By Lindsay Press
Less than two months after taking office, President Donald Trump held a joint address in front of members of Congress, department heads, dignitaries, and special guests. During his 90-minute speech – the longest by any president, according to news reports – he covered the gamut, from grocery prices to tariffs to illegal immigration to crime and cutting wasteful spending, among other topics.
Trump’s statements were met with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations from the Republicans and silence and derision from Democrats. Many wore pink to protest Trump’s policies on women and families, while others wore blue and yellow in support of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. One of them, Al Green (D-Texas), was removed from the joint address for waving his cane and refusing to be quiet.
Representative Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River) told Fox News that there should be repercussions for those who protested during Trump’s speech. “A thousand percent,” he said. “I think what happened today was a shameful display.”
The day after the speech, local politicians gave their take on Trump’s speech, with opinions drawn down party lines.
Republicans, however, focused their attention on Trump’s support for law enforcement. Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) posted, “Trump-era policies = illegal crossings at an all-time low, ICE arrests up 600%, and migrant shelters closing. On our way to making our border secure and neighborhoods safe again!” LaLota also backed other Trump initiatives, such as removing DEI programs from schools, companies and the military and preventing transgender women from joining girls’ and women’s sports.
Rather than commenting on Trump’s statements during his address, Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-Patchogue) posted on Twitter/X praising Trump’s decision to recognize the police department by honoring Stephanie Diller, the widow of New York Police Department and Long Island native Jonathan Diller, who was killed last March.
Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello, who joined LaLota at the address, complimented Trump and LaLota, “Long Islanders are fortunate to have these two great leaders that support the brave men and women of Law Enforcement,” Civello said.
Democrats, however, had a harsher view of Trump’s speech.
“Trump is spewing lies during this joint address. Since taking office, he has not lowered the cost of living for Americans,” Representative Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) posted on Twitter/X. Meeks continued in his post that Trump will slash Medicaid, force grocery prices to go up, and strip away veterans’ benefits.
“I feel sad for our country. I have never felt it so divided,” U.S. Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) said in a post on Twitter/X. “There is a meanness that permeated the chamber tonight. The punch, counterpunch will never work. If we continue with this “eye for an eye”mentality, we will all end up blind.”
Governor Kathy Hochul argued that Trump’s speech to Congress “failed to offer a single meaningful solution to the affordability crisis. … In fact, we heard the exact opposite: plan after plan that would raise costs on consumers,” she stated. “The President doubled down on his tariffs, which would cost New York families more than $1,200 each year and devastate our family farms.”
However, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-Glen Cove) was not as combative. She posted on social media that she is “ready to work with the President when it helps my constituents, but I’ll always fight back against policies that hurt Nassau County.”