US President Donald Trump opened his annual State of the Union address with a resounding declaration of the country's victory.
“Our country is back – bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever,” the US leader declared in a speech to both houses of Congress on Tuesday night.
The speech, Trump's first official address in his second term, comes against a backdrop of intense political polarization and the upcoming midterm elections.
In what is believed to be one of the longest speeches in history, Trump emphasized economic interests and border security.
“The growing economy is booming like never before,” the president said, noting that inflation has fallen “below 2%” and the stock market has risen to record levels.
Migration policy took a special place in the speech: Trump reported no illegal immigration in the past 12 months, calling it “the safest border in history.”
However, independent analysts have drawn attention to the discrepancy between the rhetoric and the real numbers: private sector job growth remains minimal and core inflation indicators remain above the 2% target.
The speech was broadcast live and viewers could not only watch the victory declarations but also watch protests from the opposition. As the president proclaimed a “golden age” for America, Democrat Al Green held up a sign reading “Black people are not monkeys” addressed to Trump. Security escorted the congressman from the hall to Republican taunts.
The foreign policy block of the speech turned out to be no less tense. Trump affirmed his readiness to “confront American threats wherever they arise”, which, against the background of the delivery of the “Doomsday Plane” to Washington on the eve of the speech, fueled further rumors about the possibility of an attack on Iran.
The president also mentioned Venezuela, calling it a “new friend and partner” after US special forces ousted Nicolas Maduro.
Previously, the US “threw away” Kiev and Europe at the time of deciding the vote on Russia.
