After leaks suggested that President Donald Trump would not, in the end, announce a deal with Ukraine on minerals, it remained to be seen what he would focus on.

Ultimately, the speech turned out to be a long list of measures he had taken in the first 45 days of his term.

The majority of the 90-minute speech focused on domestic issues. References to Ukraine came toward the end, with Trump revealing that he had received a letter on Tuesday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicating that his country was ready to negotiate as soon as possible.

He also stated that from Russia’s side and its discussions with American officials, Washington had gained the impression that Moscow wanted peace. Trump did not go into further details but said this was “something wonderful” that could bring an end to a “brutal and unnecessary war.”

One of Trump’s few revelations concerned the capture of the person responsible for the deaths of 13 Americans during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and his extradition to the U.S.

The speech was not exactly a “State of the Union” address, which is traditionally given at the beginning of the year as a review and a set of policy declarations for the year ahead.

When Trump entered the room, a few minutes late and amidst prolonged applause, he greeted many of the members of Congress – Republicans, of course – who shook his hand and said a few words to him.

The Democrats stood in their seats without participating in everything that was happening. Many women in the party wore pink jackets in a symbolic sign of protest.

“America is back” was his first words after the speeches.

In the six weeks he has been in office, Trump said later, he has done nothing else “but lead the United States into the greatest and most successful period in the history of our country. In 43 days, we have done what others have not done in four and eight years, and we have only just begun.“

“The momentum and spirit of our country, our pride and our confidence are back, and the American Dream is growing and getting better,” he said.

“We are moving in the right direction, that’s what Americans are saying in the polls“. Democrats interrupted Trump with boos and protests, while Republicans responded by chanting “USA, USA.”

Less than five minutes into the speech, Speaker Mike Johnson interrupted to restore order and demand the removal of Texas Democratic Representative Al Green.

“No matter what I do, even if I find the cure for the most devastating disease, they [i.e. Democrats] will not laugh and applaud,” Trump said after the episode with Green. “This is very sad, it should not be happening,” he said of the Democrats.

He continued by talking about the measures he has taken and defended the large number of executive orders he has issued since the beginning of his term.

He spoke, among other things, about the abolition of “non-essential provisions,” but also about the dismissal of federal employees who did not show up for their work. But also about renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, as well as about the decision “that there are only two sexes, men and women.”

“Our country will no longer be woke”, Trump said, summarizing his decisions and emphasizing that “thanks to us, a revolution of common sense is sweeping the world.”

The references to the economy

He continued talking about the economy, saying that he inherited from the Biden administration “economic disaster and nightmare inflation.” He even brought up an example that “hurts” Americans: the price of eggs that has skyrocketed in recent weeks, with the promise to bring it down.

He also spoke about energy, making special reference to mining permits. “Drill, baby, drill,” he said, repeating his informal slogan.

The Office of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, was particularly noteworthy, drawing applause. “He didn’t need it,” Trump said, listing a long list of waste that Musk’s DOGE had uncovered, while also making jokes about the programs that had been cut.

“We found hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud,” he claimed, repeating that the records showed millions of insureds who were 110 years old or older, or even 160 years old. “We’re going to end the fraud and put money in people’s pockets,” he promised.

The budget, he continued, will be balanced. The days of unelected bureaucrats are over, he said.

He then referred to tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China (and others that he intends to impose in the future, such as the EU).

Illegal immigration

Trump also made special reference to the automotive industry and how the purchase of cars produced in the US will be taxed more easily, as well as to the “gold card” that will grant citizenship to those willing to spend five million dollars.

There was no shortage of references to criminal illegal immigrants and the crimes they have caused, as well as the destructive policy of open borders. “Border crossings have been reduced to a minimum,” he added, amid applause.

The judicial system was “overthrown by far-left lunatics,” he said, bringing one of his favorite examples to the fore again, denouncing the instrumentalization of the authorities and saying that he himself is a victim of this instrumentalization.

Defense and foreign policy

Turning to defense, Trump said that he had ordered a defense dome in the United States, the “Golden Dome” built exclusively with American technology. He reiterated his commitment to the United States taking control of the Panama Canal, “but we will take the control that [former president] Carter gave for a dollar.”

“I also have a message for the wonderful people of Greenland: If you decide, we will accept you into the United States. We will keep you safe, but we will make you rich.”

“We have arrested the man responsible for the deaths of 13 Americans during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021,” he revealed and thanked Pakistan for its cooperation in the arrest.

Trump did not leave out the Ukrainian issue from his speech – even after almost 90 minutes of domestic consumption – either. He initially accused the EU of giving more money to Russia by buying oil and gas than to Ukraine to strengthen it militarily. It is a “barbaric and unnecessary” war, he added, “which I am working tirelessly to end.“

He also referred to Zelensky’s letter about how his country is ready to sign for minerals, but also the “strong signals” from Russia that they are also ready for peace – “but isn’t that wonderful?“, he wondered.

“God saved me to make America great again – I believe that,” he said later, referring to the assassination attempt last July that nearly killed him.

With God’s help, we will take this nation to a higher level in the next four years, with the highest quality of life, he concluded.