A large majority of people who watched President Donald Trump‘s joint address to Congress approved of the speech, according to a poll.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump’s speech in front of lawmakers Tuesday night was a chance for the president to discuss the sweeping changes he has brought in during the first six weeks of his second term.
What to Know
A CBS News/YouGov poll surveyed people who planned to watch Trump’s Congress address and then sought their view of the speech immediately after it concluded.
The poll found 76 percent said they “approve” of Trump’s address, with 23 percent saying they disapprove.
A majority of the people who chose to watch Trump’s speech were Republicans (51 percent), with 27 percent saying they were independents and 20 percent Democrats.
The CBS News survey is based on 1,207 interviews of adults who watched the address. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
During his speech, Trump discussed the topics that have dominated discussions during his second term, such as his immigration proposals, the Russia-Ukraine war and the new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.
The poll showed nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of people who watched the speech believed Trump spent “a lot” of time speaking about issues they cared about.
Some 68 percent said the speech made them feel “hopeful” and 54 percent who said it made them feel “proud.” More than a quarter (27 percent) said Trump’s address made them feel “worried,” while 16 percent said the speech left them “angry.”
Trump was also praised for his performance Tuesday night, with 74 percent saying he was “presidential” and “entertaining” while delivering his address. Trump was also described as “inspiring” by 71 percent of those who watched his address.
Moreover, 62 percent who watched the speech—during which Trump often criticized former President Joe Biden, mentioning him at least 16 times—said they found it “unifying,” compared to 46 percent who said it was “divisive.”
The poll found a significant majority of people who watched the speech said they liked Trump’s plans for reducing federal spending and waste (77 percent), immigration (77 percent), ending the Russia-Ukraine war (73 percent) and imposing tariffs (65 percent).
During his speech, Trump said there would be a “little disturbance” to the economy due to the implementation of tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China, but that they would ultimately make the U.S. “rich again.”
Trump also said he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, which he said signaled a willingness to discuss a peace deal. He added he had been in “serious discussions with Russia” and had “received strong signals that they are ready for peace,” without specifying further.
The president also praised tech billionaire Elon Musk for his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has overseen the gutting of several federal agencies and mass layoffs of thousands of federal workers over the past six weeks.
Democrats held signs reading “Musk Steals” and “Save Medicaid” during the speech.
Texas Democratic Representative Al Green was removed from the chamber after repeatedly heckling Trump as the president delivered his address. The CBS News poll found that 76 percent of those who watched the speech approved of Green being removed.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump during Tuesday’s address: “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the Golden Age of America. 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. We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four years or eight years—and we are just getting started.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson in a Tuesday statement: “Tonight, President Trump made his triumphant return to Congress to share his bold, optimistic vision for renewing the American Dream. He showcased the historic, record-setting achievements of his first weeks in office and the immediate, real-life, positive impacts of the America First agenda. After four years of President Biden’s disastrous policies, President Trump has seized the moment and moved rapidly to deliver on the promise of restoring American greatness.”
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement: “Tonight, every Republican got out of their seats and gave a standing ovation for skyrocketing costs, economic freefall, and the next American recession—brought to you by Donald Trump. I dare every single one of these Republicans who blindly applauded for Trump to go home and meet their voters face-to-face. But they won’t, because they know that the Republican tax scam to take money out of the pockets of working people to give trillions in handouts to the rich will cost them their jobs.”
Democratic New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: “President Trump’s address this evening laid bare a cynical and profoundly dangerous approach to America’s global leadership. His 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada—our closest trading partners—threaten to unravel decades of economic cooperation and will inevitably result in economic consequences for American workers and businesses. Our allies are watching, and the message is clear: This administration is willing to compromise long-standing strategic partnerships for short-sighted political gains.”
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