JUDY WOODRUFF: Welcome to our "PBS NewsHour"
special live coverage of President Trump's first State of the Union address. I'm Judy Woodruff. Mr. Trump is said to want to strike some bipartisan
notes before a Congress and a nation deeply divided. He will refer to building a safe, strong and
proud America, touting his economic record. The future of an immigration deal and the
fate of so-called dreamers face a looming deadline. Some members of Congress have invited undocumented
immigrants to be their guests for tonight's speech. Our Lisa Desjardins is there at the Capitol,
and our Yamiche Alcindor is at the White House. And here with me at our studio at the table
tonight, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks,
The Cook Political Report's Amy Walter is here, along with the chair of the American
Conservative Union, Matt Schlapp. And Karine Jean-Pierre, she's a senior adviser
to MoveOn.org. Welcome to all of you, as we keep one eye
-- or both eyes, I should say, what's going on in the Capitol, in the House chamber, where
the president is about to come in. Mark Shields, it's the president's first State
of the Union. He's been in office for a year. What are we looking for tonight? MARK SHIELDS: We're looking for the president
to be presidential, which he said nobody could be presidential like he is. This is a ceremony of state. This is something that Donald Trump is totally
unfamiliar with, never having been in the Congress or been a person in Washington. So, it will be interesting to see how he fits
into this, what Americans have come to expect about really this major ceremony in national
life. JUDY WOODRUFF: David, what are you looking
for? DAVID BROOKS: Well, it's been one year of
Trump, which is 37 human years, compared to our life's dial. (CROSSTALK) DAVID BROOKS: And I'm looking -- he's done
these reasonably well. He's bring his uptown Trump when he does these
things. The id gets put away. And I expect he will be reasonably presidential. I guess I'm looking for actual policies. He does actually have a policy process in
the White House. And we know he will talk about immigration,
but that's not going to fill a year. And so what -- how is he going to fill the
rest of the year? And so most of these addresses are famously
laundry lists of policies. And it will be interesting actually if he
could have a laundry list. I would curious to know what's on that, beyond
immigration and some vague jab at infrastructure. JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, Amy, we don't know if
it's uptown or downtown Donald Trump that we're going to see tonight. But from an American's perspective -- and
you have been looking at a lot of polls, thinking about what the voters are thinking right now. What do you think they're looking for tonight? AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: Well,
the president can come in with a laundry list of things, as David said, of things that they
have actually gotten done. He has a good economy behind him. A lot of the things he talked about in his
first -- it wasn't a State of the Union, but address to Congress, he's been able to accomplish,
whether it's on immigration, crossing the border, right, the lowest number of border
crossing arrests that we have had in years, regulations being cut. And yet he also comes in as the most unpopular
president at this point in a first term. And he -- making that connection between how
he can be successful on the one hand and still be seen so negatively by a majority of Americans,
it's really all about him. It's the personality, it's not the policies,
that is driving perceptions of him, and it's likely to drive the 2018 election as well. JUDY WOODRUFF: Matt Schlapp, does the president
carry a special burden with him tonight, more than most presidents would? MATT SCHLAPP, Former White House Director
of Political Affairs: I really don't think so. I think, if the president's going to govern
like most politicians, try to find a way to use language at these big events where -- to
kind of often their image, look for that soft, reassuring language -- he just doesn't do
that. I think David's right. I think he's going to sound presidential. It is going to be a presidential speech. But, look, he is who he is. He's governing the way he's comfortable with
governing. He believes, at the end of the day, it's the
results that will indicate whether or not he's a successful politician. Is the economy growing? Did we defeat ISIS? Do people feel greater security? That's kind of where he's -- that's where
he's putting his trust in the American people, that they will like the results. JUDY WOODRUFF: Karine Jean-Pierre, what about
that? He very well probably is counting, to a large
degree, on people looking at results. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, Democratic Strategist:
Right. That's exactly right. Look, I have to tell you I hate the word presidential
now. I just -- I just can't stand it, because I
think that it doesn't matter. This night actually, to me, doesn't matter
at all, because he's going to probably stay on the teleprompter, but we know who Trump
really is, is once he's off the teleprompter. It doesn't -- maybe he will -- the presidential
kind of sense of Trump will stay for more than an hour, maybe more than a day, but we
know exactly who he is. JUDY WOODRUFF: Here's the president. There they are announcing him now. (CROSSTALK) MAN: The president of the United States! (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) JUDY WOODRUFF: And this is the tradition. This is the ritual. Mark Shields, this is the way it has been
done for president after president. MARK SHIELDS: Since Harry Truman, 1947, when
it went on television for the first time, and members realized that they could also
appear next to the president in living rooms all over America. JUDY WOODRUFF: And, David, he makes his way
down the aisle. Again, we have seen this -- this scene so
many times before. It's usually the members of the president's
own party who get the closest. It's interesting to see if any Democrats are
going to be reaching out to shake his hand. DAVID BROOKS: Yes. If I were a good reporter, I would have been
there at 5:00 p.m., which was when they used to start hoarding around the aisle seats to
get the -- into the shot. It would be still a good of bonus for a lot
of people in a lot of seats, so they probably had a little of that -- probably a little
less than past presidents. JUDY WOODRUFF: Amy, we're watching -- Mark. MARK SHIELDS: I just wanted to disagree with
David earlier in the evening. (LAUGHTER) MARK SHIELDS: And that is, it makes no difference
what the president proposes. The only time it's made a difference, what
the president proposed, was 1965, when Lyndon Johnson proposed Medicare, Medicaid, voting
rights, and really changed America on federal aid to education. He had 290 Democrats in the House and 68 in
the Senate. Donald Trump doesn't have a governing legislative
majority or coalition at this point. So, he could propose joining the League of
Nations, blowing up the League of Nations. (CROSSTALK) DAVID BROOKS: Mark is completely wrong about
that. (LAUGHTER) MATT SCHLAPP: I would like to tape that answer
and keep playing it back when people say, why isn't he getting everything through the
Senate? Because you're right. DAVID BROOKS: Well, no, it matters tremendously
within the administration, because the State of the Union is the marching orders for people
within the organization. It's a great organizing document. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Right. MARK SHIELDS: It's a great document to get
listed in. JUDY WOODRUFF: And while we -- while we discuss
what he is or isn't going to get done, the president is making his way down the center
aisle in the House of Representatives. We're catching a glimpse now and then of the
first lady, Melania Trump, up in the balcony area with a number of guests who are guests
of the president and the first lady tonight. We're going to be hearing about them in a
minute. But, right now, the president is shaking hands. We see the House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy. And now we're beginning to see the Pentagon,
officials from the Pentagon, members of the president's Cabinet. The president seems to be moving briskly at
this point. (LAUGHTER) KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes, he really does look
like he's moving pretty fast. AMY WALTER: To be able to get this done. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes, get this done, make
the speech, stay on teleprompter. JUDY WOODRUFF: Amy, we are -- we just -- we
just -- here we go. Let's listen to this just a second. Shaking hands with, of course, his own vice
president and with House Speaker Paul Ryan. And he is getting right to it. I think it took him just a couple minutes
to get to the lectern. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes. JUDY WOODRUFF: And he's about to speak, the
president of the United States. This is where he gives each of them a copy
of the speech. MATT SCHLAPP: Not everybody is standing. JUDY WOODRUFF: No. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: No. JUDY WOODRUFF: And let it be known that Matt
Schlapp was the one who... (CROSSTALK) (LAUGHTER) JUDY WOODRUFF: We always look to see whether
members of the other party stand, applaud, and so forth. And, right now -- and we will be talking about
this later in the evening -- different people tonight wearing different colors symbolic
of different issues and making different points. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: And you have boycotts,
too, Democrats who have boycotted. JUDY WOODRUFF: That's right. I think there are 13 Democrats that we know
of who have said they are not going tonight. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: That's right. Yes. JUDY WOODRUFF: I think eight of them are members
of the Congressional Black Caucus. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: That's right. JUDY WOODRUFF: But there are a few, a handful
of others as well. But, right now, the applause sustained, and
that is typical for most presidents. Most members of Congress, most State of the
Union addresses, accord the president the respect... MARK SHIELDS: Yes. JUDY WOODRUFF: ... that the office deserves. MARK SHIELDS: I mean, that's why Joe Wilson
was such an aberration... KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes. Yes, "You lie," yes. MARK SHIELDS: ... when he said, "You lie,"
to the president. And the sergeant at arms has the authority
to evict any member who is obstreperous or makes an outburst. So... (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), Speaker of the House: Members
of Congress, I have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you the
president of the United States. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) JUDY WOODRUFF: And here comes another opportunity
for members of Congress, especially those who are friendly to the president, to applaud. DAVID BROOKS: The room is a lot smaller than
it looks on TV. And so the atmosphere is a lot more intense. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Can I just point how Melania
is wearing white? And because a lot of the MeToo women are wearing
black. JUDY WOODRUFF: Are wearing black. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes. I don't know if that -- there's any correlation,
connection, but that's really interesting that she is wearing white. JUDY WOODRUFF: I'm actually noticing that
the president and the speaker are wearing blue ties. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Blue ties, yes. (LAUGHTER) DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of
Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans: Less than one year has passed since I first
stood at this podium, in this majestic chamber, to speak on behalf of the American people
and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. That night, our new administration had already
taken very swift action. A new tide of optimism was already sweeping
across our land. Each day since, we have gone forward with
a clear vision and a righteous mission -- to make America great again for all Americans. (Applause.) Over the last year, we have made incredible
progress and achieved extraordinary success. We have faced challenges we expected, and
others we could never have imagined. We have shared in the heights of victory and
the pains of hardship. We have endured floods and fires and storms. 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. We saw the volunteers of the Cajun Navy, racing
to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a totally
devastating hurricane. We saw strangers shielding strangers from
a hail of gunfire on the Las Vegas strip. We heard tales of Americans like Coast Guard
Petty Officer Ashlee Leppert, who is here tonight in the gallery with Melania. (Applause.) Ashlee was aboard one of the first helicopters
on the scene in Houston during the Hurricane Harvey. Through 18 hours of wind and rain, Ashlee
braved live power lines and deep water to help save more than 40 lives. Ashlee, we all thank you. Thank you very much. (Applause.) We heard about Americans like firefighter
David Dahlberg. He's here with us also. David faced down walls of flame to rescue
almost 60 children trapped at a California summer camp threatened by those devastating
wildfires. To everyone still recovering in Texas, Florida,
Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands -- everywhere -- we are with you, we love
you, and we always will pull through together, always. (Applause.) Thank you to David and the brave people of
California. Thank you very much, David. Great job. Some trials over the past year touched this
chamber very personally. With us tonight is one of the toughest people
ever to serve in this House -- a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work
three and a half months later: the legend from Louisiana, Congressman Steve Scalise. (Applause.) I think they like you, Steve. (Laughter.) We are incredibly grateful for the heroic
efforts of the Capitol Police officers, the Alexandria Police, and the doctors, nurses,
and paramedics who saved his life and the lives of many others; some in this room. In the aftermath -- (applause) -- yes. Yes. 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. 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. (Applause.) 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 is a frontier, we cross it. If there's a challenge, we tame it. If there's an opportunity, we seize it. So let's begin tonight by recognizing that
the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong. (Applause.) And together, we are building a safe, strong,
and proud America. Since the election, we have created 2.4 million
new jobs, including -- (applause) -- including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. Tremendous numbers. (Applause.) After years and years of wage stagnation,
we are finally seeing rising wages. (Applause.) Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low. (Applause.) It's something I'm very proud of. African American unemployment stands at the
lowest rate ever recorded. (Applause.) And Hispanic American unemployment has also
reached the lowest levels in history. (Applause.) 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. The great news -- (applause) -- the great
news for Americans' 401(k), retirement, pension, and college savings accounts have gone through
the roof. And just as I promised the American people
from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American
history. (Applause.) Our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief
for the middle class and small business. To lower tax rates for hardworking Americans,
we nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone. (Applause.) Now, the first $24,000 earned by a married
couple is completely tax-free. (Applause.) We also doubled the child tax credit. (Applause.) A typical family of four making $75,000 will
see their tax bill reduced by $2,000, slashing their tax bill in half. (Applause.) In April, this 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. (Applause.) We eliminated an especially cruel tax that
fell mostly on Americans making less than $50,000 a year, forcing them to pay tremendous
penalties simply because they couldn't afford government-ordered health plans. (Applause.) We repealed the core of the disastrous Obamacare. The individual mandate is now gone. Thank heaven. (Applause.) We slashed the business tax rate from 35 percent
all the way down to 21 percent, so American companies can compete and win against anyone
else anywhere in the world. (Applause.) These changes alone are estimated to increase
average family income by more than $4,000. A lot of money. (Applause.) Small businesses have also received a massive
tax cut, and can now deduct 20 percent of their business income. Here tonight are Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger
of Staub Manufacturing, a small, beautiful business in Ohio. They've just finished the best year in their
20-year history. (Applause.) Because of tax reform, they are handing out
raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door. Good feeling. (Applause.) One of Staub's employees, Corey Adams, is
also with us tonight. Corey is an all-American worker. He supported himself through high school,
lost his job during the 2008 recession, and was later hired by Staub, where he trained
to become a welder. Like many hardworking Americans, Corey plans
to invest his tax‑cut raise into his new home and his two daughters' education. Corey, please stand. (Applause.) And he's a great welder. (Laughter.) I was told that by the man that owns that
company that's doing so well. So congratulations, Corey. Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million
workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses -- many of them thousands and thousands of
dollars per worker. And it's getting more every month, every week. Apple has just announced it plans to invest
a total of $350 billion in America, and hire another 20,000 workers. (Applause.) And just a little while ago, ExxonMobil announced
a $50 billion investment in the United States, just a little while ago. (Applause.) This, in fact, is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start
living the American Dream. So to every citizen watching at home tonight,
no matter where you've been, or where you've come from, this is your time. If you work hard, if you believe in yourself,
if you believe in America, then you can dream anything, you can be anything, and together,
we can achieve absolutely anything. (Applause.) Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of
future we are going to have, and what kind of a nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people,
and one American family can do anything. We all share the same home, the same heart,
the same destiny, and the same great American flag. (Applause.) Together, we are rediscovering the American
way. In America, we know that faith and family,
not government and bureaucracy, are the center of American life. The motto is, "In God We Trust." (Applause.) And we celebrate our police, our military,
and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support. (Applause.) Here tonight is Preston Sharp, a 12-year-old
boy from Redding, California, who noticed that veterans' graves were not marked with
flags on Veterans Day. He decided all by himself to change that,
and started a movement that has now placed 40,000 flags at the graves of our great heroes. (Applause.) Preston, a job well done. (Applause.) Young patriots, like Preston, teach all of
us about our civic duty as Americans. And I met Preston a little while ago, and
he is something very special -- that I can tell you. Great future. Thank you very much for all you've done, Preston. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Preston's reverence for those who have served
our nation reminds us of 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. (Applause.) Americans love their country, and they deserve
a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. For the last year, we have sought to restore
the bonds of trust between our citizens and their government. Working with the Senate, we are appointing
judges who will interpret the Constitution as written, including a great new Supreme
Court justice, and more circuit court judges than any new administration in the history
of our country. (Applause.) We are totally defending our Second Amendment,
and have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty. (Applause.) And we are serving our brave veterans, including
giving our veterans choice in their healthcare decisions. (Applause.) Last year, Congress also passed, and I signed,
the landmark VA Accountability Act. (Applause.) Since its passage, my administration has already
removed more than 1,500 VA employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve. And we are hiring talented people who love
our vets as much as we do. (Applause.) And I will not stop until our veterans are
properly taken care of, which has been my promise to them from the very beginning of
this great journey. (Applause.) All Americans deserve accountability and respect,
and that's what we are giving to our wonderful heroes, our veterans. Thank you. (Applause.) So, tonight, I call on Congress to empower
every Cabinet Secretary with the authority to reward good workers and to remove federal
employees who undermine the public trust or fail the American people. (Applause.) In our drive to make Washington accountable,
we have eliminated more regulations in our first year than any administration in the
history of our country. (Applause.) We have ended the war on American energy,
and we have ended the war on beautiful clean coal. (Applause.) We are now very proudly an exporter of energy
to the world. (Applause.) In Detroit, I halted government mandates that
crippled America's great, beautiful autoworkers so that we can get Motor City revving its
engines again. And that's what's happening. (Applause.) Many car companies are now building and expanding
plants in the United States -- something we haven't seen for decades. Chrysler is moving a major plant from Mexico
to Michigan. Toyota and Mazda are opening up a plant in
Alabama -- a big one. And we haven't seen this in a long time. It's all coming back. (Applause.) Very soon, auto plants and other plants will
be opening up all over our country. This is all news Americans are totally unaccustomed
to hearing. For many years, companies and jobs were only
leaving us. But now they are roaring back. They're coming back. They want to be where the action is. They want to be in the United States of America. That's where they want to be. (Applause.) Exciting progress is happening every single
day. To speed access to breakthrough cures and
affordable generic drugs, last year the FDA approved more new and generic drugs and medical
devices than ever before in our country's history. (Applause.) We also believe that patients with terminal
conditions, and terminal illness, should have access to experimental treatment immediately
that could potentially save their lives. People who are terminally ill should not have
to go from country to country to seek a cure. I want to give them a chance right here at
home. It's time for Congress to give these wonderful,
incredible Americans the right to try. (Applause.) One of my greatest priorities is to reduce
the price of prescription drugs. (Applause.) In many other countries, these drugs cost
far less than what we pay in the United States. And it's very, very unfair. That is why I have directed my administration
to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of my top priorities for the year. (Applause.) And prices will come down substantially. Watch. 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 wealth. Our nation has lost its wealth, but we're
getting it back so fast. The era of economic surrender is totally over. From now on, we expect trading relationships
to be fair and, very importantly, reciprocal. (Applause.) We will work to fix bad trade deals and negotiate
new ones. And they'll be good ones, but they'll be fair. And we will protect American workers and American
intellectual property through strong enforcement of our trade rules. (Applause.) As we rebuild our industries, it is also time
to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. (Applause.) America is a nation of builders. 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? (Applause.) I am asking both parties to come together
to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure that our economy needs and
our people deserve. (Applause.) Tonight, I'm calling on Congress to produce
a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment that
our country so desperately needs. Every federal dollar should be leveraged by
partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private
sector investment to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit. And we can do it. (Applause.) Any bill must also streamline the permitting
and approval process, getting it down to no more than two years, and perhaps even one. Together, we can reclaim our great building
heritage. (Applause.) We will build gleaming new roads, bridges,
highways, railways, and waterways all across our land. And we will do it with American heart, and
American hands, and American grit. (Applause.) We want every American to know the dignity
of a hard day's work. We want every child to be safe in their home
at night. And we want every citizen to be proud of this
land that we all love so much. We can lift our citizens from welfare to work,
from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity. (Applause.) As tax cuts create new jobs, let's invest
in workforce development and let's invest in job training, which we need so badly. (Applause.) Let's open great vocational schools so our
future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential. (Applause.) And let's support working families by supporting
paid family leave. (Applause.) As America regains its strength, opportunity
must be extended to all citizens. That is why this year we will embark on reforming
our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance at life. (Applause.) Struggling communities, especially immigrant
communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interests
of American workers and American families. 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. Here tonight are two fathers and two mothers:
Evelyn Rodriguez, Freddy Cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado, and Robert Mickens. Their two teenage daughters -- Kayla Cuevas
and Nisa Mickens -- were close friends on Long Island. But in September 2016, on the eve of Nisa's
16th Birthday -- such a happy time it should have been -- neither of them came home. These two precious girls were brutally murdered
while walking together in their hometown. Six members of the savage MS-13 gang have
been charged with Kayla and Nisa's murders. Many of these gang members took advantage
of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied alien
minors, and wound up in Kayla and Nisa's high school. Evelyn, Elizabeth, Freddy, and Robert: Tonight,
everyone in this chamber is praying for you. Everyone in America is grieving for you. Please stand. Thank you very much. (Applause.) I want you to know that 320 million hearts
are right now breaking for you. We love you. Thank you. (Applause.) While we cannot imagine the depths of that
kind of sorrow, we can make sure that other families never have to endure this kind of
pain. Tonight, I am calling on Congress to finally
close the deadly loopholes that have allowed MS-13, and other criminal gangs, to break
into our country. We have proposed new legislation that will
fix our immigration laws and support our ICE and Border Patrol agents -- these are great
people; these are great, great people -- that work so hard in the midst of such danger so
that this can never happen again. (Applause.) The United States is a compassionate nation. We are proud that we do more than any other
country anywhere in the world 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. I want our youth to grow up to achieve great
things. I want our poor to have their chance to rise. So, tonight, I am extending an open hand to
work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens of
every background, color, religion, and creed. (Applause.) 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. Because Americans are dreamers too. (Applause.) Here tonight is one leader in the effort to
defend our country, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Celestino Martinez. He goes by "DJ" and "CJ." He said, "Call me either one." So we'll call you "CJ." Served 15 years in the Air Force before becoming
an ICE agent and spending the last 15 years fighting gang violence and getting dangerous
criminals off of our streets. Tough job. At one point, MS-13 leaders ordered CJ's murder. And they wanted it to happen quickly. But he did not cave to threats or to fear. Last May, he commanded an operation to track
down gang members on Long Island. His team has arrested nearly 400, including
more than 220 MS-13 gang members. And I have to tell you, what the Border Patrol
and ICE have done -- we have sent thousands and thousands and thousands of MS-13 horrible
people out of this country or into our prisons. So I just want to congratulate you, CJ. You're a brave guy. Thank you very much. (Applause.) And I asked CJ, "What's the secret?" He said, "We're just tougher than they are." And I like that answer. (Laughter and applause.) Now let's get Congress to send you -- and
all of the people in this great chamber have to do it; we have no choice. CJ, we're going to send you reinforcements,
and we're going to send them to you quickly. It's what you need. (Applause.) Over the next few weeks, the House and Senate
will be voting on an immigration reform package. In recent months, my administration has met
extensively with both Democrats and Republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration
reform. Based on these discussions, we presented Congress
with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise, one
where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms
it needs and must have. (Applause.) Here are the four pillars of our plan: The
first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal
immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age. That covers almost three times more people
than the previous administration covered. (Applause.) Under our plan, those who meet education and
work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the
United States over a 12-year period. (Applause.) The second pillar fully secures the border. (Applause.) That means building a great wall on the southern
border, and it means hiring more heroes, like CJ, to keep our communities safe. (Applause.) Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes
exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country, and it finally ends the horrible
and dangerous practice of catch and release. (Applause.) The third pillar ends the visa lottery, a
program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the
safety of American people. (Applause.) It's time to begin moving towards a merit-based
immigration system, one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will
contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country. (Applause.) The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear
family by ending chain migration. (Applause.) Under the current broken system, a single
immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. Under our plan, we focus on the immediate
family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. (Applause.) This vital reform is necessary, not just for
our economy, but for our security and for the future of America. In recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in
New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programs present
risks we can just no longer afford. (Applause.) It's time to reform these outdated immigration
rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century. (Applause.) These four pillars represent a down-the-middle
compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, Washington has tried and
failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally
makes it happen. Most importantly, these four pillars will
produce legislation that fulfills my ironclad pledge to sign a bill that puts America first. (Applause.) So let's come together, set politics aside,
and finally get the job done. (Applause.) These reforms will also support our response
to the terrible crisis of opioid and drug addiction. Never before has it been like it is now. It is terrible. We have to do something about it. In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug
overdoses -- 174 deaths per day; 7 per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and
pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge. (Applause.) My administration is committed to fighting
the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need, for those who have been
so terribly hurt. The struggle will be long and it will be difficult,
but as Americans always do -- in the end, we will succeed. We will prevail. (Applause.) As we have seen tonight, the most difficult
challenges bring out the best in America. We see a vivid expression of this truth in
the story of the Holets family of New Mexico. Ryan Holets is 27 years old, an officer with
the Albuquerque Police Department. He's here tonight with his wife Rebecca. (Applause.) Thank you, Ryan. Last year, Ryan was on duty when he saw a
pregnant, homeless woman preparing to inject heroin. When Ryan told her she was going to harm her
unborn child, she began to weep. She told him she didn't know where to turn,
but badly wanted a safe home for her baby. In that moment, Ryan said he felt God speak
to him: "You will do it, because you can." He heard those words. He took out a picture of his wife and their
four kids. Then, he went home to tell his wife Rebecca. In an instant, she agreed to adopt. The Holets named their new daughter Hope. Ryan and Rebecca, you embody the goodness
of our nation. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, Ryan and Rebecca. As we rebuild America's strength and confidence
at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad. Around the world, we face rogue regimes, terrorist
groups, and rivals like China and Russia that challenge our interests, our economy, and
our values. In confronting these horrible dangers, we
know that weakness is the surest path to conflict, and unmatched power is the surest means to
our true and great defense. For this reason, I am asking Congress to end
the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military. (Applause.) As part of our defense, we must modernize
and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong
and so powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression by any other nation or anyone
else. (Applause.) Perhaps someday in the future, there will
be a magical moment when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate their
nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, we are not there yet, sadly. Last year, I also pledged that we would work
with our allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the Earth. One year later, I am proud to report that
the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated very close to 100 percent of the territory
just recently held by these killers in Iraq and in Syria and in other locations, as well. (Applause.) But there is much more work to be done. We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck is here tonight. Near Raqqa, last November, Justin and his
comrade, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, were on a mission to clear buildings that
ISIS had rigged with explosive so that civilians could return to that city hopefully soon,
and hopefully safely. Clearing the second floor of a vital hospital,
Kenton Stacy was severely wounded by an explosion. Immediately, Justin bounded into the booby-trapped
and unbelievably dangerous and unsafe building, and found Kenton, but in very, very bad shape. He applied pressure to the wound and inserted
a tube to reopen an airway. He then performed CPR for 20 straight minutes
during the ground transport, and maintained artificial respiration through two and a half
hours and through emergency surgery. Kenton Stacy would have died if it were not
for Justin's selfless love for his fellow warrior. Tonight, Kenton is recovering in Texas. Raqqa is liberated. And Justin is wearing his new Bronze Star,
with a "V" for "valor." Staff Sergeant Peck, all of America salutes
you. (Applause.) Terrorists who do things like place bombs
in civilian hospitals are evil. When possible, we have no choice but to annihilate
them. When necessary, we must be able to detain
and question them. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely
criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. (Applause.) And when captured overseas, they should be
treated like the terrorists they are. In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds
and hundreds of dangerous terrorists, only to meet them again on the battlefield -- including
the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi, who we captured, who we had, who we released. So today, I'm keeping another promise. I just signed, prior to walking in, an order
directing Secretary Mattis, who is doing a great job, thank you -- (applause) -- to reexamine
our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities in Guantanamo
Bay. (Applause.) I am asking Congress to ensure that, in the
fight against ISIS and al Qaeda, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists,
wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them. And in many cases, for them, it will now be
Guantanamo Bay. (Applause.) At the same time, as of a few months ago,
our warriors in Afghanistan have new rules of engagement. (Applause.) Along with their heroic Afghan partners, our
military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies
our plans. (Applause.) Last month, I also took an action endorsed
unanimously by the U.S. Senate just months before. I recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Applause.) Shortly afterwards, dozens of countries voted
in the United Nations General Assembly against America's sovereign right to make this decision. In 2016, American taxpayers generously sent
those same countries more than $20 billion in aid. That is why, tonight, I am asking Congress
to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American
interests, and only go to friends of America, not enemies of America. (Applause.) As we strengthen friendships all around the
world, we are also restoring clarity about our adversaries. When the people of Iran rose up against the
crimes of their corrupt dictatorship, I did not stay silent. America stands with the people of Iran in
their courageous struggle for freedom. (Applause.) I am asking Congress to address the fundamental
flaws in the terrible Iran nuclear deal. My administration has also imposed tough sanctions
on the communist and socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela. (Applause.) But no regime has oppressed its own citizens
more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in 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 ever happening. 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. Otto Warmbier was a hardworking student at
the University of Virginia -- and a great student he was. On his way to study abroad in Asia, Otto joined
a tour to North Korea. At its conclusion, this wonderful young man
was arrested and charged with crimes against the state. After a shameful trial, the dictatorship sentenced
Otto to 15 years of hard labor, before returning him to America last June, horribly injured
and on the verge of death. He passed away just days after his return. Otto's wonderful parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier,
are here with us tonight, along with Otto's brother and sister, Austin and Greta. Please. (Applause.) Incredible people. You are powerful witnesses to a menace that
threatens our world, and your strength truly inspires us all. Thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.) Tonight, we pledge to honor Otto's memory
with total American resolve. Thank you. (Applause.) Finally, we are joined by one more witness
to the ominous nature of this regime. His name is Mr. Ji Seong-ho. In 1996, Seong-ho was a starving boy in North
Korea. One day, he tried to steal coal from a railroad
car to barter for a few scraps of food, which were very hard to get. In the process, he passed out on the train
tracks, exhausted from hunger. He woke up as a train ran over his limbs. He then endured multiple amputations without
anything to dull the pain or the hurt. His brother and sister gave what little food
they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves, permanently stunting their own
growth. Later, he was tortured by North Korean authorities
after returning from a brief visit to China. His tormentors wanted to know if he'd met
any Christians. He had -- and he resolved, after that, to
be free. Seong-ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches
all across China and Southeast Asia to freedom. Most of his family followed. His father was caught trying to escape and
was tortured to death. Today he lives in Seoul, where he rescues
other defectors, and broadcasts into North Korea what the regime fears most: the truth. Today, he has a new leg. But, Seong-ho, I understand you still keep
those old crutches as a reminder of how far you've come. Your great sacrifice is an inspiration to
us all. Please. Thank you. (Applause.) Seong-ho's story is a testament to the yearning
of every human soul to live in freedom. It was that same yearning for freedom that
nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called America. It was a small cluster of colonies caught
between a great ocean and a vast wilderness. It was home to an incredible people with a
revolutionary idea: that they could rule themselves; that they could chart their own destiny; and
that, together, they could light up the entire world. That is what our country has always been about. That is what Americans have always stood for,
always strived for, and always done. Atop the dome of this Capitol stands the Statue
of Freedom. She stands tall and dignified among the monuments
to our ancestors who fought, and lived, and died to protect her. Monuments to Washington, and Jefferson, and
Lincoln, and King. Memorials to the heroes of Yorktown and Saratoga;
to young Americans who shed their blood on the shores of Normandy and the fields beyond;
and others, who went down in the waters of the Pacific and the skies all over Asia. And freedom stands tall over one more monument:
this one. This Capitol -- this living monument -- this
is the moment to the American people. (Applause.) AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! THE PRESIDENT: We're a people whose heroes live not only in the past, but
all around us, defending hope, pride, and defending the American way. They work in every trade. They sacrifice to raise a family. They care for our children at home. They defend our flag abroad. And they are strong moms and brave kids. They are firefighters, and police officers,
and border agents, medics, and Marines. But above all else, they are Americans. And this Capitol, this city, this nation,
belongs entirely to them. (Applause.) Our task is to respect them, to listen to
them, to serve them, to protect them, and to always be worthy of them. Americans fill the world with art and music. They push the bounds of science and discovery. And they forever remind us of what we should
never, ever forget: The people dreamed this country. The people built this country. And it's the people who are making America
great again. (Applause.) As long as we are proud of who we are and
what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve. As long as we have confidence in our values,
faith in our citizens, and trust in our God, we will never fail. Our families will thrive. Our people will prosper. And our nation will forever be safe and strong
and proud and mighty and free. Thank you. And God bless America. Goodnight. (Applause.) JUDY WOODRUFF: President Trump concludes his
State of the Union address. He went an hour and 20 minutes. If State of the Union addresses normally are
a laundry list of policy proposals, this one certainly outlined what the president sees
as his economic successes in his one year in office. And it was a call to reach across the aisle
seeking Democratic support for his immigration proposal, to come up with an infrastructure
relief plan, but, as much as anything, Mark Shields, I think, in the last half-hour, a
celebration of American survival and courage, with, I think, one guest after another in
the audience, a North Korean defector, the police officer who adopted the baby of an
addicted -- a couple addicted of heroin, the parents of two teenage girls who were murdered
by gang members. There were some emotional moments during this
hour and 20 minutes. MARK SHIELDS: Very emotional moments. And it -- several of them were really quite
special, especially the police officer and his wife with four children who adopted the
unborn child of the heroin addict, which is really rather remarkable. But it was a different Donald Trump certainly
from the inaugural. There was no carnage. There was no dark and bleak. It was quite upbeat. What struck me is the willingness to applaud. I noticed that Speaker Ryan didn't stand up
and applaud when the president endorsed family leave, paid family leave, and that it's the
one exception. But, I mean, the infrastructure, those were
big items. And the call for unity, Judy, while appealing,
we will see how long-lasting it is. It has a rather limited shelf life when the
president calls people on the other side -- at last count, he had personally insulted 83
Democratic elected members by name in his tweets. And we will see if that has been -- tonight,
it was a bigger Donald Trump and sort of a reaching across the aisle. You're right. And... JUDY WOODRUFF: But, David -- I was just going
to say, David, there were many Democrats who were not standing when the president was speaking. DAVID BROOKS: No, it's weird. Now you seem to write speeches designed to
get the people, the opposition to not stand, and you hope they look bad. That's one of the designs of these speeches. I actually disagree with Mark on the tone
of the speech. I was struck first by the amazing number of
people that he cited in the balcony. Lenny Skutnik was the first one in 1982 that
Ronald Reagan cited. I have never seen so many cited. MARK SHIELDS: No. DAVID BROOKS: But when he put the tapestry
of the stories together, you get a pretty grim view. He starts with some uplift about the economic
numbers, but most of the stories are about people getting killed. It's about death in North Korea, death -- near
death in Iraq, death from MS-13. And so you evoke an emotional atmosphere of
survivorship against hardship and against malevolence and against threat. And that's an emotional atmosphere designed
to minimize compassion, to minimize hope, and to shrink certain emotions and grow certain
tough-minded ones. JUDY WOODRUFF: The president making his way
out of the chamber, greeting members of Congress. Amy, I wrote down the word survival there
toward the end. AMY WALTER: I wrote down safety and security. I'm with -- with David. JUDY WOODRUFF: Yes. AMY WALTER: I think, if we go through the
speech and look at the amount of time the president spent on the economy and jobs, the
issue that he talked about obviously a lot on the campaign, but that Americans are saying
they feel the best about, compared to the amount of time he spent on MS-13, ICE, Border
Patrol, drug pushers and dealers, terrorists, Guantanamo Bay, rebuilding our nuclear arsenal,
North Korea, I think that would outweigh the talk about jobs and the economy. And there was very little -- there was a laundry
list. There always is in these things. Very, very little specifics, if any, on infrastructure,
lowering prescription drug costs, reforming prisons, even on trade. We're in the middle of negotiating -- the
U.S. is -- in the middle of negotiating NAFTA. No hints there about where we're going to
go with a very, very big trade deal. JUDY WOODRUFF: Matt Schlapp, what about the
tone? What about what Amy said about the tone of
the speech not being one that is uplifting? MATT SCHLAPP: Well, Amy wanted a longer speech,
because she wanted more details. (LAUGHTER) MATT SCHLAPP: I think it was a plenty long
speech. And I think the policy coverage is there. He kind of touched everything. And the tone, I completely disagree, respectfully,
with David. I actually think these are American stories. These are stories that need to be told. Like Donald Trump or don't like Donald Trump,
his election surprised a lot of people, because he was talking to and connecting to people
who aren't always listened to. And the stories of the people today were stories
that we haven't all heard. Some of them really are uplifting stories,
and stories of bravery, stories of cops, stories of soldiers, stories of people being decent,
yes, and people having to experience death because of maybe bad policies. And I think actually, weaving it together,
Donald Trump built this speech on the plain stories of American people. JUDY WOODRUFF: Karine Jean-Pierre? KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Yes. So, I agree with Amy and David on this one. I think, there was, to me, a lot of dog whistle
with this, like, carnage that was twisted in this positive way. And I think he was definitely talking to his
base. And it didn't seem partisan to me at all,
and then... JUDY WOODRUFF: Did or didn't? KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Did not. And I think there was this other part of it,
too, that where -- there were just a lot of untruths, right? And when I talk about the dog whistle, he
talks about -- when he talks about immigrants, he talks about terrorism, and that's how -- that's
why we need to have this immigrant policy, by using terrorism, MS-13, like Amy was saying,
ICE and Border Patrol. So, there was a lot of this kind of red meat
that he -- I think he was very much throwing together his base. And then there was these -- the fact-checking
that you needed to do about coal, about African-American unemployment, which he shouldn't get credit
for. The hurricane -- FEMA announced today that
it was cutting food and services to Puerto Rico. So there was a lot of that as well. JUDY WOODRUFF: And you're right. I mean, there was a listing. And all night, we're seeing tweets of factual
corrections. The president is leaving -- leaving the House
chamber. It looks to me like it's cleared out surprisingly
quickly. MARK SHIELDS: Boy. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, wow. (LAUGHTER) JUDY WOODRUFF: We're used to seeing people
stick around for a little bit longer. (CROSSTALK) JUDY WOODRUFF: I just want to say, we are
going to be hearing... MARK SHIELDS: OK. JUDY WOODRUFF: ... I think in about five or
10 minutes now from Congressman Joe Kennedy, who will give the Democratic response. There's a countdown from the time the president
walks out that door until we hear from Congressman Kennedy. MARK SHIELDS: OK. JUDY WOODRUFF: But, Mark, I don't want to
stand in your way. MARK SHIELDS: Yes. All right. OK. Let me identify -- let me associate myself
with Matt, which I have never said before... (LAUGHTER) MARK SHIELDS: ... and disassociate myself
with David. (LAUGHTER) (CROSSTALK) MATT SCHLAPP: The hour must be late. (LAUGHTER) MARK SHIELDS: No, let me just say, I mean,
were the facts wrong? Sure. I mean, it was the lowest, slowest job growth
in the last six years, 2017 was, I mean, yes. But I really do -- I do think the bar is low,
but Donald Trump showed a side of himself this evening which he hasn't shown. I mean, he's been a divisive, personalizing
president, criticizing, not establishing relations with people on the other side, many on his
own side. He's driven two senators of his own party
to retirement who disagree with him, Bob Corker and Jeff Flake. And -- but, at the same time, he did -- he
did tonight show a side that was more civil. AMY WALTER: Yes. And I will say this. He spent less time talking about himself and
allowing other people... (CROSSTALK) MARK SHIELDS: Himself. That was the point I was going to make about
the anecdotes. AMY WALTER: I agree. MARK SHIELDS: He wasn't talking about Donald
Trump all the time. JUDY WOODRUFF: Before you -- before you go
any further, I want to go our White House correspondent, Yamiche Alcindor. She's there at the big White House. Yamiche, you were listening to this. You had gotten a sense earlier today what
the president wanted to say. Did that come across? YAMICHE ALCINDOR: I think it very much came
across. The president essentially had a laundry list
of ideas and goals that he wanted to communicate to the American people, chief among them immigration. The line that sticks out to me is that Americans
are dreamers, too. For the base, that really, I think, is going
to make them very happy. But for the people that are still struggling
with immigration, it shows that he might be putting Americans -- pitting Americans against
immigrants. The other thing I thought about was the idea
that he was bringing into the chamber people who were affected by crime that was committed
by immigrants. There is this idea that this administration
is being accused of using stereotypes, mainly that immigrants are both a drag on the social
safety net, but also criminality, that they could be criminals, that that's something
that people could take away from the speech. He did, however, hit on topics that could
be bipartisan. He talked about the opioid crisis. He talked about infrastructure. But this is a speech that was written by so
many different people, with H.R. McMaster and Stephen Miller and Gary Cohn
weighing in, that the president really just had to deliver what was in the teleprompter. He didn't go off-speech. I was following along with the speech most
of the time, and he very -- he did very little ad-libbing. So, that is something that the president was
able to at least keep that in line. But he did clap for himself a lot. (LAUGHTER) YAMICHE ALCINDOR: So, you could tell that
he was up there having a good time. JUDY WOODRUFF: We -- yes, we were noticing
that. Yamiche, we're only a minute or so away from
the Democratic response, but, just very quickly, the president made several calls to Democrats
to reach across the aisle. Is the White House serious about that? YAMICHE ALCINDOR: The White House says that
they are very serious about reaching across the aisle, but they also have very clear lines. They said the word chain immigration again
today. He said the word chain immigration. That's something that is very, very -- that
makes Democrats very, very angry. They think that families should have the right
to be united. But he cast it as families -- as protecting
nuclear families by ending families coming together from immigration. There is this idea that he wants to work with
the Democrats, but he wants to work on his terms. Of course, the Republicans control all the
seats of government. They have the House, the Senate and the White
House. So, working with the Democrats might turn
into, you need to sign on and agree with what we have because we're the ones with the power. He's hinted that Mitch McConnell should change
the rules of the Senate to make it easier for Republicans to pass legislation only for
Republicans, only supported by Republicans. So, that tells me that, even though the president
wants to work with Democrats, they also are ready to use a backup plan, which would completely
circumvent Democrats. JUDY WOODRUFF: A so-called filibuster rule. Yamiche, we are going to come back to you
later. We are just a few seconds away, I think, from
hearing the Democratic response. It's going to come from the third-term congressman
from the state of Massachusetts. He is Joseph Kennedy, 37 years old. He is the son of a former congressman, Joe
Kennedy, the grandson of an attorney general, the late Robert F. Kennedy, and, of course,
great nephew of President John F. Kennedy. This is -- there was a lot of conversation
about who the Democrats should have chosen. We are going to get a chance to hear him right
now, Congressman Joe Kennedy. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. JOE KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. JOE KENNEDY: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. JOE KENNEDY: Thank you. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It is a privilege to join you tonight. We are here in Fall River, Massachusetts – a
proud American city, built by immigrants. From textiles to robots, this is a place that
knows how to make great things. The students with us this evening in the autoshop
at Diman Regional Technical School carry on that rich legacy. Like many American hometowns, Fall River has
faced its share of storms. But people here are tough. They fight for each other. They pull for their city. It is a fitting place to gather as our nation
reflects on the state of our union. This is a difficult task. Many have spent the past year anxious, angry,
afraid. We all feel the fault lines of a fractured
country. We hear the voices of Americans who feel forgotten
and forsaken. We see an economy that makes stocks soar,
investor portfolios bulge and corporate profits climb but fails to give workers their fair
share of the reward. A government that struggles to keep itself
open. Russia knee-deep in our democracy. An all-out war on environmental protection. A Justice Department rolling back civil rights
by the day. Hatred and supremacy proudly marching in our
streets. Bullets tearing through our classrooms, concerts,
and congregations. Targeting our safest, sacred places. And that nagging, sinking feeling, no matter
your political beliefs: this is not right. This is not who we are. 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. For them, dignity isn’t something you’re
born with but something you measure. By your net worth, your celebrity, your headlines,
your crowd size. Not to mention, the gender of your spouse. The country of your birth. The color of your skin. The God of your prayers. Their record is a rebuke of our highest American
ideal: the belief that we are all worthy, we are all equal and we all count. In the eyes of our law and our leaders, our
God and our government. That is the American promise. But today that promise is being broken. By an Administration that callously appraises
our worthiness and decides who makes the cut and who can be bargained away. They are turning American life into a zero-sum
game. Where, in order for one to win, another must
lose. Where we can guarantee America’s safety
if we slash our safety net. We can extend healthcare to Mississippi if
we gut it in Massachusetts. We can cut taxes for corporations today if
we raise them for families tomorrow. We can take care of sick kids if we sacrifice
Dreamers. We are bombarded with one false choice after
another: Coal miners or single moms. Rural communities or inner cities. The coast or the heartland. As if the mechanic in Pittsburgh and the teacher
in Tulsa and the daycare worker in Birmingham are somehow bitter rivals, rather than mutual
casualties of a system forcefully rigged for those at the top. As if the parent who lies awake terrified
that their transgender son will be beaten and bullied at school is any more or less
legitimate than the parent whose heart is shattered by a daughter in the grips of opioid
addiction. So here is the answer Democrats offer tonight:
we choose both. We fight for both. Because the strongest, richest, greatest nation
in the world shouldn’t leave any one behind. We choose a better deal for all who call this
country home. We choose the living wage, paid leave and
affordable child care your family needs to survive. We choose pensions that are solvent, trade
pacts that are fair, roads and bridges that won’t rust away, and good education you
can afford. We choose a health care system that offers
mercy, whether you suffer from cancer or depression or addiction. We choose an economy strong enough to boast
record stock prices AND brave enough to admit that top CEOs making 300 times the average
worker is not right. We choose Fall River. We choose the thousands of American communities
whose roads aren’t paved with power or privilege, but with honest effort, good faith, and the
resolve to build something better for their kids. That is our story. It began the day our Founding Fathers and
Mothers set sail for a New World, fleeing oppression and intolerance. It continued with every word of our Independence
– the audacity to declare that all men are created equal. An imperfect promise for a nation struggling
to become a more perfect union. It grew with every suffragette’s step, every
Freedom Riders voice, every weary soul we welcomed to our shores. And to all the Dreamers watching tonight,
let me be clear: Ustedes son parte de nuestra historia. Vamos a luchar por ustedes y no nos vamos
alejar. You are a part of our story. We will fight for you. We will not walk away. America, we carry that story on our shoulders. You swarmed Washington last year to ensure
no parent has to worry if they can afford to save their child’s life. You proudly marched together last weekend
– thousands deep -- in the streets of Las Vegas and Philadelphia and Nashville. You sat high atop your mom’s shoulders and
held a sign that read: “Build a wall and my generation will tear it down.” You bravely say, me too. You steadfastly say, black lives matter. You wade through flood waters, battle hurricanes,
and brave wildfires and mudslides to save a stranger. You fight your own, quiet battles every single
day. You drag your weary bodies to that extra shift
so your families won’t feel the sting of scarcity. You leave loved ones at home to defend our
country overseas, or patrol our neighborhoods overnight. You serve. You rescue. You help. You heal. That – more than any law or leader, any
debate or disagreement – that is what drives us toward progress. Bullies may land a punch. They might leave a mark. But they have never, not once, in the history
of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in
defense of their future. Politicians can be cheered for the promises
they make. Our country will be judged by the promises
we keep. THAT is the measure of our character. That’s who we are. Out of many. One. Ladies and gentlemen, have faith: The state
of our union is hopeful, resilient, enduring. Thank you, God Bless you and your families,
and God Bless the United States of America (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) JUDY WOODRUFF: Third-term Democratic Congressman
Joe Kennedy speaking from a training -- a vocational training school in Fall River,
Massachusetts, in his congressional district, lifting up a Democratic vision of fairness
and calling out President Trump and his administration for what he called a zero-sum game approach. Let's go quickly to our Lisa Desjardins at
the Capitol. Lisa, how are they reacting to the president's
speech and to this? LISA DESJARDINS: Speaking to a few members
of Congress, who, you were right, Judy, got out of that chamber pretty quickly, members
of both parties used a single word, Judy -- and it was interesting -- it was subdued. Talking to a Republican, he said that was
a good thing. And talking to a Democrat, they said they're
not sure what it means. I can tell you, it wasn't just the president's
speech that was subdued. The atmosphere here in general, Judy, has
a much lower energy quality to it than State of the Unions I have seen in the past. I don't know if that has to do with all of
the dynamics swirling around the Capitol, but it's something I have certainly noticed
tonight. JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, I know, Lisa, you have
been talking to members of Congress. And we're going to be putting that online
for our viewers to watch. Just very quickly, Mark Shields, David Brooks,
we have got about a minute. Takeaway from the whole night, Mark? MARK SHIELDS: I will take 55 seconds. (LAUGHTER) MARK SHIELDS: Thirty-seven years old, younger
than the president's son. That was a generational change. That was the message tonight. He -- the messenger was the message. DAVID BROOKS: Yes. And I would say Donald Trump used a lot of
us/them distinctions. And Democrats have a tendency to fall into
that, of class warfare. Kennedy, because he heralds from his family,
did the "all of us" theme, and it's probably a better theme for Democrats. JUDY WOODRUFF: Amy? AMY WALTER: Except it felt a lot like the
Hillary Clinton 2016 stronger together speech, just repackaged in this year, and it wasn't
a particularly successful strategy in 2016. This time, different now that Trump is actually
president. We will wait and see. JUDY WOODRUFF: Matt Schlapp? MATT SCHLAPP: I give him credit. I think they set up the speech well. I liked the enthusiasm to begin with. I just think it was a little harshly partisan. I don't think that was the right way to go,
but give the young man some credit. I think he had an exuberant speech. JUDY WOODRUFF: Karine Jean-Pierre? KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: I think he kind of had
this Obamaesque quality to -- that's what I saw, 37 years old, young, really reaching
out to the millennials out there. I think the Democrats were doing that. And I think that's important to do. JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, we want to thank each
and every one of you for being here tonight for the president's State of the Union. We're going to continue to cover this online. But, for now, that wraps up our special live
coverage of President Trump's State of the Union address and the Democrats' response,
which you just heard. I want to thank all of our guests again, everyone
who joined us. I'm Judy Woodruff. Stay with us as our coverage continues, as
we said, online. For all of us at the "PBS NewsHour," thank
you, and we'll see you soon.
