US President Trump has addressed a joint session of Congress, telling lawmakers he is "just getting started" after a whirlwind six weeks in office
Trump says he "appreciated" a letter from Ukraine's Zelensky, which said he was ready to negotiate for peace
Speaking about his desire for Greenland to become a part of the US, Trump says "one way or another, we're gonna get it"
On the domestic front, Trump says there will be "tax cuts for everybody" and promises to balance the federal budget
The President has used his speech to list what he calls his "bold actions", including sweeping funding freezes and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America
He spent several minutes celebrating the cost-cutting of Elon Musk's Doge initiative and the ending of aid programmes around the world that he decried as "fraud"
Democrat Al Green was ejected for shouting and refusing to sit, while Republicans chanted "USA"
Senator Elissa Slotkin delivered the Democratic Party rebuttal, and took aim at Musk's Doge - saying "(there's) no guardrails on what they do with your private data"
Watch: Key moments from Trump’s address to Congress
President Donald Trump begins to deliver his address to a joint session of Congress. "Thank you very much. A great honour, thank you," he says.
"America is back," he says, as supporters erupt into a chant of "USA".
You can watch the speech live at the top of this page.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
As the president entered the chamber, he pumped his fist in the air and waved to those in the balcony.
Republicans began chanting "USA", and he received loud applause and a standing ovation.
It’s a stark contrast to the Democratic side - lawmakers are remaining silent.
Donald Trump is announced as he walks into the joint session at the Capitol: "Mr. Speaker, the president of the United States."
He's shaking hands with allies as he walks down the aisle.
Samantha Granville
Reporting from Houston, Texas
“A+”...“Outstanding”
That’s how the young Republicans in Texas are classifying President Trump’s first 43 days in office.
They’ve gathered at an Irish pub in a Houston suburb to watch the President’s address. Fox News is playing on several TV’s and attendees are wearing red, some with flag bandanas, others with flag pins on their jackets.
There’s no lack of patriotism here.
One attendee, Karan Joshi, tells me he can feel the energy around since President Trump took office.
“He’s keeping his promises, and he’s cracking down on immigration. I’m excited to hear more about his plans tonight.”
Bobby Eberle, a local Republican Party leader, says he’s also excited to hear about border security and the economy, given today’s tariffs announcements.
“We elected President Trump to do stuff and he started signing executive orders at the inaugural parade!”, Bobby says excitedly.
“I think this commitment to promises made and promises kept…He even has his hardest core supporters impressed.”
The excerpts we've obtained confirm what many White House watchers have been expecting today: that Trump will seek more money for deportations.
"I have sent Congress a detailed funding request laying out exactly how we will eliminate these threats, protect our homeland, and complete the largest deportation operation in American history," Trump will say.
"Americans expect Congress to send me this funding without delay, so I can sign it into law," he will tell lawmakers.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
The president’s cabinet is entering the chamber, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
I’m also spotting US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of Labour Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, spotted earlier, is also part of the procession.
The Senate just recently confirmed many of the cabinet members we’re seeing enter the chamber now.
Image source, ReutersRachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Pink is not the only colour filling the room. Many Democratic lawmakers are wearing yellow and blue ties, to show their support of Ukraine by sporting the colours of the country's flag.
We're still going through the excerpts, and as expected Trump will make some strong statements on the war in Ukraine.
"I am also working tirelessly to end the savage conflict in Ukraine," he will say.
"Millions of Ukrainians and Russians have been needlessly killed or wounded in this horrific and brutal conflict, with no end in sight.
"The United States has sent hundreds of billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense.
"Meanwhile, Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine – by far."
Cai Pigliucci
Reporting from Washington DC
Image source, EPAIt’s been nearly two years since the movie 'Barbie' swept the nation and pink came roaring back into fashion.
Tonight, many Democratic women in Congress are donning the colour in protest of President Trump. If you’re watching at home, you can see a sea of pink on the Democratic side, including Jill Tokuda of Hawaii sporting it.
“Pink is a color of power and protest and we’re pissed off,” said the Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández from New Mexico ahead of the speech.
The group is hoping it will draw the eye of viewers as they protest rising costs that they say are disproportionately affecting women.
It’s not the first time that fashion has been used in protest on Capitol Hill. In years past, including Trump’s last State of the Union in 2020, many women chose to wear white - the colour of the women’s suffrage movement in the US.
We know that many of the most important people in US politics will be present at Trump’s address.
One person who will be absent, however, is the designated survivor.
The designated survivor is the name given to the individual selected by the President to lead the country in case a catastrophe incapacitates the government’s leadership while so many people in the line of succession are gathered in one building.
This cabinet member will remain at a secure location during tonight's speech.
This year, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is the designated survivor.
In 2017, another veteran affairs secretary, David Shulkin, was Trump’s designated survivor.
Trump will also address the major issues of the day - aid to Ukraine and the growing trade war with US allies, according to excerpts of his speech.
"Later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in USA," he is expected to say.
It comes as he demands a deal with Ukraine to extract minerals from their country in exchange for the resumption of suspended shipments of US aid.
He is also going to address the trade war with China, Mexico and Canada. He has already pledged next month to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on other nations, matching what they levy on American goods.
He will say, according to the excerpts: "Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them. If they do non-monetary tariffs to keep us out of their market, then we do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market.
"We will take in trillions of dollars and create jobs like we have never seen before."
Image source, ReutersFirst Lady Melania Trump gets a standing ovation from Republican supporters as she enters the chamber.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
I’ve spotted several members of Trump’s family sitting in the balcony of the House chamber.
Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr., Lara Trump and Eric Trump are all seated together.
I’ve also spotted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, seated in the same section in the second row. Elon Musk is sitting across the aisle.
Trump will say Biden "let the price of eggs get out of control—and we are working hard to get it back down," according to speech excerpts the BBC has obtained
He will also say that Biden's green energy policies forced power plants and pipelines to close, and "that is why on my first day in office, I declared a national energy emergency".
"My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska, among the largest in the world, where Japan, South Korea, and other nations want to be our partner," he will say.
He adds that the Alaska energy project will "truly be spectacular" and will rake in trillions of dollars.
"Among my very highest priorities is to rescue our economy and get dramatic and immediate relief to working families," Trump continues in the excerpts.
"As you know, we inherited, from the last administration, an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare."
He goes on to blame Biden's White House for steep inflation, saying: "Their policies drove up energy prices, pushed up the cost of groceries, and drove the necessities of life out of reach for millions of Americans."
For context: Attacking Biden for inflation was a key, and winning, issue for Trump on the campaign trail.
In the excerpts we've obtained, Trump goes on to boast about his polls, saying that they show that Americans believe "our country is headed in the right direction".
"Over the past six weeks, I have signed nearly 100 executive orders and taken more than 400 executive actions to restore common sense, safety, optimism, and wealth all across our wonderful land.
"The people elected me to do the job, and I am doing it. In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation."
We have now obtained excerpts of the speech Trump will soon deliver.
"Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America," he will say. "From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country."
He adds: "America’s momentum is back. Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back. And the American dream is surging—bigger and better than ever before."
"The American dream is UNSTOPPABLE, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again."
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Senators are now pouring into the room behind Vance.
We’re watching Republicans mingle with their House colleagues while the Democrats do the same across the aisle.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer was quick to take his seat.
Image source, US PoolBillionaire Elon Musk has arrived at the Capitol for Trump's address.
The world's richest man is one of Trump's close confidants. He heads a White House office known as Doge (for Department of Government Efficiency) to identify spending cuts, which has presided over the firing of thousands of government workers over the past weeks.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Image source, US PoolWe’re now watching Vice-President JD Vance enter the House chamber.
He's shaking hands with Republicans as he makes his way to the dais.
I just watched Vance have a longer conversation that ended in a laugh with Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
