During US President Donald Trump’s address to the joint session of Congress, tensions flared when Republican lawmakers broke into chants of ‘USA, USA’ in response to a Democrat heckler’s protest. The incident occurred as Trump recalled his popular victory, stirring both applause and opposition in the chamber.
A Democrat member held up a sign reading, “This is not normal,” prompting a heated response from the Republican side. In the midst of the commotion, a Republican lawmaker grabbed and threw the sign. The situation escalated to the point where US Congress Speaker Mike Johnson threatened to call the Sergeant at Arms to restore order. Representative Al Green was subsequently asked to leave the House.
As the session opened, Trump greeted Speaker Johnson, Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and the gathered members of Congress. Early in his speech, Trump declared, “America is back,” a statement met with enthusiastic applause and chants of “USA, USA” from Republican lawmakers.
Reflecting on his administration’s progress, Trump stated, “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country. We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started.”
Trump’s address centered around three key promises: American energy independence, national security—particularly at the southern border—and revitalizing the economy. US Congressman Zach Nunn expressed optimism ahead of the address, highlighting these priorities.
“We’re going to have a great opportunity to really hear from President Trump on three key issues that he’s promised to deliver on,” Nunn said. “The first is American energy independence. The second is our national security, including that at our southern border, and the third is getting our economy back on track. This means tax cuts to help working-class families keep the things they need, as well as bringing down federal spending so that we don’t have so much money going to Washington and can keep that money directly in our communities.”
Nunn praised the administration’s early efforts, emphasizing Trump’s “America First” approach. “The Trump administration has done a great job delivering for America,” Nunn said. “We’ve been able to put Americans first. One of the key elements of this is bringing guests from Iowa who are part of our workforce. You can’t have a ‘Made in America’ plan without a workforce that’s made in America. This partnership ensures trade skills, strong apprenticeship programs, and the advanced technology and innovation that only America is providing the world.”
As Trump’s address continued, the charged atmosphere reflected the deep political divides in the chamber, underscoring the strong support and fierce opposition that his presidency continues to provoke.
