Donald Trump focuses on economy in State of Union address

Article content

U.S. President Donald Trump boasted about his country’s economy, affordability measures and gold medal-winning men’s hockey team during Tuesday’s State of the Union address amid lacklustre approval ratings.

Article content

The president’s speech at the U.S. Capitol touched on everything from the country’s border, murder and inflation rates, private-sector job creation and what Trump said was the end of diversity, equity and inclusion measures in America – which drew a loud applause from his fellow Republicans.

Article content

Article content

All of this despite just 39% of U.S. adults approving of Trump’s handling of the economy in February, according to an AP-NORC polling.

“Our country is winning again,” Trump said during the televised address. “In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, please, please, please, Mr. President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore.”

The speech came amid the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. that coincides with November’s midterm elections and the hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico beginning in June.

Article content

Article content

It also followed on the heels of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics in Italy, where the Americans finished second in the medal table.

President calls tariff setback ‘unfortunate’

The president’s boastful tone from the Winter Olympics carried over into his speech as he touted measures to cut drug prices, help people buy homes, create savings accounts for children and reduce taxes through import tariffs.

Trump, however, offered relatively few new policy ideas early in his address.

Trump championed his immigration crackdowns and slashing of the federal government, as well as his ability to direct quick-hit military actions around the world, including in Iran and Venezuela.

The president also announced that tech companies involved in artificial intelligence are agreeing to pay higher electricity rates in areas where their data centres are located.

Article content

On the subject of tariffs, Trump called his recent Supreme Court setback “unfortunate,” but said that new measures would be in place “within days.”

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

New tariffs planned in response

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rebuked Trump’s import tariffs that have damaged the Canadian economy and those of other nations, while adding a reported $133 billion to the U.S. Treasury.

The court’s decision struck down tariffs that were imposed by using an emergency powers law, but Trump said he will now use a different legal authority instead that is limited in its scope.

A recently signed executive order enabled him to bypass Congress and impose a 10% import tax starting on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported, but those tariffs are only in effect for 150 days unless legislation is passed to extend them.

Article content

Trump then signalled on Saturday that he wants to increase the new tariff rate by another 5%.

Nationalism, partisan divide on full display

Some of the country’s top NHL players, meanwhile, were on hand for the address after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime Sunday to claim the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years.

The players received a lengthy applause before Trump announced that he would be awarding goalie Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honour, following a 41-save effort against the Canucks.

The nation’s fierce political divide was also evident as dozens of Democrats were absent from the chamber, attending other events or boycotting the president’s speech.

Within minutes of Trump’s opening remarks, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was escorted out of the chamber. As Trump began speaking, Green stood and held a sign saying, “Black People Aren’t Apes,” a reference to a racist video Trump posted — and then deleted — on social media portraying former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as primates in a jungle.

— With files from The Associated Press.

Article content