they never get old to me. it really is a moment and both parties, all branches of government, the military together, people of extreme positions and viewpoints. but by and large most do, as you see the secretary of state, rex tillerson. this is kind of a neat night. >> you're right. both sides showing some decorum, shall we say, for a change. >> for a little while. >> we'll see how it goes. occasionally you'll get applause on one side and not the other. this is part of our nation. it's part of what we are, who we are, and this has gone on since the beginning. george washington when he gave his first ten-minute state of the union address. >> i covered that one. little known secret. kennedy, those who refuse to stand and applaud, those who can't miss the opportunity to applaud, it gives you an early

sense of how much, in this case, democrats are going to respond to the president doing. you know, quite understandably, a lot of votes came out of the tax cuts and the economic impact. he is convinced they're already having. that will be interesting to witness tonight. >> absolutely. and it's always like opposing sides at a high school football game. and you know when the home team is scoring, republicans are going to be on their feet cheering. and you know, we'll see if there are any hec hecklers in the cro. we're in a post modern political age. and it feels so so often anything goes. and that's why you're going to see record high ratings tonight. people want to see if the president stick to the script, how the crowd responds to him and certainly the divide along party lines will be clearer than anything we've seen in modern history. >> the president's cabinet, you saw rick per we, betsy devos,

and i'm reminded of the fact that the president wants to remind these folks that the same tax cuts, for example, that you've been bemoaning have been working out and. >> they have been. >> and that's something he will not let go of. i'm told tonight it's going to be a big part of his theme. >> in fairness, i'm not sure he should let go of it. we have seen so many more companies respond, and even ones that have ceos that are known democratic fundraisers, jp morgan chase, really doing a lot with the money and they do specifically say this is thanks to the tax reform, to the tax cut plan. we know jp morgan chase is opening something like 400 more branches in areas that r areas s to have been underserved. there's something like 250 companies and counting that have

passed along these benefits, whether it's been through cash bonuses or whether it's been other forms of incentives, contributing to employees' 401(k)s or their pension. but there really has been this positive trickle down theory. i think more than perhaps even some republicans had anticipated. and i think, you know, we've seen these numbers come plow. i did this through the back of the envelope calculation as far as just cash bonuses, just singled out that one category. i'm at about $4 billion right now. >> not too shabby. i was just noticing, a guest of ours earlier, the iowa senator who took the president on for his comments, the s-hole comments and all of that. one of the things she said that was interesting was i thought the words were poorly framed, neil but he's not a racist. she really went out on a limb to sort of put that to bed.

i don't know if she succeeded. but he was frank and direct in it saying, let this pass behind us here. what kind of reception has it gotten since? >> well the reception can be spoken to and to some extent, neil, about the members of congress who are not here tonight. look at the civil rights congressman onlewis is one of those protesting the speech by boycotting the speech. you have a number members of congress who would not agree with that assessment and i don't know that it gets to the point where somebody reacts on the house floor tonight. but the thinking seems to be that the people who are going to weigh that sort of a proo test t over those comments would do so by their absence, by not being here tonight. congressman lewis is a good example of that. the fact that the president's cabinet, while you guys were talking and walked in, there's always one member of the cabinet, of course, who is not here tonight in the line of

succession and that's the agriculture secretary this year, sunny perdue. last year for the joint procession it was the a secretary. sonny perdue is not here tonight. >> this is the media moment where the president of the united states is introduced. >> the president of the united states! [ cheers & applause ] ther>> there are some people wo wait along that aisle for hours, establish their seat for hours to get that moment to shake the president's hand. they don't care, democrat or republican, it's a moment. you can see the police in the back there. no matter the popularity, party of the president yb you want to be there to shake his hand. >> i'm glad you said it and i'm glad they're there to shake his hand. it's been a polarized time, a

polarized year. the reality is this is the president of the united states and as such the president deserves that respect. as you began moments ago, as we watched all of the people filtering in, you said this is a night, a moment. this is a time when we remember what is great about our government and just fight all of the divisiveness. when this moment comes once a year, both sides listen up and pay attention. of course except for a few left. >> you're right. it's funny. having visited some of these congressmen in their offices over a years, invariably i'll see a snapshot of them shaking the president's hand, of them having waited there for that moment. it's a moment they treasure, whether opposing party or not. >> it's kind of funny. it's like hanging out backstage. >> it is that kind of thing, yeah. >> it is. and it just goes to show you how critical that state time is with the president of the united states, regardless of w who that

person may be. and you know, just to have that second, that fleeting second to shake his hand, it's amusing and it's so strange and so foreign to so many of us. but even though people who are in the halls of power who affect our lives every single day, they're still star struck. >> they are. and i mean even the shaking of the hand of dick durbin, he was the one who recollected a totally different meeting, that famous meeting, comments, made, from haiti and some of the other nations, yes, happy to shake his hand, happy to move on. but sometimes it makes it seem like it's all political theater but at their core, they're human beings. >> yeah, of course they are human beings. and i mean in theory, this is the best of our system, right. okay, fine we have political differences, we may even have some personal differences or some vocabulary differences. but this is all for the good of the country and i'm sure there

is really is buzz in that room tonight. >> all right. i think you know the drill but i like listening to it. he will be reintroduced and there will be more applause. you have time to get not only dinner but dessert as well. let's listen.

. members of congress, i have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the united states. [ 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 majestic 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. [ 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. but through it all, we have seen the beauty of america's soul and the steel in america's spine. each test has forged new american heros 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 gun fire on the las vegas strip. we heard tales of americans like coast guard petty officer ashley leopard who is here tonight in the gallery with melania. [ applause ] ashlee was aboard one of thefirn

during 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 ] we heard about americans like

firefighter david dollberg. he's here with us also. he faced down the walls of flame to rescue 60 children trapped in a california summer camp threatened by those devastating wildfires. to everyone still recovering in texas, florida, louisiana, puerto rico and the virgin islands, everyone everywhere, wh you, we love you and we always will pull through together. always. [ applause ] thank you to david open 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 too work three and a half months later. the legend from louisiana, congressman steve scalise. [ applause ] i think they like you, steve.

we're incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the capitol police officers, the alexandria police, and the doctors, nurses and paramedics who saved his life and the lives of many others, some in this room. in the aftermath -- yes. yes. [ applause ] 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 ] 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's a fo frontier, we crs it. if there's a challenge, we tame it. if there's an opportunity, we seize it. so let's 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, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. [ applause ] after years and years of wage stagnation, we are finally

seeing rising wages. [ applause ] unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low. [ applause ] something i'm very proud of, african-american unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded. [ applause ] and hispanic american unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history.

[ applause ] small business confidence is at an all-time high. the stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion and more in value in just this short period of time. the great news -- 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. [ applause ] our massive tax cuts provide

tremendous relief for the middle class and small business to lower tax rates for hard-working americans, we nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. [ applause ] now the first $24,000 earned by a married couple is completely tax free. [ applause ] we also doubled the child tax

credit. [ applause ] a typical family of four paying $75,000 will see their tax bill reduced by $2,000, slashing their tax bill in half. [ applause ] in frill 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 ] 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 couldn't afford government-ordered health plans. we repealed the core of the disastrous obamacare, the individual mandate is now gone. [ 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 ares 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 20% of their business income. here tonight are steve stout and sandy keplinger of stout manufacturing, a small beautiful business in ohio. they've just finished the best year in their 20-years history. [ applause ] because of tax reform, they are

handing out raises, hiring an additional 14 people and expanding into the buil buildint door. good feeling. [ applause ] one of their employees, cory adams is also with us tonight. cory is an all-american worker. he supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession and was later hired by stout where he trained to become a welder, like many hard-working americans. cory plans to invest his tax cut raise into his new home and his two daughters' education.

cory, please stand. [ applause ] and he's a great welder. i was told that by the man that owns that company that's 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 it's 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.

[ applause ] and just a little while ago, exxonmobil 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 you've been or where you've 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. [ applause ] tonight i want to talk about what kind of future we're going to have and what kind of a nation we're 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. the motto is "in god we trust." [ applause ] and we celebrate our police, our military and our amazing

veterans as heros who deserve our total and unwavering support. [ applause ] here tonight is preston shock, a 12-year-old boy from redding, california, who noticed that veterans' gaif graves were not d 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 heros. preston, a job well done. [ 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 you've done, preston. thank you very much. preston's reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us of why we salute or flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance and why we proudly stand for the national anthem. [ 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 bounds 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 court judges than any new administration in the

history of our country. [ applause ] we are totally defending our second amendment and have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty. [ applause ] and we are serving our bravevetr veterans choice in their health care decisions. [ applause ] last year congress also passed

and i signed the landmark va accountability act. since its passage my administration has already removed more than 1500va 1500 va employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve. and we're 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 that's what we are giving to our wonderful heros, our veterans. thank you. so tonight i call on congress ty with the authority to reward good workers and to remove federal employees who undermine the public trust or fail the american people. [ 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. [ applause ] we have ended the war on american energy and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal. we are now very proudly an

exporter of energy to the world. [ applause ] in detroit i halted government mandates that crippled america's great beautiful autoworkers so that we can get motor city revving its engines again, and that's what's happening. [ applause ] many car companies are now building and expanding plants in the united states, something we haven't 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 haven't seen this in a long time. it's all coming back. [ applause ] very soon autoplants and other plants will be opening up all over our country. this is all news americans are totally unaccustomed to hearing. for many years companies and jobs were only leaving us. but now they are roaring back, they're coming back, they want to be where the action is. they want to be in the united states of america. that's where they want to be.

[ 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 country's history. [ applause ] we also believe that patience witpatientswith terminal condit,

terminal conditions 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 to seek a cure. i want to give them a chance right here at home. it's time for congress to give these wonderful incredible americans the right to try. plz plz[ 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. and it's very very unfair. that is why i've directed my administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices, onprices one of my top s for the year. [ applause ] and prices will come down substantially. watch. america has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair

trade deals. have sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our wealth. our nation has lost its wealth but we're 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 trade deals and negotiate new ones, and they'll be good ones, but they'll be fair. and we will protect american workers and american

intellectual property through strong enforcement of our trade rules. [ applause ] as we rebuild our industries, it is also time to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. [ applause ] america is a nation of builders. we built the empire state building in just one year. isn't it a disgrace that it is now take ten years just to get a minor permit approved for the building of a simple road.

i am 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 i'm calling on congress that generate generate a bill tr the infrastructure investment 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 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 will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways and waterways all across our land, and we will do it with american heart, american hands and american grit. [ applause ] we want every american to know

the dignity of a hard day's 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 o our citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence and from poverty to prosperity. [ applause ] as tax cuts create new jobs, let's invest in workforce development and let's invest in job training, which we need so badly. [ applause ]

let's open great vocationalschos can learn a craft and rea realie their full potential. [ applause ] and let's 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 at life. [ applause ] struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interest of american workers and american families. for decades open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our communities. they've allowed millions of low wage worker to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest americans. most tragically, they've caused the loss of many innocent lives. here tonight are two fathers and two mothers, evelyn rodriguez,

elizabeth alvarado and robert mickets. their two teenage daughters, kayla and niece, close friends. but on the eve of niece's 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 ms-13 gang have been charged with kayla and niece's murders. many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our law to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied alien minors. and wound up in kayla and

niece's high school. efly, elizabeth, freddie 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 ] 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 ms-13 and other criminal gangs to break into our country. we have proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws and support our i.c.e. and border patrol agents. these are great people. these are great great people that work so hards in th hard it of such danger so that this can

never happen again. [ applause ] the united states is a kos 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 underprivileged all over the world. but as president of the united states, my highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, my constant concern is for america's children, america's struggling workers and america's 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 i am 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 ]

here tonight is one leader in the effort to defend our country, homeland security investigation special agent martinez. he goes by dj and cj. he said call me either one. so we'll call you cj. served 15 years in the air force before becoming an i.c.e. agent and spending the last 15 years fighting gang violence and getting dangerous criminal crimf of our streets. tough job. at one point ms-13 leaders ordered cj'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 220ms-13 gang member members. and i have to tell you what the border patrol and i.c.e. have done. we have sent thousands and thousands of ms-13 horrible people out of this country or into our prisons. so i just want to congratulate you, cj, you're a brave guy. thank you very much. [ applause ] and i asked cj what's the

secret, and he said, we're just tougher than they are, and i like that answer. [ applause ] now let's get congress to send you and all of the people in this great chamber have to do it, we have no choice, cj, we're going to send you reinforcements and we're going send them to you quickly. it's what you need. [ applause ] over the next few weeks the house and senate will be voting on an immigration reform package. in recent months my administration has met extensively with both democrats and republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform. 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 it needs and must have. [ applause ] here are the four pillars of our plan. the first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by they tr parents at a young age. that covers more than three times more people than the previous administration covered. [ applause ] under our plan those who meet

education and work requirements and show good moral character will be able to become full citizens of the united states over a 12-year 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 cj to keep our communities safe. [ applause ] crucially our plan closes the

terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorist to enter our country and it 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. [ applause ] time to begin moving toward a merit based 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 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 sponsorship 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. wrisks we canjust no longer aff. it's time for reform. [ applause ] -- these outdated immigrationrur immigration system into the 21st century. [ applause ] these four pillars represent a

down-the-middle 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. [ applause ] so let's 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, 7 per hour. we must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this.

[ applause ] my administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need, for those who have been so terribly hurt. the struggle will be long and it will be 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

family in new mexico. brian is 27 years old, an officer with the albuquerque police department. he is 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 didn't 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. they named their new daughter hope. ryan and ra bec rebecca, you eme goodness of our nation. thank you. [ applause ] thank you, ryan and rebecca.

as we rebuild america's 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 ] 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.

but there is much more work to be done. we will continue our fight until isis is defeated. army staff sergeant justin peck is here tonight. here raqqah last november justin and his comrade, chief petty officer kenton stacy were on a mission to clear buildings that isis has rigged with explosive so that civilians could return to that city hopefully soon and hopefully safely. clearing the second floor of a vital hospital kenton stacy was severely wounded by an explosi explosion. immediately justin bounded into the booby trap 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 and maintained artificial respiration through two and a half hours and emergency surgery. kenton stacy would have died if it were not for justin's selfless love for his fellow warrior. tonight kenton is recovering in texas. raqqah is liberated. and justin is wearing his new bronze star with a v for valor.

staff sergeant peck. [ applause ] terrorists who 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. but we must be clear, terrorists are not merely criminals. they are unlawful enemy combatants. [ applause ] and 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 al baghdadi who we captured, who we have, who we released. so today i am keeping another promise. i just signed, prior to walking in, an order directing secretary mattis, who is doing a great jo. [ 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 al qaeda we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them, and in many case cases itl now be guantanamo bay. 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 time lines 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 capital of israel. [ applause ] shortly afterwards dozens of countries voted in the united nations general assembly against america's 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 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 a fundamental flaws in the terrible iran nuclear deal. my administration has also imposed tough sanctions on the communist and socialist dictatorships in cuba and venezuela. [ applause ] but no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally, more

brutally than the cruel dictatorship in north korea. north korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles 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 it could pose to america and to our allies.

otto war worm bier was a great student. 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 dick statership 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. otto's wonderful parents, fred and cindy warmbier are here with

us tonight, along with otto's brother and sister, austin and greta. please. [ applause ] incredible people. you're powerful witness to a menace that threatens our world and your strength truly inspires us all. thank you very much. thank you. [ applause ]

tonight we pledge to honor otto's memory with total american resolve. thank you. [ applause ] finally, we are joined by one more witness to the ominous nature of this regime. his name is mr. g. sung ho. in 1986 he was a starving boy in north korea. one day he tried to steal coal

from a railroad a 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 tormentors wanted to know if he had met any christian. he had and he resolved after

that to be free. sung ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches all across china and southeast asia to freedom. most of his family followed. his father was caught trying to escape and was tortured to death. today he lives in seoul where he rescues 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 you've come. your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all. please, thank you. [ applause ] seong-ho's story is a testament

to the yearning of every living soul to live in freedom. it was that same freedom that 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called america. it was a small cluster of colonies caught between a great ocean and a vast wilderness.

it was home to an incredible people wit with a revolutionarya 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 strived 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 who fought and lived and died to protect her. monuments to washington and jefferson and lincoln and king,

memorial to the heros of yorktown and saratoga. to young americans who shed their blood on the shores of normandy and the fields beyond, and others who 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. [ applause ] [ chanting "usa" ]. we're a peoe

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 and border agents, medics and marines, but. leland: above all else, they are americans. and this capital, 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 art and 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 bimen built this couy and it's the people who are making america great again. [ cheers & applause ]

as long as we are proud of who we are, and what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve. as long as we have confidence in our values, faith in our citizens and trust in our god, we will never fail. our families with 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 ] [ chanting "usa" ]. in all sorts of horrendous situations and read them into a context of how we can make america great again, and so the resilience of the union spirit, in a measure and a method and in a series of stories the likes of which at least i can never recall in such an address before the united states congress. in numerous references the president staked out his ground to have an open and harmonious relationship with the rest of the world but stands ready to pursue north korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons was the best response we could ask. our resolve to rein them in. he also talked about signing an

order to keep guantanamo bay the detention center open. went on to say terrorists are not merely criminals. we should not treat them that way. also said growing optimism that he can come to an immigration measure and tipped his hand that he's willing to make a big concession that reverses his campaign position if he thought to recognize 1.8 million illegals who are here and say that they could eventually become american citizens. the one thing he held out, i want that wall. i want the funding for that wall. he also talked of an infrastructure plan that would exceed $1 trillion without detailing how much federal money he would put up front. but for those who thought with all of the back and forth on russia and allegation, and of course language that this would stymie him or stumble him before the united states congress and the state of the union speech would be a back and forth over who didn't come, who would sit down, who would ignore him, this

was not that, the president choosing to hiking nor it. my money, an incredible speech. again, whether you support all of his positions or even like him, i have never seen anything like it incorporating all of the stories in and of itself. we see presidents do. of course ronald reagan made it popular but this was that on steroids. and i mean by that, good steroids. >> yeah, beautifully woven together. and i think what's important here, it didn't feel perfunctory. is there was something emotional surrounding each and everyone in terms of their stories but also within the seems. you think about the little boy who noticed that there weren't flags on veterans' gravestones and decided to do something about it. it demonstrated also -- because he was talking about it within the context of patriotism and pride in our country. and here was this 12-year-old who was able to do something

about it. i thought it was an exceptional speech, beautifully written and importantly beautifully delivered. he didn't rush. he took moments where you needed to take them. >> exactly. >> he let it breathe and he let all of the viewers and everyone watching and everyone there in the house chamber tonight really feel i think the emotion of the moment. and it was truly exceptional, very very -- regardless of what you think about. >> and he was interrupted by applause at least 110 times and i'm probably off there and my fact checkers will confirm that. but he said above all they and we are americans in this capital, this city, this nation belonged to nem. our task is to respect them to be to listen to them, to serve them, to protect them and always be wore think of them. joined by kennedy and deadra. kennedy, these things become

perfunctory. when they grab at your gut, you don't have time to sort out whatever your political difference is in your head. and by mentioning these personal story to weave into our position against terrorists, our position against north korea, to look at the plight of that young man who lost a limb and so much more in the course of trying to get the truth out on north korea, it puts it in a whole different context, doesn't it? >> it does. that's really good part about the speech, the tight narrative. a lot of what we heard building up to this speech was how many people were going to have a hand in it. there were a lot of people in this administration who have diametrically opposing views. but there was a singularity throughout the speech. and the fact that there were so many stories that really struck each and every person watching. you know, when you see otto warmbier parents standing up and sobbing, and the parents of two 16-year-old girls who were

murdered by ms-13 gang members. and you know, the most poignant was the man at the end who held up those crutches as a symbol. and the fact that you have otto warbier's parents and geong-ho who held up those crutches, and freedom was the ordeal they were fighting for and seeking. that was the con steks for north korea. it was very smart. it was very human. and that did more to paint the picture than we had seen in speeches like this. >> and colin, we've always seen this issue about chain migration, all that, and the way it's been presented by the democrats eademocrats as a racio take and when he stepped back to say it's a matter of life and death and personal safety and security and these two families who lost children. that was a way of reframing it and readjusting the argument for it, wasn't it? >> yeah.

and i think there were a couple of examples of that. the order -- and you guys have spoken so well about the personal storie stories that wee interwoven by the president. but the order of the topics was important, and immigration was an example of that. and that is the way he opened up the immigration part of this speech, talking in really real and personal terms about the downside of open borders and what it could mean. and that was -- we're all going to remember the defector from north korea at the end raising his crutches. such an emotional moment. but up until then the parents from brinedwood ouparentsout ofe most emotional part of the speech, the president talking about what they had gone through. the way in which he approached the topics and the order that he went about was important. just in terms of logistics, i have a waiting line of people waiting to speak with you, neil. i'm going to get out of the way and let them talk to you. >> thank you very much. again, we are awaiting, as well,

for the democratic response that will be coming from massachusetts representative joe kennedy, iii. robert f. kennedy's grandson. shortly after the doors close, i believe there's a five-minute wait for that before we get to representative kennedy. now, speaking -- this whole night and the drama and how this played out, it's all interpreted different ways depending on party views. but one of the things you could see right now is that right now this is maybe readjusting the priority list here and what gets talked about. on that level as we wait for congressman kennedy. it's a hard act to follow the president but particularly on a night like this. >> it certainly is, neil. and as far as the order and what's going to be tackled first. we heard him speak about the empire state building and how quickly that went up and this challenge of infrastructure and

how our roads and bridges are falling apart. which i think everyone agrees with. i think i've been cued here so i'm going to toss it back to you. >> i apologize for that. congressman mark meadows joining us now. the president outlined an ambitious plan for our infrastructure, also talked about making citizens of 1.8 million illegals that were here. on the infrastructure thing, that won't come cheap. we don't know how much is going to be on the part of the federal government. you're the guy who watches all of those pennys and you don't like it when things get heavy in the spending part. how do you feel about what he was proposing? >> tonight was a home run for the president and more importantly it was a home run for the american people, neil. and that infrastructure bill obviously is aggressive, it's bold. dbut i can tell you we've had conversations on how we're going to work the public private partnership to make sure that

the burden on the american taxpayer is not too great. a lot of tears were shed tonight, neil. probably the most effective presidential speech that i've ever witnessed. it was really about lives changing, lives lost, lives save but ultimately about our lives and the american dream and what we can look forward to. tremendous enthusiasm in the chamber tonight as you and all of the viewers were looking on. we could feel it really within the chamber. >> absolutely. you know, trish and i were talking about that. other presidents obviously weaved individual stories and heros of the moment. i don't believe -- and you're the great historian on this, i'll defer to you -- but so many exam. s that were weaved so seamlessly into a theme of, you know, compassion for our fellow man, looking after our fellow man but doing it in ways that he hit the gut. sort of almost made you question, even if you have a valid position opposed to the

president to look at in terms of a different view. for example, on illegal immigration, we all want people to feel that they're welcome in this country but we don't want the ms-134s and the bad guys who can ruin it for everybody else. but to put that in such clear terms, as well as those two couples who lost children as a result of our immigration system, that hit home. >> it hit home. and ki tell you when i looked up and saw in the gallery the parents and sub lings that had lost loved ones. the tears started to flow. and when you see that, it brings home the fact that we've got to be serious about policy, serious about immigration laws and making sure that we protect our border. he was able to weave in stories. when we saw a freedom fighter hold his crutches up above his head talking about the american dream. >> the most powerful moment of the night.

and to your point, congressman, it brought home -- we're talking about dealing with the north koreans and trying to discuss things with them. but this is what that government is capable of. this is what that government has been known to do. that young man otto is dead as a result of their overzealousness. it shakes people back to reality. >> it does. and i think what happens is the president was able to bring real-life stories home to the american people, into their living rooms so that i could say, you know what? we have to do something about it. gridlock is not an option anymore. so i can tell you, i'm leaving here tonight with a renewed sense of trying to not only work harder but double down on making sure that we change the way that washington works for the american people. because this was all about the american people and the american dream. >> all right. thank you, congressman, very very much. >> neil, great to be with you. >> same here, my friend. we're waiting for congressman kennedy. the grandson of robert f.

kennedy. congressman joe kennedy. >> a privilege to join you all tonight. we are here in massachusetts, a, massachusetts, a proud american city. [ applause ] an american city built by immigrants. [ cheers & 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 at diman tech school to carry on that rich legacy. like many american hometowns,

fall river has faced its share of storms. but the people here are tough. they fight for each other. they pull for their city. it is a fitting place to tbart as ougatheras our nation reflece 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, investment port foinvestmentportfolios bulge buo give the american worker their share of the reform. a government that struggle to

keep itself open. russia knee deep in our democracy. an all-out war on environmental protection. a justice department rolling back civil rights by the day. hatred, proudly marching in our streets. bullets tearing through our classrooms, concerts and congregations, targeting our safest sacred places. and this nagging sinking feeling, no matter your political beliefs, that this is not right. this is not who we are. [ applause ] folks, it could be easy to

dismiss this past year's chaos, partisanship and politics. but it's far, far bigger than that. this administration isn't just targeting the laws that protect us, they're targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection. for them dignity isn't something they're 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 we are all worthy, that we are 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 ] but today, ladies and gentlemen, today that promise is being broken by an administration that callously appraises our worthiness and decides who makes the cut and who can be bargain bargained aw. they're turning american life

into a zero sum game where for one to win another must lose. we can guarantee america's safety if we slash our safety net. where we can help turn 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. we're bombarded with one false choice after another. coal miners or single moms, rural communities or inner cities, the coast or the heartland. as if the mechanic in pittsburgh, a teacher in tulsa and a day care worker in birmingham are bitter rivals rather than neutral casualties of a system forcefully rigged toward those at the top.

the parent who lies awake terrified that their transgender son or daughter will be beaten or bulled at school, a parent whose heart is shattered by a daughter in the grips of an opioid addiction. so here is the answer that the democrats offer tonight. we choose both. [ applause ] we fight, we fight for both, bhawbecause the strongest richet nation in the world should not have to leave anyone behind. [ applause ]

we choose, we choose a better deal for all who call our country home. we choose a living wage and paid leaf and affordable childcare your family needs to survive, we choose pensions that are solvent, trade packs that are fair, roads and bridges that won't rust away, a good education that you can afford. we choose a health care system that offers you mercy whether you suffer from cancer or depression or addiction. we choose an economy strong enough to boast record strok price -- stockprices and brave t ceos making three times their average worker is not right. [ applause ] we choose fall river.

we choose the thousands of american communities whose roads aren't paved with power or privilege but with an honest effort, with good faith, and the resolve to build something better for your kids. that, that is our story. began the day our founding fathers and mothers set sail for a new world, fleeing intolerance. it continued with every word of our independence to declare that all men are created equal, an imperfect promise for a nation struggling to become a more perfect union. it grew with every suffrage stuff, every freedom writer's voice, every wearily soul we welcome to our shores and to all of the dreamers out there 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 ] 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 child's life. you proudly marched together last weekend, thousands deep on

the streets of las vegas and philadelphia and nashville. you sat high atop your mom's shoulders and held a sign that read "build a wall and my generation will tear it down." [ applause ] you bravely say, me too. you stead fastly say, black lives matter. you wade through flood waters, battle hurricanes, brave wildfires and mudslides to save a stranger. you battle your own quiet battles every single day. you drag your weary bodies to that extra shift so that your families won't feel the sting of

scarcity. you leave loved ones at home to defend our country overseas, 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 land a punch, they may leave a mark, but they have never, not once in the history of our united states managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united 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. [ applause ] god bless. god bless your family and may god bless the united states of america. thank you. [ cheers & applause ] >> well you've been watching massachusetts congressman joe kennedy, he is the grandson of robert f. kennedy. i'm just taking a leap near say

he did not necessarily agree with president trump on the vision of the country outlined by the republicans. it's always, you know, a no-win situation coming after the president of the united states. we're joined now by congressman steve ka slees wh ka lease who t by the president tonight, well-deserved. one of the things that both sides agreed. you were house majority, fighting shape. the president laid out an aggressive agenda but in a kinder, gentler reserved tone. what did you think? >> i thought it was an incredibly inspiring speech. he talked about the successes of the tax bill, which there are many. and he featured a lot of them, how it's impacted working families. the democrats just talk about the rich. president trump's tax cuts are actually helping people get out of the bottom, get into the middle class, become part of the american dream.

and then he laid out a bolder vision for america all across the board on so many different issues. and i thought he touched so many great tones and he featured so many people that have done heroic things, people that point out what is great about america. and if you couldn't be inspired about what this president talked about, you really must have a thick layer of skin that needs to be peeled back. >> things are typical of these events, democrats really weren't taking the bathtaking the bait s referring to the successes in our immigration that produced tragedies that these parents had to face, chain migration and all of this other stuff, did that resonate? did it put a new wrinkle on this? the president has been deemed everything from clueless to a racist on this. that he wanted to reframe the debate. >> for so long they tried to dismiss the claims.

president trump ran on this issue front and center. he talked about racist es and gg members. to actually get families who were the victims of those who have come here illegally and to show what they've done and why it's so important that we secure the border just like every other nation does, it really resonated. and it's lated the rads call liberals who want to stand in the way of the rule of law in us securing our own borders. most people agree we should secure our borders. how they could sit down and disagree with that policy and not respect the fact that there are real families hurting who have lost loved ones to gang members who have came here illegally, let's clamp down on the loopholes that are out there and get back to a rule of law. >> infrastructure, next up with, the president says the bipartisan commitment is there quickly, sir, is it? >> we haven't really started the process of coming together on

how the details would work. like any big bill, how that is put together is going to be important. we're still grappling with a few other things. we just today passed a department defense bill. president trump gave a big shoutout to that today. i think it's important to give our men and women in uniform the tools they need. i hope the senate takes up the bill and not just get republican votes but democrat votes too. >> steve scalise in the saddle and putting up the good fight. i think those on the right and left are happy as well. thank you. let's take a look at how all of this sorted out. the futures are up. they're up 49, 50 points and they started climbing throughout the speech. that is hardly an indication of where things will end tomorrow. but what it will tell you is the president of the united states delivered the goods in a way that was very unique through personal stories and emotionally gribbing ones at that. to put the pol politics aside ad

put you in the heart in a somber way that makes you think twice. donald trump delivered tonight. now the response and the markets tomorrow. >> thank you so much, neil. delivered he did. breaking right now, >> president delivering his first state of the union address on capitol hill, in his words the state of our union is strong, i am trish regan welcome to special edition. we're live in washington d.c. where president addressed our nation. reminding us what a great nation we are. >> over the last year the world has seen what we always knew, that no peep on earth are so fearly, or daring or determined. as americans. if there is a mountain, we climb