The American Dream is back for all, says President Trump

Trump, in a self-congratulatory State of the Union speech, said  employment  prospects are “stronger than ever before”, and the US economy is at its brightest, having reached the highest levels in history, setting the stage for his re-election bid.

“The years of economic decay are over. Gone too are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes, and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power and prestige,” Trump said on the eve of his likely acquittal by the Senate in the impeachment trial.

He said in just three “short” years, his administration has “shattered the mentality of American decline” and rejected “the downsizing of America’s destiny”.

The president asserted his country’s economy is the best it has ever been.

“The American Dream is back - bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he said.

“Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback.  Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results.  Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again. America’s enemies are on the run, America’s fortunes are on the rise, and America’s future is blazing bright.

“The years of economic decay are over.  The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us. Gone too are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes, and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power, and prestige.

“In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline, and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny. We have totally rejected the downsizing. We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never, ever going back.

“I am thrilled to report to you tonight that our economy is the best it has ever been.  Our military is completely rebuilt, with its power being unmatched anywhere in the world — and it’s not even close. Our borders are secure.  Our families are flourishing.  Our values are renewed.  Our pride is restored.  And for all of these reasons, I say to the people of our great country and to the members of Congress: The state of our Union is stronger than ever before,” Trump said.

The vision I will lay out this evening demonstrates how we are building the world’s most prosperous and inclusive society — one where every citizen can join in America’s unparalleled success and where every community can take part in America’s extraordinary rise.

The President said the pro-American polices combined with measures undertaken to revitalise the US economy, including the revoking of a record number of job-killing regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts, and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements, have helped the US economy flourish.  

Trump said his pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth, and, most of all, pro-American policies have helped the nation advance with unbridled optimism and lift citizens of every race, color, religion, and creed very, very high.

He also claimed that his administration has created 7 million new jobs — 5 million more than government experts projected during the previous administration.  

US unemployment rate is the lowest in over half a century, he said, adding that the average unemployment rate under his administration is lower than any administration in the history of the country.

Asserting that the US is moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, Trump, the first president to run for reelection after being impeached, said jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging and the country is thriving and highly respected again.

America’s fortunes are on the rise and its future is “blazing bright”, he said.

“From the instant I took office, I moved rapidly to revive the United States economy -- slashing a record number of job-killing regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements,” Trump said.

The president said the agenda of his administration is relentlessly pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth, and, most of all, pro-American.

“Since my election, we have created seven million new jobs -- 5 million more than government experts projected during the previous administration. The unemployment rate is the lowest in over half a century. Incredibly, the average unemployment rate under my administration is lower than any administration in the history of our country. If we had not reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witness to America’s great economic success,” Trump claimed.

“African-American poverty has declined to the lowest rate ever recorded. The unemployment rate for women reached the lowest level in almost 70 years -- and last year, women filled 72 per cent of all new jobs added. The veterans’ unemployment rate dropped to a record low. The unemployment rate for disabled Americans has reached an all-time low,” Trump asserted.

Underling that workers without a high school diploma have achieved the lowest unemployment rate recorded in US history, he claimed that record number of young Americans are now employed.

“Under the last administration, more than 10 million people were added to the food stamp rolls.  Under my administration, 7 million Americans have come off food stamps, and 10 million people have been lifted off of welfare.  

“In eight years under the last administration, over 300,000 working-age people dropped out of the workforce. In just three years of my administration, 3.5 million people — working-age people — have joined the workforce.

“Since my election, the net worth of the bottom half of wage earners has increased by 47 per cent — three times faster than the increase for the top 1 per cent. After decades of flat and falling incomes, wages are rising fast — and, wonderfully, they are rising fastest for low-income workers, who have seen a 16 per cent pay increase since my election.  This is a blue-collar boom,” he said.  

Real median household income is now at the highest level ever recorded.  

US stock markets have soared 70 per cent, adding more than $12 trillion to the nation’s wealth.  This is a record.  It is something that every country in the world is looking up to. Consumer confidence has just reached amazing new highs, Trump said.

The United States has become the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world, by far thanks to bold regulatory policies, he said, adding, “we are restoring our nation’s manufacturing might, even though predictions were, as you all know, that this could never, ever be done.”

“After losing 60,000 factories under the previous two administrations, America has now gained 12,000 new factories under my administration, with thousands upon thousands of plants and factories being planned or being built. Companies are not leaving; they are coming back to the USA.   The fact is that everybody wants to be where the action is, and the United States of America is indeed the place where the action is.

The president also spoke of how he replaced the disastrous NAFTA trade deal, under which the US lost one in four manufacturing jobs. He said the brand-new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will create nearly 100,000 new high-paying American auto jobs, and massively boost exports for farmers, ranchers, and factory workers.

Trump also claimed success with his China policy and his promise to impose tariffs to confront China’s “massive theft of America’s jobs.”  

He said the new agreement signed with China will defend US workers, protect intellectual property, bring billions and billions of dollars into US treasury, and open vast new markets for products made and grown in the USA.

Trump said America is once again standing up for freedom. “We are supporting the hopes of Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to restore democracy.”  

And, he said, “just weeks ago, for the first time since President Truman established the Air Force more than 70 years earlier, we created a brand-new branch of the United States Armed Forces.  It’s called the Space Force.”

Trump said the next step forward in building an inclusive society is making sure that every young American gets a great education and the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. 

“My administration is determined to give our citizens the opportunities they need regardless of age or background.  Through our Pledge to American Workers, over 400 companies will also provide new jobs and education opportunities to almost 15 million Americans.”

On affordable healthcare, Trump said, “I’ve also made an ironclad pledge to American families: We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions.  And we will always protect your Medicare and we will always protect your Social Security.  Always.”