US President Donald Trump’s upcoming address to the joint session of Congress has drawn both anticipation and criticism from lawmakers, with key issues like energy independence, national security, and economic recovery expected to take center stage.
US Congressman Zach Nunn highlighted the importance of Trump’s speech, expressing optimism about the administration’s plans. “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. 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 and reducing federal spending so we can keep that money directly in our communities,” Nunn told ANI.
Praising Trump’s work in his second term so far, Nunn stressed the importance of prioritizing American interests. “I think the Trump administration has done a great job delivering for America. A key aspect of this is putting Americans first. We’ve also brought some guests from Iowa who are part of our workforce because you can’t have a ‘Made in America’ plan without a workforce made in America,” he added.
US Congressman Scott Franklin echoed Nunn’s enthusiasm, applauding Trump’s sense of urgency. “I am very excited to hear what the President has to say tonight. The American public is interested to hear his thoughts after his first six weeks on the job. He’s treating every day as though it’s his last and making the most of every minute because he knows his time to accomplish everything is limited,” Franklin said.
However, not all lawmakers shared the same optimism. US Congressman Greg Stanton voiced a more critical perspective, raising concerns about Trump’s policy decisions. “I think it’s going to be, unfortunately, not a good speech. He’s going to have to explain why he’s proposing cuts to healthcare, which will affect millions of Americans. He also needs to address why he turned his back on the people of Ukraine in the middle of Putin’s horrific invasion and switched sides in that war, sending all the wrong messages to our allies,” Stanton stated.
Stanton also criticized Trump’s economic approach, arguing that new tariffs on Mexico and Canada could drive up prices for American consumers. “At a time when we need to be lowering prices for the American people, imposing tariffs on our next-door neighbors is the exact opposite of what he promised. That’s why I’m pessimistic about tonight’s performance,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, US Congressman Dusty Johnson hinted that Trump’s speech could address ongoing international conflicts, including the Ukraine war. “I think Donald Trump is going to talk a lot about illegal crossings and the Ukraine war. We want a lasting and fair peace, and it seems like he has a mineral deal that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be in favor of. That could be a good development,” Johnson said.
As anticipation builds ahead of Trump’s address, reactions from lawmakers reflect both hope and skepticism over the administration’s direction and policies.