Trump wraps speech at just over an hour
10:16 p.m.
Trump wrapped up his address, speaking to Congress for just over an hour. His speech was expected to last up to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
According to a breakdown from C-SPAN, Trump’s speech is the longest first address that a president has given to Congress in decades, passing President Clinton by just a few minutes.
Trump wrapped up his speech urging lawmakers to set aside “trivial fights” and “small thinking.”
“I am asking all citizens to embrace this renewal of the American spirit. I am asking all members of Congress to join me in dreaming big, and bold and daring things for our country,” Trump said.
Trump gestured toward Democrats seated in front of him during his mention of “trivial fights.” The Democrats were spotted gesturing back and laughing.
Trump recognizes widow of fallen Navy SEAL
10:16 p.m.
Trump’s spotlight of the widow of Ryan Owens, a Navy SEAL killed during a
Yemen raid, earned a long ovation from lawmakers.
“Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity … Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom — we will never forget him,” Trump said.
He added that he had spoken to Defense Secretary James Mattis who told him that “‘Ryan was part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence.'”
Trump noted that the length of the applause from lawmakers might have “broken a record.”
New immigration office earns groans from Democrats
10 p.m.
Democratic lawmakers were openly frustrated with Trump’s pledge to create an office centered on victims of crimes by illegal immigrants.
Trump said that he has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office called VOICE — Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement.
“I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims,” he said. “We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.”
Democrats, however, outwardly groaned at Trump’s comments, according to multiple reporters.
Trump noted that there were four individuals attending the speech whose loved ones were killed by illegal immigrants, saying that their “government failed them.”
Trump pitches cooperation, unity
9:55 p.m.
In an apparent tonal shift, Trump repeatedly urged bipartisanship and unity during his speech.
“Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope,” he said.
He added that Americans “deserve” to have lawmakers work together.
“Our citizens deserve this, and so much more –- so why not join forces to finally get it done?” he said. “On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people.”
His comments come after he opened his speech noting he wanted to “deliver a message of unity and strength.”
Trump’s tone was a departure from the dark picture he painted during his inaugural address in January, when he said “American carnage” had overtaken the country.
Trump makes pitch to repeal, replace ObamaCare
9:47 p.m.
Trump urged Republicans and Democrats to work together to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
“I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding ObamaCare disaster,” he said.
He added that lawmakers should replace the Obama-era law with a bill that will “expand choice, increase access, lower costs and at the asme time provide better healthcare.”
Republicans have struggled to unite behind one plan to replace the ACA.
No Democrat is expected to support repealing the law. Democratic lawmakers were spotted giving thumbs down as Republicans gave a standing ovation for Trump’s push to “repeal and replace ObamaCare.”
Though Republicans can repeal the bill on their own, they will likely need Democratic support to get a replacement through the Senate.
Trump earns some Democratic applause
9:40 p.m.
Trump earned himself some Democratic applause when he discussed wanting to bring jobs back into America.
Trump declared during his speech that he was going to “bring back millions of jobs.”
“I believe strongly in free trade but it also has to be fair trade,” he said. “I am not going to let America and its great companies and workers be taken advantage of anymore.”
Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) were both seen applauding Trump’s pledge to bring back jobs.
Manchin, Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) — who are up for reelection in 2018 — as well as Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) were spotted applauding when Trump touted his Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.
Gorsuch will need the support of at least eight Democratic senators to get the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate.
Some GOP senators not applauding Trump on immigration, refugee order
9:30 p.m.
Reporters noted that a handful of senate Republicans aren’t applauding Trump’s comments on a new order targeting immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries or his pledge to build a border wall.
Some Republicans have warned that Trump’s original executive order could be used as propaganda for terrorist groups.
Trump warned in his speech that the United States could not be a “beachhead of terrorism.”
“That is why my Administration has been working on improved vetting procedures, and we will shortly take new steps to keep our Nation safe — and to keep out those who would do us harm,” he said.
A CNN reporter noted that Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) separately did not applaud Trump’s line about building a border wall.
Heller is one of the few vulnerable GOP senators up for reelection in 2018.
Trump touts ‘great’ border wall, knocks immigration opponents
9:30 p.m.
Trump pledged that his administration would soon get to work on a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“We will soon begin the construction of a great, great wall along our southern border,” he said.
He also lawmakers who might oppose his push to crackdown on undocumented immigration to consider if one of their constituents lost their job or a family member because the country didn’t enforce its immigration laws.
“As we speak tonight we are removing gang members…drug dealers that threaten our communities and prey on our very innocent citizens. Bad ones are going out as I speak, and as I promised,” Trump said.
Trump made his first mention of his campaign pledge to “drain the swamp” roughly 10 minutes into his speech.
“We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a five-year ban on lobbying by executive branch officials — and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists for a foreign government,” he said during his speech.
The line drew applause from Republicans, but many Democratic lawmakers appeared to scoff at Trump’s comments.
Democrats have charged Trump with breaking his promise to “drain the swamp” by appointing wealthy and well-connected individuals to his Cabinet.
