Trump Delivers Second-Term State of the Union Amid Shutdown

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday night before a joint session of Congress, emphasizing his administration's priorities amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. House Speaker Mike Johnson, seated behind the president, underscored the speech's themes in subsequent remarks, stressing the need for Republicans to retain control of Congress to advance Trump's agenda fully.

Johnson spoke to reporters after the address, highlighting the importance of midterm elections in maintaining legislative support for the White House. "He needs all four years, not just two, to fix the mess," Johnson said on Newsmax, referring to Trump. He warned that a loss of the House majority would effectively hinder the president's initiatives, including funding and policy implementation. Johnson expressed optimism about Republican candidates and their ability to communicate the administration's goals to voters.

During the speech, Trump asserted that he could impose tariffs without congressional approval, prompting Johnson to stand and applaud. The president reiterated his independence on economic...