Updated on Jan. 31 at 12:47 a.m. ET
President Trump sought to strike a unifying tone with his first State of the Union address, but some of his rhetoric on immigration and his promise to put "America First" was clearly aimed at his base.
As a March 5 deadline approaches for Congress to come up with a legislative implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Trump outlined the ways he wants to roll back legal immigration as a compromise for giving a path to citizenship for up to an estimated 1.8 million undocumented immigrants brought here as children.
But his rhetoric elicited boos from Democrats in the chamber — underscoring the very real difficulty of reaching a bipartisan deal — as the president alluded to the common term of "DREAMers" for those immigrants.
"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," Trump said. "Because Americans are dreamers too."
Trump also pointed out guests in the chamber whose children had allegedly been killed by the MS-13 gang, and he called on Congress "to finally close the deadly loopholes that have allowed MS-13, and other criminals, to break into our country."
"For decades, open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities. They've allowed millions of low-wage workers to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest Americans. Most tragically, they have caused the loss of many innocent lives," Trump said.
And throughout, Trump highlighted his "America First" agenda. For example, in terms of legal immigration, Trump wants to end the visa lottery system, limit family reunification policies to spouses and children only and build a "great wall" along the Southern border, which was a signature campaign promise.
"We are proud that we do more than any other country 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," Trump said.
Trump addresses a very divided nation
Trump's first year has been marked by record low approval ratings, and a majority of Americans said in a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll that Trump has done more to divide the country than to unite it.
Trump didn't mention at all the albatross that has hung over nearly his entire presidency — the ongoing special counsel investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election. And Trump only mentioned Russia — which he has been accused of being too cozy with — once in the entire speech.
"As we rebuild America's strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad," Trump said. "Around the world, we race rogue regimes, terrorist groups, and rivals like China and Russia that challenge our interests, our economy, and our values," he said.
Nonetheless, Trump began the address with a unifying, uplifting tone, talking about how Americans have responded to tragedies the country has faced over the past year, from natural disasters to mass shootings.
"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 frontier, we cross it. If there's a challenge, we tame it. If there is an opportunity, we seize it," Trump said. "So let's begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America."
"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 heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be," the president continued.
He also pointed out House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., who survived a life-threatening shooting at a congressional baseball practice last June, calling him the "legend from Louisiana."
"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," Trump said. "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."
Despite his comments about the need for national unity, the president also forcefully highlighted one of his more divisive comments early in his remarks Tuesday.
Trump alluded to his call to fire NFL players who kneel during the national anthem. Many saw those remarks at the time as racially charged, given that most of the athletes taking a knee as a silent protest were black players seeking to protest police brutality particularly affecting African-American communities. But Trump's efforts last year to spotlight the kneeling protests have been a popular play with his conservative base.
Pointing out 12-year-old Preston Sharp, attending the speech as Trump's guest, who had taken it upon himself to put flags on veterans' graves, Trump used the opportunity to call for more adherence to "our civic duty as Americans."
"Preston's reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem," Trump said.
Economic gains a highlight of Trump's first year
Trump played up his economic success and highlighted the GOP tax plan passed last month, the signature achievement of his first year in office.
"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," Trump said.
The president, however, did not mention that just hours before he was set to deliver his speech the stock market closed by taking a triple-digit hit.
"Our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and small business, to lower tax rates for hard-working Americans," Trump said in touting the new tax law. The president also promised that this year "will be the last time you will ever file under the old and very broken system. And millions of Americans will have more take-home pay, starting next month. A lot more."
And he underscored his more protectionist, populist approach to trade, which has been another hallmark of his tenure and a departure from even past GOP presidents like George W. Bush.
"America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our nation's wealth," Trump said. "The era of economic surrender is totally over. From now on, we expect trading relationships to be fair, and very importantly, reciprocal."
Trump also called for a $1.5 trillion package "to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure" in partnership with state and local governments, "and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment."
"We built the Empire State Building in just one year. Isn't it a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a minor permit approved for the building of a simple road?" Trump queried. "I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure that our economy needs and our people deserve."
North Korea, Guantánamo Bay and fighting terrorism
Trump also touted his success in combating ISIS and announced he was directing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to keep open the U.S. detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
"When necessary, we must be able to detain and question [terrorists]. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are," Trump said. "In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists only to meet them again on the battlefield — including the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi."
He also called for an increase in military spending, including efforts to "modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression."
The biggest nuclear threat — which at times Trump has often seemed to provoke via Twitter — is 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 happening," Trump said. "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," Trump continued, highlighting the country's oppressive regime by adding some late guests with deeply emotional stories.
In attendance were the parents of Otto Warmbier, a college student who was detained by North Korea and finally sent home to the U.S. badly injured, where he died soon after. And Trump also pointed to Ji Sung-Ho, who grew up in North Korea, narrowly escaped from the country and lost both his legs. In a dramatic moment, Sung-Ho displayed the crutches he used to escape the country.
Trump also used Sung-Ho's story to bring his roughly 90-minute speech to a conclusion, ending with broad patriotic images and his campaign slogan.
"The people dreamed this country. The people built this country, and it is the people who are making America great again," Trump said. "As long as we are proud of who we are, and what we are fighting for — there is nothing we cannot achieve."
The Democratic response: "Bullies," "partisanship" and "chaos"
Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass. — a 37-year-old rising star and scion of the famed political family — delivered the official Democratic response to Trump's speech and seized on the division in the country that he argued has been inflamed by the president.
"It would be easy to dismiss the past year as chaos. Partisanship. Politics. But it's far bigger than that. This administration isn't just targeting the laws that protect us — they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection," Kennedy said.
Kennedy also mentioned the "#MeToo" movement borne out of the growing disclosures about sexual harassment and sexual assault in multiple industries and talked of the efforts of "Black Lives Matter" — two things Trump did not touch on.
"Bullies may lend 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 the people united in defense of their future," Kennedy said. "Politicians can be cheered for the promises they make. Our country will be judged by the promises we keep."
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