National Security Excerpts From Trump’s Address to Congress

On March 4, President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time since his re-election. While the speech primarily focused on domestic issues, it also covered key foreign policy and national security issues. Below are excerpts from the speech, organized by subject.

On Border Security

“Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency on our southern border, and I deployed the US military and border patrol to repel the invasion of our country. And what a job they've done. As a result, illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded. Ever. They heard my words and they chose not to come — much easier that way.”

“Over the past four years, 21 million people poured into the United States. Many of them were murderers, human traffickers, gang members and other criminals from the streets of dangerous cities all throughout the world. Because of Joe Biden's insane and very dangerous open border policies, they are now strongly embedded in our country, but we are getting them out and getting them out fast.” 

Trump assured that these individuals would be swiftly removed from the country. Trump recalled the tragic case of  Laken Riley, a 22-year-old who went for a jog, and was “viciously attacked, assaulted, beaten, brutalized and horrifically murdered” by an illegal alien. In response to this, Trump highlighted that the “very first bill I signed into law” was the “Laken Riley Act,” mandating the detention of all “dangerous criminal aliens who threaten public safety.” Trump stated that those charged were “members of a Venezuelan prison gang…known as Tren de Aragua” and that “[t]wo weeks ago, I officially designated this gang, along with MS-13 and the bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations.”

On the Military and Homeland Defense

Trump “report[ed] that in January, the US Army had its single best recruiting month in 15 years, and that all armed services are having among the best recruiting results ever in the history of our services.” 

 “As commander in chief, my focus is on building the most powerful military of the future. As a first step, I'm asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art golden dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland, all made in the USA.”

“To boost our defense-industrial base, we are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding. And for that purpose, I am announcing tonight that we will create a new office of shipbuilding in the White House and offer special tax incentives to bring this industry home to America, where it belongs. We used to make so many ships. We don't make them anymore very much, but we're going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact.”

On Panama Canal and Greenland

“To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it. Just today, a large American company announced they are buying both ports around the Panama Canal and lots of other things having to do with the Panama Canal and a couple of other canals.”

“It was given away by the Carter administration for $1. But that agreement has been violated very severely. We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back.”

“And I also have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland. We strongly support your right to determine your own future. And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America. We need Greenland for national security and even international security. And we're working with everybody involved to try and get it. But we need it really for international world security. And I think we're going to get it. One way or the other, we're going to get it.”

On the Middle East

“America is once again standing strong against the forces of radical Islamic terrorism. Three and a half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan …Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.” 

“In the Middle East we're bringing back our hostages from Gaza. In my first term, we achieved one of the most groundbreaking peace agreements in generations, the Abraham Accords. And now we're going to build on that foundation to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the entire region.”

On Ukraine and Russia

“Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine. The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer." "Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians," he said. "My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.’ ”

“Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace … It's time to stop this madness. It's time to halt the killing. It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.”

On International Organizations

In relation to US interactions with international organizations, Trump briefly discussed the freeze on all foreign aid and highlighted the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, claiming it was costing the nation “trillions of dollars that other countries were not paying.” He also stated that he “withdrew from the corrupt World Health Organization. And I also withdrew from the anti-American UN Human Rights Council.”

On Trade and Tariffs  

“If you don't make your product in America, however, under the Trump administration, you will pay a tariff, and in some cases a rather large one.” 

“On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico and Canada — have you heard of them? — and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It's very unfair. India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100%. China's average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them, and South Korea's average tariff is four times higher. Think of that, four times higher — and we give so much help militarily and so many other ways to South Korea. But that's what happens. This is happening by friend and foe. The system is not fair to the United States. It never was.”

“April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in, and whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them. That's reciprocal, back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them.”

On the issue of trafficking fentanyl, Trump stated that the United States has a “very large” trade deficit with Mexico and China. “[M]ore importantly,” he asserted that these countries have “allowed fentanyl to come into our country” at unprecedented levels, leading to the deaths of “hundreds of thousands of our citizens.” He concluded by stating that “[w]e pay subsidies to Canada and to Mexico of hundreds of billions of dollars, and the United States will not be doing that any longer. We're not going to do it any longer.”

“And just yesterday, Taiwan Semiconductor, the biggest in the world, most powerful in the world, has a tremendous amount — 97% — of the market, announced a $165 billion investment to build the most powerful chips on Earth, right here in the USA.” “And we're not giving them any money. Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing…You should get rid of the CHIPS Act, and whatever's left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt, or any other reason you want to.” 

Finally, Trump asserted that American farmers will be protected because goods imported from other countries, often not inspected properly, will also be subject to tariffs. “The tariffs will go on agricultural product coming into America and our farmers, starting on April 2 — it may be a little bit of an adjustment period.” “And I have also imposed a 25% tariff on foreign aluminum, copper, lumber and steel, because, if we don't have, as an example, steel and lots of other things, we don't have a military, and frankly, we just won't have a country very long.”

Trump emphasized that tariffs are just not about protecting American jobs, they are about “making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening, and it will happen rather quickly.”