vows to make America great and debt-free

On March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump stood before a joint session of Congress in Washington, delivering his first address of his second term, a speech that blended bold promises with a focus on fiscal discipline and national pride. Central to his message was a pledge to make America great again by slashing government spending, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he credited with identifying billions in savings—though he exaggerated the figure at “hundreds of billions” when DOGE’s reported cuts stand at $9 billion so far. Broadcast live, the address drew cheers from Republicans and protests from Democrats, with Trump touting a “common sense revolution” to eliminate waste, end diversity programs, and restore fiscal health, all while navigating a polarized chamber where disruptions, including the ejection of Representative Al Green, underscored the night’s tension. With Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance seated behind him, Trump leaned heavily on Musk’s efforts to reshape the federal government, framing it as a cornerstone of his vision for a debt-free America.

The speech came six weeks into Trump’s second term, following a campaign that promised to tackle inflation and government bloat. Musk, tapped to lead DOGE, has already overseen the dismissal of 10,000 federal workers since January, targeting programs long criticized by conservatives, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump listed specific cuts, including reductions in Social Security payments to deceased recipients—a technological glitch he called “massive fraud”—and boasted of withdrawing from international agreements like the Paris climate accord to save trillions, though the accord’s voluntary nature undermines that claim. Amid chants of “USA” from Republicans and silent walkouts by Democrats, the address highlighted a dual narrative: a triumphant return to power and a contentious push to overhaul government spending.

Global leaders watched closely as Trump tied his fiscal agenda to broader goals, promising to protect the homeland with mass deportations and boost energy production with projects like the Alaska LNG pipeline. In the gallery, First Lady Melania Trump and guests like Elon Musk symbolized the administration’s blend of political and private-sector muscle, while Supreme Court justices and Cabinet members like Marco Rubio added weight to the scene. As Trump spoke of a nation “headed in the right direction” for the first time in decades, his reliance on Musk’s cuts signaled a radical shift in governance, setting the stage for a term defined by austerity and ambition.

Chaos marks the start: Green’s ejection sets the tone

Trump entered the chamber at 9 p.m. EST to roaring applause from Republicans, but the mood shifted quickly as Democrats sat in silence, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his team notably absent from the escort committee—a break from tradition. Just three minutes in, as Trump boasted of winning all seven swing states and the popular vote, Representative Al Green of Texas stood, shaking his cane and shouting, “You don’t have a mandate!” Republicans drowned him out with “USA” chants, and Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the Sergeant at Arms to remove him, escalating the chaos as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace yelled back from the GOP side.

The incident, one of the most dramatic disruptions in a presidential address in recent memory, saw Green escorted out within minutes, leaving some Democrats visibly uneasy while others, like Nancy Pelosi, consulted colleagues in agitation. Vice President JD Vance, presiding as Senate President, reinforced Johnson’s call for decorum, cementing a united GOP front behind Trump’s vision.

Spending cuts unveiled: Musk’s role takes center stage

Trump devoted significant time to praising Elon Musk and DOGE, claiming the initiative had uncovered “hundreds of billions” in fraud—a figure inflated beyond the $9 billion in cuts reported by mid-February. He detailed specific reductions, including $2 billion from Social Security payments to deceased recipients, a glitch affecting 1% of beneficiaries annually, and $3 billion from DEI programs across agencies, ended after a Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action paved the way. These cuts, he argued, would help eliminate the federal deficit, projected at $1.5 trillion for 2025, and make America “great again with its accounts in order.”

Democratic pushback: protests echo through the chamber

Opposition flared as Democrats mounted visible resistance. Beyond Green’s ejection, over a dozen House Democrats, including Shri Thanedar and Pramila Jayapal, held up black signs reading “FALSE,” “MUSK STEALS,” and “SAVE MEDICAID,” while others turned their backs to reveal “RESIST” shirts before exiting. Women lawmakers wore pink to protest cuts they say threaten programs for vulnerable groups, with spending on domestic violence initiatives slashed by 20% since January, impacting 500,000 beneficiaries annually.

Elizabeth Warren brought a fired National Science Foundation worker to highlight the 10,000 federal layoffs, part of DOGE’s $4 billion payroll reduction. The walkouts and signage contrasted sharply with Republican cheers, amplifying the divide as Trump taunted the silent Democrats, joking they wouldn’t clap even for a cure to a devastating disease.

Timeline of the address: key moments unfold

The night progressed with a mix of celebration and confrontation. Here’s a breakdown of pivotal events:

• 8:45 p.m.: Cabinet members, including Marco Rubio, enter the chamber.
• 9:00 p.m.: Trump arrives; Green protests at 9:03 p.m., ejected by 9:06 p.m.
• 9:10 p.m.: Trump resumes, detailing Musk’s cuts and energy plans.
• 9:50 p.m.: Speech ends with a call for a debt-free America.

This sequence captures the rapid shift from ceremony to chaos and back to Trump’s fiscal focus.

Musk’s impact: DOGE reshapes government spending

Trump leaned heavily on Musk’s DOGE efforts, listing cuts like $1.5 billion from climate research grants and $500 million from international health programs after exiting the World Health Organization. Musk, present in the gallery, briefed House Republicans the following day at Speaker Johnson’s invitation, addressing concerns from lawmakers like Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who took Green’s seat post-ejection. The $9 billion in savings—against a $6.8 trillion federal budget—targeted programs long in conservatives’ crosshairs, though analysts note the fiscal impact remains modest compared to the $34 trillion national debt.

Republicans cheered as Trump praised Musk’s sacrifice, noting the billionaire “didn’t need this” but chose to serve, a narrative echoing Trump’s own campaign rhetoric. The Alaska LNG pipeline, projected to cost $44 billion and export 20 million tons of gas annually by 2030, was hailed as a job-creator, with 10,000 positions expected during construction.

Energy and culture: Trump’s broader vision

Beyond spending, Trump pushed energy independence, citing a 95% drop in new oil and gas leases under Biden—though U.S. oil production hit a record 13.2 million barrels daily in 2024. He touted withdrawing from the Paris accord, claiming trillions saved, despite its non-binding terms. On cultural fronts, he attacked transgender sports participation, a GOP rallying cry that polls show 60% of Americans support restricting, despite a Senate bill failing days prior.

Global resonance: fiscal cuts meet foreign policy

World leaders tuned in as Trump tied spending cuts to national strength, promising deportations costing up to $20 billion annually and mocking smaller nations like Lesotho, with its 2.3 million residents, while ignoring Slovenia’s 2.1 million—Melania’s homeland. His exit from the WHO, criticized by health experts as risking future pandemics, saved $500 million yearly, while tariff expansions on Canada and Mexico, effective that day, aim to boost domestic revenue by $10 billion in 2025, though they’ve sparked a 5% rise in consumer goods prices since January.

Supreme Court justices, including Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, sat stoically as he thanked them for ending DEI, a nod to their 2023 affirmative action ruling. The fiscal focus aligned with his “America First” ethos, resonating with allies like Russia, where Trump plans a May visit, and unsettling NATO partners.

Cuts in action: what’s been slashed so far

Musk’s DOGE has already made waves. Here’s a snapshot of key reductions:

• Social Security: $2 billion cut from payments to deceased recipients.
• DEI Programs: $3 billion eliminated across federal agencies.
• Climate Grants: $1.5 billion redirected from research funding.
• WHO Funding: $500 million saved via withdrawal.

These moves, totaling $9 billion, reflect a 0.13% dent in the 2025 budget, with Trump promising more to come, targeting a debt-free future despite the $34 trillion hurdle.

America’s future: Trump’s debt-free pledge

As Trump wrapped up, he framed Musk’s cuts as the path to a “great again” America, free of fiscal burdens. The $9 billion saved contrasts with a $1.5 trillion deficit projection, yet he vowed to expand DOGE’s reach, eyeing $50 billion in cuts by year-end. Republicans like Mike Johnson, hosting Musk’s briefing, see it as a mandate fulfillment, while Democrats warn of 500,000 jobs at risk if Medicaid faces the 25% cut Trump hinted at, impacting 80 million enrollees. With Melania and Musk in the gallery, the night cemented a vision of austerity and ambition, poised to redefine America’s economic and global standing.