Five key takeaways from Trump's state-of-the-nation address

"Instead, he took the opportunity to further denigrate immigrants, highlight his perceived personal achievements and make grandiose promises of prosperity to come. Our nation is strong. America is respected, and our country is back stronger than ever before. We're poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen, he said. Members of the Democratic Party were quick to capitalise on Trump's flagging approval ratings and popular concerns about affordability."

"Illegal aliens stole American jobs and flooded emergency rooms getting free healthcare and education paid for by you the American taxpayer, Trump said. They also increased the cost of law enforcement by numbers so high that they are not even to be mentioned. The US president, who recently called the Somali community garbage in a racist tirade, falsely claimed that Somalis took over the economics of the state of Minnesota and stole billions and billions of dollars."

President Donald Trump delivered a 19-minute televised address that blamed immigrants for housing shortages, job losses, and higher public costs while promising a major economic boom by 2026. He asserted that America is strong and respected and credited himself with restoring national strength and peace in the Middle East. Opponents criticized the speech as detached from reality and full of falsehoods, pointing to derogatory language toward Somali communities and misleading claims about immigrants' economic impact. Studies, however, indicate immigrants generally contribute more than they consume and provide essential labor in key sectors.

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