Transcripts For FOXNEWSW State Of The Union Address 20180131

Chief White House Correspondent john roberts to set the stage for us from the north lawn. Good evening, john. Bret, good evening to you and to you as well, martha. I think its safe to say that the president s first year in office was tough partisan issues like obamacare and tax reform that he needed to get his own party on board to pass as you saw didnt get very far with Obamacare Repeal and replace. Year two of the trumps presidency were told by the white to issues that he thinks he can get bipartisan support on. Throw down the gauntlet to democrats to Work Together with him for the good of the country. First and foremost among those issues will be infrastructure, the president thinks there is a Good Opportunity to have democrats work with him on that. He also wants to get a deal on daca, his sort of a starting point for broader Immigration Reform. No question thats going to be a tougher lift than infrastructure. As for the democrats, no sign at this point that the leadership is willing to work with the president saying that his immigration proposal on daca is a nonstarter, also voicing a lot of skepticism about what the president may have in mind on infrastructure. One thing that im told to pay special attention to tonight bret and martha is the section on north korea. Im told the president will have very tough language but also go down the road of something of a new approach on north korea. So something to watch closely for this evening. Bret john roberts live on the north lawn of the white house. John, thanks. Were looking live in the House Chamber and the president s cabinet coming in. There you see the u. S. Ambassador to the United Nations nikki haley who has been very forceful on north korea, iran and other issues at the u. N. Martha well, Administration Linda mcmahon behind her ben carson of hud as they gather and Rex Tillerson in the foreground there. While we wait lets bring in our state of the Union Special panel. Chris wallace host of fox news sunday. Dana perino cohost of the five. Bret Mollie Hemingway editor at the. Juan williams cohost of the five and brit hume. You have been through a lot of these. We see them. We see the pomp and circumstance. This seems like a big moment for this president in this moment in time in washington. He is in a different situation than he was a year ago when he arrived with all guns blazing and you will remember that inaugural address it was so kind of bellicose. He has softened his tone for his first effectively his first state of the Union Address which was the first address to congress about a year ago. Now he is in a different situation than he was at the end of last year. He cant get bills through congress with 50 or 51 votes. He needs 60. Which means he needs democrats in a way that he really didnt as much in his first year. And i think tonight will be a lot about trying to soften his image in their eyes and make them think well, this is a guy we may not agree with him, may not even like him but we can do business with him. I think thats where he will try to take the speech tonight. And it will be interesting to see if he can do it. My guess is he probably can make a little headway but, you know, the intense feeling about him is pretty strong. It would help him a lot if he could diminish the rage. Lets see if he can. Martha chris wallace, quick thoughts as we understanding the president is on his way to the chamber. Well, real quick, look, we will have plenty of time afterwards to talk about what the president said in his speech for all the talk about a divided washington, i have been covering these for more than 35 years and i always get kind of a chill to see the entire government of the United States, the congress, the executive branch, the president and his cabinet, the chiefs of the staff of the various military services, the Supreme Court, the diplomatic corps. This is a moment particularly before the speech starts to celebrate the extraordinary government that we have and what the founders put together. Its all in this room. Bret and it is. Senators, house members, a few democrats decided some 12 House Democrats decided not to show up tonight as we mentioned before there will be five democratic responses after this speech. Were moments away from paul irving, the house sergeant at arms announcing the president of the United States. [applause] mr. Speaker, the president of the United States. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] bret you see some folks there crowded on the line to get a handshake. Louie gohmert there, a big supporter of the president obviously and behind the president the House Majority leader and Steve Scalise the House Majority whip who obviously had his own challenges this year coming back from that gunshot on the softball practice. Choosing the electric blue tie tonight President Trump moving down the row. Juan williams, lets bring you in. Thoughts on this before we hear from the president tonight. Well, i think for the democrats there is great hope that this might be an opportunity for the president to offer reprise of the kind of positive optimistic attitude that he offered at davos. We know that gary cohn, who was so instrumental in that presentation where he talked America First but not america alone has also had a hand in writing this speech along with steven miller, who is typically the more aggressive, more populist energy, if you will, behind the pen. So, the question is how much the president can do in terms of extending a base that is reporting to most polls locked in the mid to you were 30s in terms of approval. And thats evident, i think, of the extreme polarization in the country. And tonight, if he can offer some kind of hand to say, you know, im looking more president ial. Im ready to work with democrats, i think he can deliver a message. But are people able to hear that if he is able to change. Martha dana, quick thought as we watch the applause here which could go on for a bit. Yes, last weekend, two weekends ago when the president was able to go to maralago for the one Year Anniversary of his inauguration. He didnt have a chance to celebrate. This is sort of like the first year of a child. Rightly the First Anniversary is such a big one. The staff has worked so hard. They actually have the wind at their back with a lot of accomplishments that a year ago when he gave his joint session of congress speech, i dont think they knew what they were going to be able to do, but they have accomplished a lot. Bret molly, quickly, i should point out the fox news poll has his approval at 45 and they have seen some numbers moving which the president and his party are happy about. Yeah. And he has done very well with his base and its the incidents that have sthetheindeo muched a bit. This will be the 2eu7 call speech that reaches out to independents and has goodies for them. He needs to be careful not to switch too much from that. He has been successful in part because he is so unorthodox in his approach. Having a very traditional speech might not serve him as well as it does in d. C. Bret lets listen in to the speaker of the house paul ryan gavel the session to order. [applause] [gavel] members of congress, i have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] mr. Speaker, mr. Vice president , members of congress, first lady of the United States, and my fellow americans, less than one year has passed since i first stood at this podium in this magestic chamber to speak on behalf of the American People and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night our new administration had already taken very swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land. Each day since we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission, to make America Great again for all americans. [cheers and applause] over the last year we have made incredible progress and achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected and others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights of victory and the pains of hardship. We have endured floods and fires and storms. Through it all, we have seen the beauty of americas soul and the steel in americas spine. Each test has forged new american heroes to remind us who we are and show us what we can be. We saw the volunteers of the cajun navy racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a totally devastating hurricane. We saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the las vegas strip. We heard tales of americans like coast guard petty officer asheville lee leppert, who is here tonight, in the gallery with melania. [applause] [applause] ashlee was aboard one of the first helicopters on the scene in houston during the hurricane harvey. Through 18 hours of wind and rain, ashlee braved live power lines and deep water to help save more than 40 lives. Ashlee, we all thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] [applause] we heard about americans like Firefighter David dahlberg. He is here with us also. David faced down walls of flame to rescue almost 60 children trapped at a california summer camp threatened by those devastating wildfires. To everyone still recovering in texas, florida, louisiana, puerto rico, and the virgin islands, everywhere we are with you, we love you, and we always will pull through together, always. [applause] thank you to david and the brave people of california. Thank you very much, david. Great job. Some trials over the past year touched this chamber very personally. With us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this house, a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work three and a half months later. The legend from louisiana, congressman Steve Scalise. [cheers and applause] i think they like you, steve. [laughter] we are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the Capitol Police officers, the Alexandria Police and doctors nurses and paramedics who saved his life and the lives of many others. Some in this room. [applause] yes, yes. In the aftermath of that terrible shooting, we came together, not as republicans or democrats, but as representatives of the people. But it is not enough to come together only in times of tragedy. Tonight, i call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people. This is really the key. These are the people we were elected to serve. [applause] [applause] [applause] thank you. Over the last year, the world has seen what we always knew that no people on earth are so fearless or daring or determined as americans. If there is a mountain we climb it, if there is a frontier, we cross it. If theres a challenge, we tame it. If theres an opportunity, we seize it. So, lets begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. [applause] and together we are building a safe, strong, and proud america. Since the election, we have created 2. 4 million new jobs. [applause] including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. Tremendous. [applause] after years and years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages. [applause] unemployment claims have hit a 45year low. [applause] thats something im very proud of. Africanamerican unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded. [cheers and applause] [applause] and hispanic american unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history. [applause] Small Business confidence is at an alltime high. The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining 8 trillion and more in value in just this short period of time. [applause] the great news for americans, 401 k retirement, pension and College Savings accounts have gone through the roof. And just as i promised, the American People from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in american history. [cheers and applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and Small Business, to lower tax rates for hardworking americans. We nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. [applause] now the first 24,000 earned by a married couple is completely taxfree. [applause] we also doubled the child tax credit. [applause] a typical family of four, making 75,000 will see their tax bill reduced by 2,000, slashing their tax bill in half. [applause] in april, this will be the last time you will ever file under the old and very broken system and millions of americans will have more takehome pay starting next month. A lot more. [applause] [cheers and applause] we eliminated an especially cruel tax that fell mostly on americans making less than 50,000 a year forcing them to pay tremendous penalties simply because they couldnt afford government ordered healthcare. [applause] we repealed the core of the disastrous obamacare. The individual mandate is now gone. Thank heaven. [applause] we slashed the business tax rate from 35 all the way down to 21 so American Companies can compete and win against anyone else anywhere in the world. [applause] these changes alone are estimated to increase average Family Income by more than 4,000. A lot of money. [applause] Small Businesses have also received a massive tax cut and can now deduct up to 20 of their business income. Here tonight are steve staub and Sandy Keplinger of staub manufacturing, a small, beautiful business in ohio. They have just finished the best year in their 20year history. [applause] [applause] because of tax reform, they are hands out raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door. Good feeling. [applause] one of staubs employees, cory adams, is also with us tonight. Cory is an allamerican worker. He supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession, and was later hired by staub where he trained to become a welder. Like many hardworking americans, cory plans to invest his tax cut raise into his new home and his two daughters education. Cory, please stand. [cheers and applause] and he is a great welder. [laughter] i was told that by the man that owns that company thats doing so well. So congratulations, cory. Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses. Many of them thousands and thousands of dollars per worker and its getting more every month, every week. Apple has Just Announced it plans to invest a total of 350 billion in america and hire another 20,000 workers. [cheers and applause] and just a little while ago exxon mobil announced a 50 billion investment in the United States. Just a little while ago. [applause] this, in fact, is our new american moment. There has never been a better time to start living the american dream. So to every citizen watching at home tonight, no matter where youve been or where youve come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in america, then you can dream anything. You can be anything. And together we can achieve absolutely anything. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] tonight, i want to talk about what kind of future were going to have and what kind of a nation were going to be. All of us together, as one team, one people, and one American Family can do anything. We all share the same home, the same heart, the same destiny, and the same Great American flag. [applause] together we are rediscovering the american way. In america, we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of American Life. [applause] the motto is in god we trust. [cheers and applause] [ applause ] and we celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support. [cheers and applause] [applause] here tonight is preston sharp, a 12yearold boy from redding, california, who noticed that veterans graves were not marked with flags on veterans day. He decided all by himself to change that and started a movement that has now placed 40,000 flags at the graves of our great heroes. [applause] preston, a job well done. [applause] [applause] young patriots like preston teach all of us about our civic duty as americans. And i met preston a little while ago, and he is something very special, that, i can tell you. Great future. Thank you very much for all have you done, preston. Thank you very much. [applause] prestons reverence for those who have searched our nation reminds us of why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem. [cheers and applause] [applause] americans love their country, and they deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. For the last year, we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their government. Working with the senate, we are appointing judges who will interpret the constitution as written, including a great new Supreme Court justice and more circuit judges than any new administration in the history of our country. [cheers and applause] we are totally defending our White House Correspondent<\/a> john roberts to set the stage for us from the north lawn. Good evening, john. Bret, good evening to you and to you as well, martha. I think its safe to say that the president s first year in office was tough partisan issues like obamacare and tax reform that he needed to get his own party on board to pass as you saw didnt get very far with Obamacare Repeal<\/a> and replace. Year two of the trumps presidency were told by the white to issues that he thinks he can get bipartisan support on. Throw down the gauntlet to democrats to Work Together<\/a> with him for the good of the country. First and foremost among those issues will be infrastructure, the president thinks there is a Good Opportunity<\/a> to have democrats work with him on that. He also wants to get a deal on daca, his sort of a starting point for broader Immigration Reform<\/a>. No question thats going to be a tougher lift than infrastructure. As for the democrats, no sign at this point that the leadership is willing to work with the president saying that his immigration proposal on daca is a nonstarter, also voicing a lot of skepticism about what the president may have in mind on infrastructure. One thing that im told to pay special attention to tonight bret and martha is the section on north korea. Im told the president will have very tough language but also go down the road of something of a new approach on north korea. So something to watch closely for this evening. Bret john roberts live on the north lawn of the white house. John, thanks. Were looking live in the House Chamber<\/a> and the president s cabinet coming in. There you see the u. S. Ambassador to the United Nations<\/a> nikki haley who has been very forceful on north korea, iran and other issues at the u. N. Martha well, Administration Linda<\/a> mcmahon behind her ben carson of hud as they gather and Rex Tillerson<\/a> in the foreground there. While we wait lets bring in our state of the Union Special<\/a> panel. Chris wallace host of fox news sunday. Dana perino cohost of the five. Bret Mollie Hemingway<\/a> editor at the. Juan williams cohost of the five and brit hume. You have been through a lot of these. We see them. We see the pomp and circumstance. This seems like a big moment for this president in this moment in time in washington. He is in a different situation than he was a year ago when he arrived with all guns blazing and you will remember that inaugural address it was so kind of bellicose. He has softened his tone for his first effectively his first state of the Union Address<\/a> which was the first address to congress about a year ago. Now he is in a different situation than he was at the end of last year. He cant get bills through congress with 50 or 51 votes. He needs 60. Which means he needs democrats in a way that he really didnt as much in his first year. And i think tonight will be a lot about trying to soften his image in their eyes and make them think well, this is a guy we may not agree with him, may not even like him but we can do business with him. I think thats where he will try to take the speech tonight. And it will be interesting to see if he can do it. My guess is he probably can make a little headway but, you know, the intense feeling about him is pretty strong. It would help him a lot if he could diminish the rage. Lets see if he can. Martha chris wallace, quick thoughts as we understanding the president is on his way to the chamber. Well, real quick, look, we will have plenty of time afterwards to talk about what the president said in his speech for all the talk about a divided washington, i have been covering these for more than 35 years and i always get kind of a chill to see the entire government of the United States<\/a>, the congress, the executive branch, the president and his cabinet, the chiefs of the staff of the various military services, the Supreme Court<\/a>, the diplomatic corps. This is a moment particularly before the speech starts to celebrate the extraordinary government that we have and what the founders put together. Its all in this room. Bret and it is. Senators, house members, a few democrats decided some 12 House Democrats<\/a> decided not to show up tonight as we mentioned before there will be five democratic responses after this speech. Were moments away from paul irving, the house sergeant at arms announcing the president of the United States<\/a>. [applause] mr. Speaker, the president of the United States<\/a>. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] bret you see some folks there crowded on the line to get a handshake. Louie gohmert there, a big supporter of the president obviously and behind the president the House Majority<\/a> leader and Steve Scalise<\/a> the House Majority<\/a> whip who obviously had his own challenges this year coming back from that gunshot on the softball practice. Choosing the electric blue tie tonight President Trump<\/a> moving down the row. Juan williams, lets bring you in. Thoughts on this before we hear from the president tonight. Well, i think for the democrats there is great hope that this might be an opportunity for the president to offer reprise of the kind of positive optimistic attitude that he offered at davos. We know that gary cohn, who was so instrumental in that presentation where he talked America First<\/a> but not america alone has also had a hand in writing this speech along with steven miller, who is typically the more aggressive, more populist energy, if you will, behind the pen. So, the question is how much the president can do in terms of extending a base that is reporting to most polls locked in the mid to you were 30s in terms of approval. And thats evident, i think, of the extreme polarization in the country. And tonight, if he can offer some kind of hand to say, you know, im looking more president ial. Im ready to work with democrats, i think he can deliver a message. But are people able to hear that if he is able to change. Martha dana, quick thought as we watch the applause here which could go on for a bit. Yes, last weekend, two weekends ago when the president was able to go to maralago for the one Year Anniversary<\/a> of his inauguration. He didnt have a chance to celebrate. This is sort of like the first year of a child. Rightly the First Anniversary<\/a> is such a big one. The staff has worked so hard. They actually have the wind at their back with a lot of accomplishments that a year ago when he gave his joint session of congress speech, i dont think they knew what they were going to be able to do, but they have accomplished a lot. Bret molly, quickly, i should point out the fox news poll has his approval at 45 and they have seen some numbers moving which the president and his party are happy about. Yeah. And he has done very well with his base and its the incidents that have sthetheindeo muched a bit. This will be the 2eu7 call speech that reaches out to independents and has goodies for them. He needs to be careful not to switch too much from that. He has been successful in part because he is so unorthodox in his approach. Having a very traditional speech might not serve him as well as it does in d. C. Bret lets listen in to the speaker of the house paul ryan gavel the session to order. [applause] [gavel] members of congress, i have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States<\/a>. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] mr. Speaker, mr. Vice president , members of congress, first lady of the United States<\/a>, and my fellow americans, less than one year has passed since i first stood at this podium in this magestic chamber to speak on behalf of the American People<\/a> and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night our new administration had already taken very swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land. Each day since we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission, to make America Great<\/a> again for all americans. [cheers and applause] over the last year we have made incredible progress and achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected and others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights of victory and the pains of hardship. We have endured floods and fires and storms. Through it all, we have seen the beauty of americas soul and the steel in americas spine. Each test has forged new american heroes to remind us who we are and show us what we can be. We saw the volunteers of the cajun navy racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a totally devastating hurricane. We saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the las vegas strip. We heard tales of americans like coast guard petty officer asheville lee leppert, who is here tonight, in the gallery with melania. [applause] [applause] ashlee was aboard one of the first helicopters on the scene in houston during the hurricane harvey. Through 18 hours of wind and rain, ashlee braved live power lines and deep water to help save more than 40 lives. Ashlee, we all thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] [applause] we heard about americans like Firefighter David<\/a> dahlberg. He is here with us also. David faced down walls of flame to rescue almost 60 children trapped at a california summer camp threatened by those devastating wildfires. To everyone still recovering in texas, florida, louisiana, puerto rico, and the virgin islands, everywhere we are with you, we love you, and we always will pull through together, always. [applause] thank you to david and the brave people of california. Thank you very much, david. Great job. Some trials over the past year touched this chamber very personally. With us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this house, a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work three and a half months later. The legend from louisiana, congressman Steve Scalise<\/a>. [cheers and applause] i think they like you, steve. [laughter] we are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the Capitol Police<\/a> officers, the Alexandria Police<\/a> and doctors nurses and paramedics who saved his life and the lives of many others. Some in this room. [applause] yes, yes. In the aftermath of that terrible shooting, we came together, not as republicans or democrats, but as representatives of the people. But it is not enough to come together only in times of tragedy. Tonight, i call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people. This is really the key. These are the people we were elected to serve. [applause] [applause] [applause] thank you. Over the last year, the world has seen what we always knew that no people on earth are so fearless or daring or determined as americans. If there is a mountain we climb it, if there is a frontier, we cross it. If theres a challenge, we tame it. If theres an opportunity, we seize it. So, lets begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. [applause] and together we are building a safe, strong, and proud america. Since the election, we have created 2. 4 million new jobs. [applause] including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. Tremendous. [applause] after years and years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages. [applause] unemployment claims have hit a 45year low. [applause] thats something im very proud of. Africanamerican unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded. [cheers and applause] [applause] and hispanic american unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history. [applause] Small Business<\/a> confidence is at an alltime high. The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining 8 trillion and more in value in just this short period of time. [applause] the great news for americans, 401 k retirement, pension and College Savings<\/a> accounts have gone through the roof. And just as i promised, the American People<\/a> from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in american history. [cheers and applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and Small Business<\/a>, to lower tax rates for hardworking americans. We nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. [applause] now the first 24,000 earned by a married couple is completely taxfree. [applause] we also doubled the child tax credit. [applause] a typical family of four, making 75,000 will see their tax bill reduced by 2,000, slashing their tax bill in half. [applause] in april, this will be the last time you will ever file under the old and very broken system and millions of americans will have more takehome pay starting next month. A lot more. [applause] [cheers and applause] we eliminated an especially cruel tax that fell mostly on americans making less than 50,000 a year forcing them to pay tremendous penalties simply because they couldnt afford government ordered healthcare. [applause] we repealed the core of the disastrous obamacare. The individual mandate is now gone. Thank heaven. [applause] we slashed the business tax rate from 35 all the way down to 21 so American Companies<\/a> can compete and win against anyone else anywhere in the world. [applause] these changes alone are estimated to increase average Family Income<\/a> by more than 4,000. A lot of money. [applause] Small Business<\/a>es have also received a massive tax cut and can now deduct up to 20 of their business income. Here tonight are steve staub and Sandy Keplinger<\/a> of staub manufacturing, a small, beautiful business in ohio. They have just finished the best year in their 20year history. [applause] [applause] because of tax reform, they are hands out raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door. Good feeling. [applause] one of staubs employees, cory adams, is also with us tonight. Cory is an allamerican worker. He supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession, and was later hired by staub where he trained to become a welder. Like many hardworking americans, cory plans to invest his tax cut raise into his new home and his two daughters education. Cory, please stand. [cheers and applause] and he is a great welder. [laughter] i was told that by the man that owns that company thats doing so well. So congratulations, cory. Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses. Many of them thousands and thousands of dollars per worker and its getting more every month, every week. Apple has Just Announced<\/a> it plans to invest a total of 350 billion in america and hire another 20,000 workers. [cheers and applause] and just a little while ago exxon mobil announced a 50 billion investment in the United States<\/a>. Just a little while ago. [applause] this, in fact, is our new american moment. There has never been a better time to start living the american dream. So to every citizen watching at home tonight, no matter where youve been or where youve come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in america, then you can dream anything. You can be anything. And together we can achieve absolutely anything. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] tonight, i want to talk about what kind of future were going to have and what kind of a nation were going to be. All of us together, as one team, one people, and one American Family<\/a> can do anything. We all share the same home, the same heart, the same destiny, and the same Great American<\/a> flag. [applause] together we are rediscovering the american way. In america, we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of American Life<\/a>. [applause] the motto is in god we trust. [cheers and applause] [ applause ] and we celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support. [cheers and applause] [applause] here tonight is preston sharp, a 12yearold boy from redding, california, who noticed that veterans graves were not marked with flags on veterans day. He decided all by himself to change that and started a movement that has now placed 40,000 flags at the graves of our great heroes. [applause] preston, a job well done. [applause] [applause] young patriots like preston teach all of us about our civic duty as americans. And i met preston a little while ago, and he is something very special, that, i can tell you. Great future. Thank you very much for all have you done, preston. Thank you very much. [applause] prestons reverence for those who have searched our nation reminds us of why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem. [cheers and applause] [applause] americans love their country, and they deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. For the last year, we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their government. Working with the senate, we are appointing judges who will interpret the constitution as written, including a great new Supreme Court<\/a> justice and more circuit judges than any new administration in the history of our country. [cheers and applause] we are totally defending our Second Amendment<\/a> have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty. [cheers and applause] and we are serving our brave veterans including giving our veterans choice in their healthcare decisions. [applause] last Year Congress<\/a> also passed and i signed the landmark v. A. Accountability act. [applause] since its passage, my administration has already removed more than 1,500 v. A. Employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve and we are hiring talented people who love our vets as much as we do. [applause] and i will not stop until our veterans are properly taken care of, which has been my promise to them from the very beginning of this great journey. [applause] all americans deserve accountability and respect and thats what we are giving to our wonderful heroes, our veterans. Thank you. So tonight i call on congress to empower every cabinet secretary with the authority to reward good workers and to remove federal employees who undermine the public trust or fail the American People<\/a>. [applause] in our drive to make washington accountable, we have eliminated more regulations in our first year than any administration in the history of our country. [cheers and applause] we have ended the war on American Energy<\/a> and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal. [cheers and applause] we are now very proudly an exporter of energy to the world. [applause] in detroit i halted government mandates that crippled americas great, beautiful auto workers so that we can get motor city revving its engines again. And thats whats happening. [applause] many Car Companies<\/a> are now building and expanding plants in the United States<\/a>, something we havent seen for decades, chrysler is moving a major plant from mexico to michigan, toyota and mazda are opening up a plant in alabama, a big one, and we havent seen this in a long time. Its all coming back. [cheers and applause] very soon auto plants and other plants will be opening up all over our country. This is all news americans are totally unacros ununaccustod to hearing. For years jobs were only leaving us, but now they are roaring back. Theyre coming back. They want to be where the action is they want to be in the United States<\/a> of america. Thats where they want to be. [cheers and applause] exciting progress is happening every single day. To speed access to break through cures and affordable generic drugs, last year the fda approved more new and generic drugs and medical devices than ever before in our countrys history. [applause] we also believe that patience with terminal condition patients with terminal conditions, terminal illness should have access to experimental treatment immediately that could potentially save their lives. People who are terminally ill should not have to go from country to country troy seek a cure. I want to give them a chance right here at home. Its time for congress to give these wonderful, incredible americans the right to try. [applause] one of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs. [applause] in many other countries, these drugs cost far less than what we pay in the United States<\/a>. And its very, very unfair. That is why i have directed my administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices, one of my Top Priorities<\/a> for the year. [applause] and prices will come down substantially, watch. America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and chipped away our companies, our jobs, and our wealth, our nation has lost its wealth. But were getting it back so fast. The era of economic surrender is totally over. From now on we expect trading relationships to be fair and very importantly reciprocal. [applause] we will work to fix bad trail deals and negotiate new ones and they will be good ones, but they will be fair. And we will protect American Workers<\/a> and American Intellectual<\/a> property through strong enforcement of our trade rules. [applause] as we rebuild our industries, it is also time to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. [applause] [cheers and applause] america is a nation of builders. We built the Empire State Building<\/a> in just one year. Isnt it a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a minor permit approved for the building of a simple road. [applause] im asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure that our economy needs and our people deserve. [applause] tonight im calling on congress to produce a bill that generates at least 1. 5 trillion for the new Infrastructure Investment<\/a> that our country so desperately needs. Every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private Sector Investment<\/a> to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit. And we can do it. [applause] any bill must also streamline the permitting and approval process. Getting it down to no more than two years and perhaps even one. Together, we can reclaim our great building heritage. [applause] we would build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways and waterways all across our land, and we will do it with american heart, and american hands, and american grit. We want every american to know the dignity of a hard days work. We want every child to be safe in their home at night, and we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we all love so much. We can lift our citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity. [applause] as tax cuts create new jobs, lets invest in Workforce Development<\/a> and lets invest in job training, which we need so badly. Lets open great vocational schools. [cheers and applause] so our future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential. [applause] lets support working families by supporting paid family leave. [applause] as america regains its strength, opportunity must be extended to all citizens. That is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a Second Chance<\/a> at life. [applause] struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interest of American Workers<\/a> and american families. For decades open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities. They have allowed millions of low wage workers to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest americans. Most tragically, they have caused the loss of many innocent lives. Here tonight are two fathers and two mothers, evelyn rodriguez, freddy cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado<\/a> and robert mickens. Their two teenage daughters cailee cuevas and miss is a mickens were friends on long island. In september of 2016, on the eve of nisas 16th birthday, such a happy time it should have been, neither of them came home. These two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown. Six members of the savage ms13 gang have been charged with kayla and nisas murders. Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as illegal unaccompanied alien minors and wound up in kayla and nisas high school. Evelyn, elizabeth, freddy, and robert, tonight, everyone in this chamber is praying for you. Everyone in america is grieving for you. Please stand. Thank you very much. [applause] [applause] [applause] i want you to know that 320 million hearts are right now breaking for you. We love you. Thank you. [applause] while we cannot imagine the depths of that kind of sorrow, we can make sure that other families never have to endure this kind of pain. Tonight i am calling on congress to finally close the deadly loopholes that have allowed ms13 and other criminal gangs to break into our country. We have proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws and support our ice and Border Patrol<\/a> agents. These are great people. These are great, great people that work so hard in the midst of such danger. So that this can never happen again. [applause] United States<\/a> is a compassionate nation. We are proud that we do more than any other country anywhere in the world to help the needy, the struggling and the under privileged all over the world. But as president of the United States<\/a>, my highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, my constant concern is for americas children, americas struggling workers and americas forgotten communities. I want our youth to grow up to achieve great things. I want our poor to have their chance to rise. So tonight im extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, democrats and republicans to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed. [applause] my duty and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber is to defend americans, to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the american dream. Because americans are dreamers, too. [applause] [cheers and applause] here tonight is one leader in the effort to defend our country, Homeland Security<\/a> investigation special agent celestino martinez. He goes by dj and cj. He said call me either one so we will call you cj served 15 years in the air force before becoming an ice agent and spending the last 15 years fighting Gang Violence<\/a> and getting dangerous criminals off of our streets. Tough job. At one point ms13 leaders ordered c. J. s murder and they wanted it to happen quickly. But he did not cave to threats or to fear. Last may he commanded an operation to track down gang members on long island. His team has arrested nearly 400, including more than 220 ms13 gang members. And i have to tell you what the Border Patrol<\/a> and ice have done, we have sent thousands and thousands and thousands of ms13 horrible people out of this country or into our prisons. So i just want to congratulate you, c. J. You are a brave guy. Thank you very much. [applause] and i ask c. J. , what is the secret . He just were just tougher than they are. I like that answer. [applause] now lets get congress to send you and all of the people in this great chamber, have to do it, we have no choice, c. J. , were going to send you reinforcements and were going to send them to you quickly. Its what you need. [applause] over the next few weeks, the house and senate will be voting on an Immigration Reform<\/a> package. In recent months, my administration has met extensively with both democrats and republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to Immigration Reform<\/a>. Based on these discussions, we presented congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise. One where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the Critical Reforms<\/a> it needs and must have. [applause] here the four pillars of our plan. The first pillar of our frame work generously offers a path to citizenship for 1. 8 million Illegal Immigrants<\/a> were brought here by their parents at a young age. That covers almost three times more people than the Previous Administration<\/a> covered. [applause] under our plan those that meet education and work requirements and show good moral character will be able to become full citizens of the United States<\/a> over a 12year period. [applause] the second pillar fully secures the border. [applause] that means building a great wall on the southern border and it means hiring more heros like c. J. To keep our communities safe. [applause] crucially our plan closes the terrible loop holes exploited by criminals and terrorists who enter our country and finally ends the horrible and dangerous practice of catch and release. [applause] the third pillar ends the visa lottery, a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit or the safety of American People<\/a>. [applause] its time to begin moving towards a meritbased immigration system. One that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society and who will love and respect our country. [applause] the fourth and final pillar protects the Nuclear Family<\/a> by ending chain migration. [applause] under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. [applause] this vital reform is necessary not just for our economy but for our security and for the future of america. In recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in new york were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programs present risks. We can just no longer afford it. Its time to reform. [applause] these outdated immigration rules and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century. [applause] these four pillars represent a downthemiddle compromise and one that will create a safe modern and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This congress can be the one that finally makes it happen. Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfills my ironclad pledge to sign a bill that puts America First<\/a>. [applause] [applause] so lets come together, set politics aside and finally get the job done [applause] these reforms will also support our response to the terrible crisis of opioid and drug addiction. Never before has it been like it is now. It is terrible. We have to do something about it. In 2016, we lost 64,000 americans to drug overdoses. 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if were going to succeed in stopping this scourge. [applause] my administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need. For those that have been so terribly hurt. The struggle will be long and difficult. But as americans always do, in the end, we will succeed, we will prevail. [applause] as we have seen tonight, the most difficult challenges bring out the best in america. We see a vivid expression of this truth in the story of the lavetz family of new mexico. Ryan is 27 years old, an officer with the Albuquerque Police<\/a> department. Hes here tonight with his wife, rebecca. [applause] thank you, ryan. Last year ryan was on duty when he saw a pregnant homeless woman preparing to inject heroin. When ryan told her she was going to harm her unborn child, she began to weep. She told him she didnt know where to turn. But badly wanted a safe home for her baby. In that moment, ryan said he felt god speak to him. You will do it because you can. He heard those words. He took out a picture of his wife and their four kids. Then he went home to tell his wife, rebecca. In an instant she agreed to adopt. The holets named their new daughter hope. Ryan and rebecca, you embody the goodness of our nation. Thank you. [applause] [applause] thank you, ryan and rebecca. As we rebuild americas strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad. Around the world we face rogue regimes, terrorist groups and rivals like china and russia that challenge our interests, our economy and our values. In confronting these horrible dangers, we know that weakness is the surest path to conflict. An unmatched power is the surest means to our true and great defense. For this reason, i am asking congress to end the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military. [applause] [applause] as part of our defense, we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and so powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression by any other nation or anyone else. [applause] perhaps some day in the future there will be a magical moment when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate their nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, we are not there yet, sadly. Last year i also pledged that we would work with our allies to extinguish isis from the face of the earth. One year later, i am proud to report that the coalition to defeat isis has liberated very close to 100 of the territory just recently held by these killers in iraq and in syria and in other locations as well. [applause] but there is much more work to be done. We will continue our fight until isis defeated. Army Staff Sergeant<\/a> justin peck is here tonight. Near raqqa last november, justin and his comrad, chief petty officer Kenton Stacey<\/a> were on a mission to clear buildings that isis had rigged with explosives so that civilians could return to that city hopefully soon and hopefully safely. Clearing the second floor of a vital hospital, Kenton Stacey<\/a> was severely wounded by an explosion. Immediately justin bounded into the boobytrapped and unbelievably dangerous and unsafe building and found kenton but in very, very bad shape. He applied pressure to the wound and inserted a tube to reopen an airway. He then performed cpr for 20 straight minutes during the Ground Transport<\/a> and maintained artificial respiration through 2 1 2 hours and through emergency surgery. Kenton stacey would have died if it were not for justins Selfless Love<\/a> for his fellow warrior. Tonight kenton is recovering in texas, raqqa is liberated and justin is wearing his new bronze star with a v for valor. Staff sergeant peck, all of america salutes you. [applause] [applause] [applause] terrorists that do things like place bombs in civilian hospitals are evil. When possible, we have no choice but to annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them. We must be clear, terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. [applause] when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are. In the past we have foolishly released hundreds and hundreds of dangerous terrorists only to meet them again on the battlefield, including the isis leader albagdahdi who we capture, who we released. So today im keeping another promise. I just signed prior to walking in an order directing secretary mattis, who is doing a great job, thank you [applause] to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities in guantanamo bay. [applause] i am asking congress to ensure that in the fight against isis and alquaida, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them. In many cases, for them, it will now be guantanamo bay. [applause] at the same time, as of a few months ago, our warriors in afghanistan have new rules of engagement. [applause] along with their heroic afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines and we no longer tell our enemies our plans. [applause] last month i also took an action endorsed unanimously by the u. S. Senate just months before. I recognized jerusalem as the capitol of israel. [applause] shortly afterwards, dozens of countries voted in the United Nations<\/a> General Assembly<\/a> against americas sovereign right to make this decision. In 2016, american taxpayers generously sent those same countries more than 20 billion in aid. That is why tonight i am asking congress to pass legislation to help ensure American Foreign<\/a> assistance dollars always serve american interests and only go to friends of america, not enemies of america. [applause] as we strengthen friendships all around the world, we are also restoring clarity about our adversaries. When the people of iran rose up against the crimes of their corrupt dictatorship, i did not stay silent. America stands with the people of iran in their courageous struggle for freedom. [applause] i am asking congress to address the fundamental flaws in the terrible iran nuclear deal. My administration has also imposed tough sanctions on the communist dictatorships in cuba and venezuela. [applause] but no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in north korea. North koreas reckless pursuit of Nuclear Missiles<\/a> could very soon threaten our homeland. We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from ever happening. Past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation. I will not repeat the mistakes of past administrations that got us into this very dangerous position. We need only look at the depraved character of the north korean regime to understand the nature of the Nuclear Threat<\/a> it could pose to america and to our allies. Otto warmbier was a hardworking student at the university of virginia and a great student he was. On his way to study abroad in asia, otto joined a tour to north korea. At its conclusion, this wonderful young man was arrested and charged with crimes against the state. After a shameful trial, the dictatorship sentenced otto to 15 years of hard labor, before returning him to america last june horribly injured and on the verge of death. He passed away just days after his return. Ottos wonderful parents fred and cindy, are here with us tonight along with ottos brother and sister, austin and greta. Please. [applause] [applause] incredible people. You are powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world, and your strength truly inspires us all. Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] [applause] tonight we pledge to honor ottos memory with total american resolve. Thank you. Finally [applause] were joined by one more witness to the ominous nature of this regime. His name is mr. Gi sung ho. In 1996, sung ho was a starving boy in north korea. One day he tried to steal coal from a railroad car to barter for a few scraps of food, which were very hard to get. In the process, he passed out on the train tracks exhausted from hunger. He woke up as a train ran over his limbs. He then endured multiple amputations without anything to dull the pain or the hurt. His brother and sister gave what little food they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves permanently stunting their own growth. Later he was tortured by north korean authorities after returning from a brief visit to china. His tormenters wanted to know if he had met any christians. He had and he resolved after that to be free. Sung ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches all across china and Southeast Asia<\/a> to freedom. Most of his family followed. His father was caught trying to escape and tortured to death. Today he lives in seoul where he rescued other defectors and broadcasts into north korea what the regime fears most, the truth. Today he has a new leg, but sung ho, i understand you still keep those old crutches as a reminder of how far youve come. Your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all. Please, thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] sung hos story is a testament to the yearning of a very human soul to live in freedom. It was that same yearning for freedom that nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called america. It was a small cluster of colonies and a vast wilderness. It was home to people with a revolutionary idea that they could rule themselves, that they could chart their own destiny and that together they could light up the entire world. That is what our country has always been about. That is what americans have always stood for, always strive for and always done. Atop the dome of this capitol stands the statue of freedom. She stands tall and dignified among the monuments to our ancestors that fought and lived and died to protect her. Monuments to washington and jefferson and lincoln and king. Memorials to the heros of yorktown and saratoga. To Young Americans<\/a> who shed their blood on the shores of normandy and the fields beyond and others that went down in the waters of the pacific and the skies all over asia. And freedom stands tall over one more monument, this one. This capitol, this living monument. This is the monument to the American People<\/a>. [applause] [chanting] [applause] were a people whose heros live not only in the past, but all around us defending hope, pride and defending the american way. They work in every trade, they sacrifice to raise a family, they care for our children at home, they defend our flag abroad and they are strong moms and brave kids. They are firefighters and Police Officers<\/a> and border agents, medics and marines. Above all else, they are americans and this capitol, this city, this nation belongs entirely to them. [applause] our task is to respect them, to listen to them, to serve them, to protect them and to always be worthy of them. Americans fill the world with arden music, they push the bounds of science and discovery. And they forever remind us of what we should never ever forget. The people dreamed this country, the people built this country and its the people who are making America Great<\/a> again. [applause] as long as we are proud of who we are and what were fighting for, there is nothing that we cannot achieve as long as we have confidence if our values, faith in our citizens and trust in our god. We will never fail. Our families will thrive, our people will prosper and our nation will forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free. Thank you and god bless america. Good night. [applause] [applause] there it is, President Trump<\/a>s First Official<\/a> state of the Union Address<\/a>. He started at 9 10. Went about an hour and 20 minutes. He had 115 applause lines. The president saying the state of our union is strong because the people of our country are strong. He said together were rediscovering the american way. An interesting turn of phrase there early on. It was clearly a message of America First<\/a> and business, America First<\/a> a broad, a compassionate america the president painted a picture of and clearly that the work starts at home. He talked about rising wages for the first time in america, tax reform, something that brought smiles to the faces of paul ryan who has worked on it, dedicated much of his adult life to that cause. Mitch mcconnell glad to have a win after the healthcare situation. He also talked about lowering regulations, unleashing the american economy. The partisan divide was really evident throughout the speech. He talked about unity. Nancy pelosi and steny hoyer scowled through most of the speech. The African American<\/a> number that he touted out, the members of the black caucus did not get up for that. Hes a builder himself. He said america, the country that builds. He talked about the statue the Empire State Building<\/a> being build in a year and now it takes so long to get a road built. So interesting night. Its the third longest state of the Union Address<\/a> ever. Interrupted a lot by applause. The difference was interesting. The president clearly had a divide here at the beginning. He was touting, pointing to the scoreboard in the faces of democrats. Even on prison reform, job training. The president said this is our new american moment, adding no matter where youve been or where you come from, this is your time. He also weaved through there as many president s do, the success stories, the stories of guests in the chamber with the first lady. On foreign policy, the question had one quick challenges of china and russia. Spent a good chunk of time ending the sequester, building the u. S. Military and the success against isis. Clearly the most emotional moment happening when he spoke about north korea. The parents of otto warmbier, the university of virginia student who traveled to north korea, arrested for trying to steal a political sign, spent 17 months in north korean custody. Returned to the u. S. And died. His parents were convinced that he was tortured by kim jongun and the president finished with that north korean story of the defector who was yearning for freedom and loves in seoul helping other north koreans defect, this is a week before the olympics in seoul. And that image of him holding up the crutches was really something. The president ending on the theme of an american identity weaving it all together as he walks out of the chamber, martha. So lets get some reaction from our panel. Chris wallace, host of fox news sunday, dana perino from the five and Juan Williams<\/a> and molly hemingway. Molly, your thoughts . This really was a very conservative speech in terms of economics and cultural issues. More conservative than we saw with either of the two previous republican president s and challenging. Got to the systematic corruption that people see in our government. Talking about a government that doesnt meet the needs of American People<\/a> and isnt responsive and has in fact created a lot of the problems, were its immigration or the way we fight wars or our Economic System<\/a> that benefits the wealthy at the expense of average americans. It was a challenging thing and i think it was challenging for a lot of people there in the chamber. Almost a sort of like an investment of how i thought of it in hatred that was made to oppose this president. Thats been a challenge that hes had over the course of the last year. He had a very rough time getting washington to deal with his policies, but he also had a successful year. He talked about the successes and reminded people that hes here for the long haul and that he has a very different vision and he understands its different from what washington d. C. Has shown over Previous Administration<\/a>s. Lets listen in for a second and sign if we can watch him sign a make America Great<\/a> again hat. A new development in the state of the Union Address<\/a>. Juan, as you watched this, democrats mostly sat on their hands tonight. Did they serve themselves well with the American People<\/a> by their reaction to this speech, do you believe . Yeah, theres so many people that are put off by President Trump<\/a>. Molly said an investment. I think people are strong now in terms of a political polarization. My hope tonight was that President Trump<\/a> would be effective in offering an olive branch. I dont think this was the olive branch speech by any stretch that the white house had advertised. To the contrary. He really emphasized himself as the winner. He took credit for everything, from the economy, to improved foreign policy, to threatening other countries that receive our foreign aid but dont back every one of our steps in specific, naming jerusalem as the capitol of israel. So to me it was bellicose. Im stunned because i had heard all day long that this was going to be a man that recognized that were dealing with a country that is very much divided and he was going to come in there, into that niche and offer some healing and some positive reinforcement. I think he gave democrats every reason to sit on their hands and walk out early. Chris wallace . It was interesting. I thought it was a powerful speech. Welldelivered. There were certainly passages of it. I thought it was too long. Parts were beautiful, particularly at the end when he talked about the monument, the capitol as a symbol of freedom. I thought he made effective use of the guests in the gallery, the couple that lost their daughters to the ms13 gangs, the couple that adopted the baby who had opioid problems and of course most powerfully at the end, the north Korean Defector<\/a> that held up his crutches that he no longer needs as a symbol of defiance. Im kinds of agreeing with juan. Im surprised at the way the white house sold it. We heard it was going to be a bipartisan speech, a speech that reached out to democrats, that tried to create unity. There was a moment early on in the speech when he talked about taxes and he said that we repealed the core of the disastrous Obamacare Program<\/a> and you can feel any of the good will in the room evaporate. Not to say that is right or wrong about obamacare but this is a president saying im a conservative, i won, im governing as a conservative, im governing on taxes, immigration and foreign policy, i did well in 2017 and im going to do it again. Theres one area of compromise and that was immigration. Even there, it seemed to me, the god father they talk about making an offer they cant refuse. Sometimes it seemed like he was making an offer the democrats couldnt accept. He started off as the head coach for capitollism. We walked through the things that are going very well for the republicans and the American People<\/a>. Anyone watching tonight has probably seen headlines in their local papers and good economic news. He was able to walk everybody through that. And i would imagine that one of the reasons that the white house sold the speech as a unifying one is because they cant imagine who wouldnt be happy with this. Who wouldnt stand in applause for the lowest African American<\/a> Unemployment Rate<\/a>, the lowest hispanic Unemployment Rate<\/a> on record. To them, who wouldnt want lower drug prices and the fda to fasttrack generic drugs . Also on infrastructure, its not just the money. I think its very important what this white house has been able to do and going to push doing, the approval process, getting it down to 1 year. Thats what the president said. Get approval in one year. That would be an amazing accomplish meant. And the question, is it easier to make a deal on immigration, make a deal on money, capps for the budget or does it make it tougher or does it not have an effect . It clearly is going to have an effect with the American People<\/a> because theyre going to be a lot of people that watching it, now the most tweeted state of the Union Address<\/a> ever in the history of state of the Union Address<\/a>es. He will like that. Well go live to the capitol with reaction to the president s state of the union speech, plus the democratic response after a very short break here on fox news channel. When you have a cold, stuff happens. [ dog groans ] [ coughs and sneezes ] nothing relieves more symptoms than alka seltzer plus maximum strength liquid gels. Welcome back to coverage of the state of the union. Were waiting for the official democratic response from joe kennedy iii. Lets go to mike emanuel in statuary hall. Hi, mike. Good evening. Congressman joe kennedy iii is 37 years old in his third term in congress, addressing the nation from a Technical School<\/a> in his district in southeastern massachusetts. For those of your scoring at home, he holds Barney Franks<\/a> old seat in congress. Liberals are not sure about him. They wonder if he will be a establishment guy or favor the more liberal part of the party. Its worth noting, hes one of five or so democratic responses. So the question is exactly how he delivered. Martha, bret . Thanks. Lets go to fall river, massachusetts as we see joe kennedy, iii, has taken the podium. Lets watch. Thank you. [applause] thank you, thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is an absolute privilege to join you all tonight. We are here in fall river, massachusetts, a proud American City<\/a>. [applause] an American City<\/a> built by immigrants. [applause] from textiles to robots, this is a place that knows how to make great things. [applause] the students are with us here this evening in the Auto Tech Program<\/a> at diamond regional Technical School<\/a> to carry on that rich legacy. [applause] but Many American<\/a> hometowns, fall river has faced their share of storms. But the people here are tough. They fight for each other. They pull for their city. Its a fitting place to gather as our nation reflects on the state of our union. This is a difficult task. Many have spent the last year anxious, angry, afraid. We all feel the fractured fault lines across our country. We hear the voices of americans who are forgotten and feel forsaken. We see an economy that makes stocks store and corporate profits climb. But fails to give workers their fair share of the reward. A government that struggles to keep itself open, russia knee deep in our democracy, an allout war on environmental protection, a Justice Department<\/a> rolling back civil rights by the day. Hatred, supremacy proudly marching in our streets. Bullets tearing through our classrooms, concerts and congregations. Targeting our safest sacred places. This nagging sinking feeling no matter your political beliefs that this is not right. This is not who we are. [applause] folks, it would be easy to dismiss this past year as chaos, partisanship, politics, but its far, far bigger than that. This administration isnt just targeting the laws that protect us, theyre targeting the very idea that were all worthy of protection. For them, dignity isnt something youre born with, but something you measure by your net worth, your celebrity, your headlines, your crowd size. Not to mention the gender of your spouse, the country of your birth, the color of your skin, the god of your prayers. Their record is rebuked to our highest american ideal, the belief that were all worthy, that were all equal, that we all count in the eyes of our law and our leaders, our god and our government. That is the american promise. [applause] today, ladies and gentlemen, today that promise is being broken by an administration that callously appraises our worthiness and who can make the cut and who can be bargained away. Theyre turning American Life<\/a> into a zero sum gain where for one to win, another must lose. We can guarantee americas safety if we slash our safety net, where we can extend healthcare in mississippi if we gut it in massachusetts. We can cut taxes for corporations today if we raise them on families tomorrow. Where we can take care of sick kids if we sacrifice dreamers. Were bombarded with one false choice after another, coal miner or single moms. Rural communities or inner cities. The coast or the heartland. As if the mechanic in pittsburgh a teacher in tulsa or a day care worker are bitter rivals rather than mutual casualties. As if the parent that lie against way terrified that their transgender son or daughter will be beaten and bullied at school, if any more or less legitimate that a parent whose heart is shattered by a daughter in the grips of an opioid addiction. So here is the answer the democrats offer tonight. We choose both. [applause] we fight for both. Because the greatest strongest richest nation in the world should not have to leave anyone behind. We choose a better deal for all that call our country home. We choose a living wage and a paid leave, an affordable child care. Your family needs to survive. Pensions that are solvent, roads and bridges that wont rust away, a good education that you can afford, we choose a Healthcare System<\/a> that offers you mercy, whether you suffer from cancer or depression or addiction. We choose an economy Strong Enough<\/a> to both record stock prices and brave enough that top ceos making 300 times their average worker is not right. [applause] we choose fall river. We choose the thousands of American Communities<\/a> with whose roads are not paved with power or privilege, but with an honest effort, with good faith and the resolve to build Something Better<\/a> for your kids. That is our story. It began the day our Founding Fathers<\/a> and mothers set sail for a new world, fleeing oppression and intollerance. It continued with every word of our independence, the audacity to declare that all men are declared equal, an imperfect promise for a nation struggling to become a more perfect union. It grew with every step, every freedom writers voice, with every weary soul that we welcomed to our shores and to all the dreamers watching tonight, let me be absolutely clear [speaking spanish] you are part of our story. We will fight for you and we will not walk away. [applause] [applause] america, we carry that story on our shoulders. You swarmed to washington last year to ensure that no parent has to worry if they can afford to save their childs life. You proudly marched together last weekend. Thousands deep on the streets of las vegas and philadelphia and nashville. You sat high atop your moms shoulders and held a sign that read build a wall and my generation will tear it down. [applause] you bravely say me too. You steadfastly say black lives matter. You wade through flood waters, battled hurricanes, braved wild fires and mudslides to save a stranger. You battle your own quite battles every single day. You drag your weary bodies to that extra shift so that your families wont feel the sting of scarcity. You leave loved ones at home to defend our country overseas and patrol our neighborhoods at night. You serve, you rescue, you help, you heal. That more than any law or leader, debate or disagreement, that is what drives us towards progress. Bullies may lend a punch, they may leave a mark, but they have never, not once, in the history of our United States<\/a> managed to match in strength and spirit of a People United<\/a> in defense of their future. Politicians [applause] politicians can be cheered for the promises they make. Our country will be judged by the promises we keep. [applause] that is a measure of our character. That is who we are. Out of many, one. Ladies and gentlemen, have faith, have faith. The state of our union is hopeful, resilient and enduring. God bless you. God bless your family and may god bless the United States<\/a> of america. Thank you. [applause] representative joe kennedy in fall river, massachusetts delivering impassioned democrat response. No doubting that hes a kennedy by his look and delivery, perhaps. Hes an up and coming star in the democrat part. As john edwards, the former v. P. For the Democratic Party<\/a> used to have in his speech, two americas. Thats the field you got. The state of the union by the president and two americas, two different views of the same america based on patriotism and values, hitting words that both of them hit on in much different ways. He talked about the forgotten men and women of the country and said that russia is knee deep in hour democracy. The only mention of russia, all night, from joe kennedy. Lets get more from brit hume who joins us. Good evening, brit. Hi, martha. I thought young mr. Kennedy gave a get account of himself. Hes a good speaker. Hes a good looking guy. As you and bret said, his speech was dark. Reminded me of the state of the Union Responses<\/a> we heard in the regan years where the economy was booming and america had started to move forward and everybody noticed it. The democrats would come on after a reagan sunny speech and say how bad everything is. Theres a danger in that. I think people are feeling the benefits of the tax cuts and the new business climate. But nonetheless, i think as far as his own personal fortunes are concerned, he did a good job. The answer to his comment about the dreamers was probably mr. Trumps best line of the night, americans are dreamers, too. A lot of people agree with that. Brit, quickly on the president s state of the Union Address<\/a>. How you think it may be received, he used those personal stories to tell the story that he was trying to get across. Yeah, he did. I think he made more extensive and perhaps more effective use of the guests than any president i can remember because he basically kind of built the speech around them. He almost had a hero for every issue. These are people that were admirable and impressive and everybody liked them and there was emotion in and that and gave his speech an unmistakable lift and added some momentum to what he was trying to get across. The other side of that was something that he had no control over, the democrats reaction. It was really striking as you and others pointed out how sour they all looked even when they talked about the good news in the economy, jobs coming back and wages are up and incomes are up and all the rest and they all sat there looking like their dogs just died. I dont expect anybody was impressed with that. Brit, as always, thank you. An interesting perspective. We have a few seconds here. Juan, final thought as you wrap up tonight for the state of the union. I thought that you did see a very different impression of america. Brit said it was dark. But for lots of people when we heard joe kennedy say clearly, no matter your political affiliation, a country that is so divided is not who we are, its not right and we should not be living this way. I think he spoke for a lot of people. Its definitely helpful to his political aspirations. Putting strength forward. Just what it means to be american that we should be strong as opposed to be weak was a big takeaway. Dana . The democrats will hoist representative kennedy on his shoulder and parade him around town. He did a good job and broke the state of the union curse. Chris . I hoped when the evening began, we would have a sense of bipartisanship across the isle. I think the battle lines have been joined for 2018. Well, this has been quite a night. The First Official<\/a> state of the Union Address<\/a>. Great to be with you. Thanks for joining us. More coverage straight ahead tonight. Sean hannity joins us. Stick around, folks. Good to have you with us tonight. The president of the United States<\/a>. [applause] President Trump<\/a> lets begin by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. Since the election, we have created 2. 4 million new jobs. 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