Trump delivers 2nd State of Union address
US President Donald Trump has delivered his second State of the Union address after the speech was postponed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for almost two weeks over the government shutdown.
Donald Trump issued a call for unity as he warned that the “politics of revenge” and “ridiculous partisan investigations” threatened to derail the “economic miracle” taking place in the United States.
“Now is the time for the Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers out of business. In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall — but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built,” Trump said.
Speaking in the chamber of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Trump once again pledged to build a wall along the US border with Mexico to prevent immigrants, whom he called “criminals,” from crossing into the US.
The president’s latest remarks come as he and Congress will need to try and find a solution to avert another government shutdown on February 15 even though he and Pelosi are still at an impasse over the wall.
“Simply put, walls work and walls save lives,” Trump said. “So let’s work together, compromise and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.”
Trump also announced that his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was slated for late February in Vietnam.
“If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea with potentially millions of people killed. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong-un is a good one. And Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27 and 28 in Vietnam.”
Mr Trump said: “We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness.
“Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country. Embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise and the common good.”
He added: “An economic miracle is taking place in the United States and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation.”
According to a poll by CNN, 59 percent of viewers felt “very positive” about Mr Trump’s speech. However, the majority of those did not believe Mr Trump’s call for bipartisanship would be met with success.
