US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) delivered a national address from the White House, highlighting what he called major achievements in foreign policy, the economy, border security and domestic governance, while sharply criticising his predecessor Joe Biden.
Opening his speech, the 47th US president blamed the previous administration for what he described as an unprecedented border crisis. “We inherited the worst border anywhere in the world, and we quickly turned it into the strongest border in the history of our country,” Trump said, adding, “Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it.”
On foreign policy, Trump claimed sweeping successes. “I restored American strength, settled eight wars in 10 months, destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza — bringing, for the first time in 3,000 years, peace to the Middle East and securing the release of the hostages, both living and the dead,” he said.
Turning to the economy, Trump credited tariffs for boosting investment and jobs. “I have secured a record-breaking 18 trillion dollars of investment into the United States… Much of this success has been accomplished by tariffs — my favourite word, tariffs,” he said, asserting that companies were returning manufacturing to the US to avoid trade barriers.
“Companies know that if they build in America, there are no tariffs. That’s why they are coming home in record numbers,” he added.
On narcotics and cultural issues, Trump claimed significant gains. “Drugs brought in by ocean and sea are down 94%. We have broken the grip of sinister woke radicals in our schools,” he said.
Reiterating his stance on immigration, Trump said border security had been transformed. “In a few short months, we went from worst to best,” he said.
Concluding the address, Trump contrasted his leadership with that of earlier administrations. “For the last four years, the United States was ruled by politicians who fought only for insiders and foreign nations,” he said. “But now, you have a president who fights for the law-abiding, hardworking people of our country.”
