Trump touts ‘America first’ in speech to Congress

March 01--WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump said his speech to Congress on Tuesday would convey what was in his heart. In two words, that was "America first."

The new president started with a nod to Black History Month and a condemnation of "hate in all of its ugly forms" in his joint session address in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But he returned again and again to the primacy of the United States and its citizens. He talked of the renewal of the American spirit -- "Americans once again ready to lead." He said that America must put its own people first -- "because only then can we truly make America great again," he said, reprising his campaign slogan.

He promised that by putting Americans first, "dying industries will come roaring back," veterans will get care, the drug epidemic will slow down and stop, and neglected inner cities will get the attention they need. He pledged again a massive infrastructure rebuilding program.

He said the simple formula of "Buy American, Hire American" would solve problems. "Our obligation is to preserve, protect and defend the citizens of the United States," he said.

There were few details with the big ideas. He touted unity but blamed his opponents for problems. He talked of free trade but immediately said he wanted "fair trade" and was willing to meet tariffs with tariffs to win trade wars. He referenced a Harley Davidson motorcycles parked on the lawn of the White House and a meeting with executives of the company who told him tariffs prevented them from competing abroad.

He talked of the waste of military ventures in other countries, pointing out that money spent in foreign wars could have rebuilt the country twice over -- but pledged more money for the military and veterans.

An emotional high point came when Mr. Trump spoke of Chief Petty Officer Ryan Owens, the Navy SEAL killed in Yemen. His widow was seated next to Mr. Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

Carryn Owens was joined by her parents, according to the White House.

"Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero -- battling against terrorism and securing our nation," Mr. Trump said.

Carryn stood up and cried. "I love you, baby," she mouthed while looking up.

"Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," Mr. Trump said to sustained applause.

In his speech, Mr. Trump touted his accomplishments so far, saying that many companies had pledged to create jobs and that the stock market is up, and that his administration had begun the work of "draining the swamp." He hit many of his campaign slogans, promising to bring back coal, allow pipelines -- made with American steel -- withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership, cut back regulations, give students choice in education.

He returned to the themes of his campaign. He said he has responded to the pleas for immigration enforcement and border security and talked of 'lawless chaos" at the border and pledged once again to build a "great, great wall" at the Mexican border. But he hinted at a plan for immigration reform he'd talked about earlier in the day at a closed door meeting by saying that he would institute a "merit-based" system of immigration, admitting only those who could support themselves.

He used the term "radical Islamic terrorism." He called the Islamic State group a "network of lawless savages" and pledged to "extinguish this violent enemy from our planet." He referred to the "unbreakable alliance with the state of Israel." He promised to provide a massive tax cut for the middle class.

He said the Affordable Care Act would be replaced, saying that "Obamacare is collapsing, and we must act decisively to protect all Americans" from the "imploding Obamacare disaster."

The address seemed to be directed at wary Republicans whose support he needs to solidify, rather than entrenched anti-Trump Democrats who needed to be assuaged.

"I don't see tonight's speech as trying to change everyone's hearts or heads," said U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler.

His words were applauded strongly, but there were many silent dissenters. A number of women lawmakers were in white to signify suffragettes.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., had been hoping for some reassurances that the Trump budget would back away from his approach to fund Medicaid through block grants. That would give states more control but it also would force them to make tough choices if funding is squeezed, and that scenario is likely given Mr. Trump's promises to fund increases in defense funding through cuts in other areas.

About 1 in 4 Americans are covered by Medicaid.

They include 17-year-old Maura McGrath of Lafayette Hill, whose father was Mr. Casey's guest at Tuesday's speech. All her life Miss McGrath, who has Down's Syndrome and autism, has been receiving medical supplies and home health services through Medicaid.

"I have such fear about this block-granting. People can't imagine how devastating it could be," Mr. McGrath said. "It would be like the hunger games for the vulnerable. ... It would reduce the amount of money ... then have the homeless, the intellectually disabled, the elderly, and [people with addictions] fighting for this smaller pile of money."

Mr. Casey promised to take up the fight.

"We should stop [Republicans] from block-granting no matter what it takes. It's bad for children with disabilities, bad for folks trying to get into nursing homes, and bad for children who rely on Medicaid," he said.

Members typically invite guests to presidential addresses who will highlight particular issues.

Mr. Kelly, though, saw the America First message as a strong one.

"At the end of the day, Americans are going to look at this address before a joint session of Congress as one of the most positive addresses, not one that just appeases people but one that lays out a plan for making America great again," he said.

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said he agrees with almost nothing the president stands for, even rebuilding the infrastructure. The congressman wants to see Pennsylvania's deteriorating bridges fixed, but can't support Mr. Trump's plan to pay for the work through tax credits and tolls.

"It's not a program that can be done that way in my district. We can't toll the Liberty Bridge," he said.

U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickley, said he was looking to the president to address the concerns of forgotten men and women who have either lost their jobs or not had raises in years because of the Obama administration's big-government policies.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said that the message was "very hopeful, optimistic, forward-looking. ... He repeatedly stressed the importance of coming together as a country, coming together as a Congress. In contrast to his inauguration address, this was much more optimistic and hopeful, and I think, more likely to help unify the country."

He said Mr. Trump was more skeptical of the merits of free trade, praised the infrastructure initiative, and cautioned that repealing Obamacare will be "complicated and it's tricky and it's made more difficult by the fact our Democratic colleagues don't want to work with us on this."

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, said he was committed to working with the president to move the country and the region forward. He said he wasn't sure whether public-private partnerships were the way to get the infrastructure work done, but that he was glad the president was talking about the topic in a "comprehensive" way.

He said that recognizing the widow of the service member "was a good healing moment for the country. We have to remember that service members are still dying and still give massive sacrifices, and they need to know that there's a grateful nation behind them."

Washington Bureau Chief Tracie Mauriello: tmauriello@post-gazette.com, 703-996-9292 or on Twitter @pgPoliTweets.

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