Trump talks tough but Congress is beset by divisions

Ultimately, the West is dismantling itself through the US, without other powers having to do anything,

Mildner said

In his first administration, ... it certainly worked out."

said Mildner

In fact, the whole thing was more like a campaign speech than a classic

speech to Congress ... said Stormy-Annika Mildner, director of the Aspen Institute in Berlin

Donald Trumppresident

We are going to renew the unlimited promise of the American dream."

But Donald Trump was undaunted, telling his friends, his foes and the world at large

We're going to get it ― one way or another,

Trump said

I think that they will not necessarily attribute price rises specifically to tariffs, but they will be concerned when the cost of groceries begins to go up. And that will reinforce the message that the Trump administration is focused on other issues, such as anti-wokeness,

DeSipio added

He's now threatening to broaden the scope … and what's predictable is that other countries will simply retaliate. Canada has already done so. China has done so,

Wagner pointed out

So it's not actually clear what Trump is proposing in terms of the military. He has spoken about formal acquisitions (of) Panama, perhaps Greenland as well. He's talked about some new technologies for the military, but it's not clear how committed he is to the sort of boots-on-the-ground aspect of the military,

DeSipio added

I heard a very long speech … and also one that was more of a campaign speech than a speech to Congress,

said political science professor Louis DeSipio from the University of California, Irvine

I was trying to keep track and I only really saw four specific ‘asks’. Usually these speeches are heavy on: ‘With your help, I can do the following, and your help means a vote from Congress’. Mostly, he said he was going to solve problems or had solved them already,

DeSipio noted

The question is also, how much of a reliance can we put on (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's words as to whether he wants a lasting peace,

Wagner told CNA’s Asia Now

So, he probably spoke to his supporters and didn't speak very well to those who are concerned about a second Trump administration,

DeSipio added

If - as part of the conversation with Russia - there can be security guarantees, I think Ukraine would be happy to have peace. But they don’t want to have peace imposed upon them,

he noted

At this point, what Trump is offering is more bluster than substance,

he said, noting that

We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started,

he told the joint session of Congress

If you don’t make your product in America … you will pay a tariff and, in some cases, a rather large one. Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries,

Trump said

There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re OK with that. It won’t be much.”

He sought to ease concerns about price increases as a result of tariffs, saying

Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity,

Trump said during his address

Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control. The egg prices [are] out of control, and we’re working hard to get it back down,

Trump said

They won't do it no matter what ... it's very sad, and it just shouldn't be this way,

he added before asking the Democrats in the chamber why they wouldn’t join their GOP colleagues in “celebrating so many incredible wins for America, for the good of our nation.”