care, so important.
Everything that is broken in our country can be solved. Our citizens
deserve this, and so why not join forces and get the job cone, and get it done
right. [Dems sit there on their hands.] Paid family leave, [Now the Democrats stand
up. Who are they watching for cues?
Sometimes a few stand and clap.]
President Trump starts to introduce his invited guests. Megan Crowley (rare disease) gets the longest
applause so far, next to First Lady. (There
are still nearly 15 minutes left to the top of the hour.) She is a sophomore at Notre Dame
University. We will be blessed with far
more miracles, just like Megyn.
President Trump segues this into:
Education is the Civil Rights issue of our time. Camera focuses on Cabinet member, Betsy
DeVos. A very beautiful young Black
student is applauded. She broke the
cycle of poverty. [Standing ovation.] We must also break the cycle of violence.
We must work with, and not against, not against, the great men and
women in law enforcement.
[Both sides applaud] We must
also support the victims of crime—new office VOICE. [United moan from the Democrat side with
Trump mentions illegal immigrants murdering people.] It’s a very moving moment when the parents
stand, next to the young coed previously introduced. The daughter and widow of a slain officer
stand, (tears in our eyes).
We must provide the proper tools for when our Military has to
fight. They only have to WIN. We eliminate the Defense sequester [camera
show military men not applauding since that would be partisan.] We must deliver for them.
The challenges we face as a nation are great, but the American people
are even greater—none are greater than those who are in our Military. We are honored to be joined by the widow of
Ryan Owens, who died defending our nation.
[Applause, she stays seated and looks up to keep her composure.] Ryan’s legacy is etched into Eternity. Thank You.
[This is the most moving moment of the evening. Tears in her eyes she looks to Heaven. They won’t stop applauding.] The Bible teaches that there is no greater
love than to lay down your life for your fellowman.
NATO partners must meet their financial obligations—also Pacific
partners and in the Middle East.
The only long-term solution for these humanitarian disasters is to
create the conditions where displaced persons can safely return home and begin
the long process of rebuilding.
America is willing to find new friends,
and to forge new partnerships, where shared interests align. We want
harmony and stability, not war and conflict.
We
want peace, wherever peace can be found. America is friends today with
former enemies. Some of our closest allies, decades ago, fought on the
opposite side of these World Wars. This history should give us all faith
in the possibilities for a better world.
Hopefully, the 250th year for America will see a world that is more peaceful,
more just and more free.
On
our 100th anniversary, in 1876, citizens from across our Nation came to
Philadelphia to celebrate America's centennial. At that celebration, the
country's builders and artists and inventors showed off their creations.
Alexander Graham Bell displayed his telephone for the first time.
Remington unveiled the first typewriter. An early attempt was made at
electric light.
Thomas Edison showed an automatic telegraph and an electric pen.
Imagine the wonders our country could know in America's 250th year.
Think of the marvels we can achieve if we simply set free the dreams of our
people.
Cures to illnesses that have always plagued us are not too much to hope.
American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream.
Millions lifted from welfare to work is not too much to expect.
And streets where mothers are safe from fear -- schools where children learn in
peace -- and jobs where Americans prosper and grow -- are not too much to ask.
When we have all of this, we will have made America greater than ever before.
For all Americans.
This is our vision. This is our mission.
But we can only get there together.
We
are one people, with one destiny.
We
all bleed the same blood.
We
all salute the same flag.
And we are all made by the same God.
And when we fulfill this vision; when we celebrate our 250 years of glorious
freedom, we will look back on tonight as when this new chapter of
American Greatness began.
The time for small thinking is over. The time for trivial fights is
behind us.
We
just need the courage to share the dreams that fill our hearts.
The bravery to express the hopes that stir our souls.
And the confidence to turn those hopes and dreams to action.
From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our
fears –-
inspired by the future, not bound by the failures of the past –-
and guided by our vision, not blinded by our doubts.
I
am asking all citizens to embrace this Renewal of the American Spirit. I
am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and
daring things for our country. And I am asking everyone
watching tonight to seize this moment and --
Believe in yourselves.
Believe in your future.
And believe, once more, in America.
Thank you, God bless you, and God Bless these United States.
The FoxNews panel discussions after were really great, led by Bret
Baier and Martha MacCallum.
