<p content="Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility." data-reactid="22" type="text">US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama&#39;s lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility.

<p content="&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise." data-reactid="23" type="text">&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise.

<p content="Under president George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks." data-reactid="24" type="text">Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002.

<p content="That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings." data-reactid="26" type="text">That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings.

At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places.

<p content="Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial." data-reactid="29" type="text">Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial.

<p content="Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee." data-reactid="30" type="text">Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee.

Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory.

These so-called &quot;forever prisoners&quot; have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release.

Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration.

- &#39;Bad dudes&#39; -

<p content="On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial." data-reactid="35" type="text">On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial.

In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008.

<p content="Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch." data-reactid="37" type="text">Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies&#39; reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch.

Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt.

<p content="In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea." data-reactid="39" type="text">In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea.

<p content="Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group." data-reactid="40" type="text">Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group.

The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq.

<p content="The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas." data-reactid="42" type="text">The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas.

That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump announces he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the facility

US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility. "I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay," Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise. Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks. At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002. That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings. At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places. Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial. Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered "unprivileged enemy belligerents" -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee. Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory. These so-called "forever prisoners" have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release. Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration. - 'Bad dudes' - On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with "bad dudes," and said it would be "fine" if US terror suspects were sent there for trial. In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008. Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch. Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt. In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea. Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group. The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq. The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas. That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump vows to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open

Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be

Donald Trump's State of the Union Speech: Full text

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress.

&quot;Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,&quot; he said.

The speech marked Trump&#39;s first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president&#39;s frequent boasts of historic victories.

&quot;So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong.&quot;

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&quot;I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2">https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2</a>
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&nbsp;

President Donald Trump gives his first official State of the Union Address from the United States Capitol in front of a joint session of Congress

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress. "Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve," he said. The speech marked Trump's first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president's frequent boasts of historic victories. "So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong," Trump said. "And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong." "I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve." #SOTU: https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 ×

President Donald Trump urges US parties set aside differences

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign&rsquo;s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles.

Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm&nbsp;(0210 GMT on Wednesday).

In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-state-of-the-union-address-31215">What is the State of the Union Address?</a>

&ldquo;I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,&rdquo; he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House.

Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory.

&ldquo;The economy will be front and centre,&rdquo; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday.

The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.

Ahead of Trump&rsquo;s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month.

To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting &ldquo;Dreamers,&rdquo; a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States.

In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past.

US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration.

&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t agree on anything,&rdquo; Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-expect-from-trumps-first-state-of-the-union-speech-31225">Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address</a>

Russia probe

Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America&rsquo;s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details.

Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran&rsquo;s clout in the Middle East.

The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller&rsquo;s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump&rsquo;s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller&rsquo;s probe a &ldquo;witch hunt,&rdquo; has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation.

Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump&rsquo;s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-deliver-first-state-of-the-union-address-tomorrow-indian-techies-widow-among-guests-31233">In Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address, Indian techie&#39;s widow will be among guests</a>

Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was &ldquo;excited&rdquo; to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,&rdquo; Ryan told reporters. &ldquo;Economic confidence is coming back to America.&rdquo;

Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump&rsquo;s theme of a &ldquo;safe, strong and proud America&rdquo; did not reflect reality.

&ldquo;That may be the theme, but that&rsquo;s not what has happened over the last year,&rdquo; he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. &ldquo;Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,&rdquo; Schumer said of Trump.

Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign’s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night. Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles. Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm (0210 GMT on Wednesday). In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president. Also read: What is the State of the Union Address? “I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,” he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House. Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory. “The economy will be front and centre,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday. The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. Ahead of Trump’s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month. To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting “Dreamers,” a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States. In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past. US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration. “We didn’t agree on anything,” Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday. Also read: Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address Russia probe Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America’s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details. Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran’s clout in the Middle East. The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump’s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller’s probe a “witch hunt,” has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation. Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump’s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November. Also read: In Trump's first State of the Union address, Indian techie's widow will be among guests Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was “excited” to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising. “It’s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,” Ryan told reporters. “Economic confidence is coming back to America.” Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump’s theme of a “safe, strong and proud America” did not reflect reality. “That may be the theme, but that’s not what has happened over the last year,” he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. “Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,” Schumer said of Trump.

After turbulent year, Trump to tout strong economy in speech to Congress

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is set to give his first State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, with a broad audience - including stock investors - expected to tune in to the widely televised speech.

Historically, stock market reaction has been mixed following presidents&#39;&nbsp;new year messages. On average, the broad S&amp;P 500 declined just 0.05 percent the day after, since 1965 when Lyndon Johnson gave the first televised evening State of the Union address.

The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.4 percent the day after Trump&#39;s speech last February, as his unexpectedly measured tone boosted investor optimism that he could deliver on pro-business campaign promises, but investors doubt a repeat of such a move would come this time.

Stocks linked to any specific theme in Trump&#39;s speech could turn volatile. Here are some to watch, based on potential topics he may address:

Infrastructure

Trump is expected to detail his long-awaited plan to help rebuild the nation&#39;s infrastructure. The president said on Wednesday his plan would result in about $1.7 trillion in overall investment over the next 10 years, more than he had previously announced.

Trump&#39;s comments could shine a spotlight on construction and engineering stocks such as Granite Construction Inc, AECOM and Fluor Corp, building materials stocks such as Vulcan Materials Co, Martin Marietta Materials Inc and Eagle Materials Inc and machinery stocks such as Caterpillar Inc.

Infrastructure-linked shares could start to fluctuate if the speech kicks off a bumpy legislative path for a spending bill. Some investors and analysts see a favourable climate for such stocks regardless of any federal package.

Trade&nbsp;

In the wake of delivering his &quot;America First&quot; agenda at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump could continue to promote his position on trade on Tuesday.

Trump last week told the business summit in Davos that the United States would &quot;no longer turn a blind eye&quot; to what he described as unfair trade practices.

Such a focus could affect shares of steel companies such as Nucor Corp and U.S. Steel Corp, which have vacillated since Trump&#39;s election on prospects for protectionist measures.

Last week, Trump imposed steep tariffs on washing machines and solar panels, boosting shares of appliance maker Whirlpool Corp and some solar companies such as Sunrun Inc and Vivint Solar Inc.

Trump also could address the North American Free Trade Agreement on the heels of the latest negotiations involving the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Railroad Kansas City Southern and beer, wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc are among several stocks that could sway on NAFTA comments. 
 
Prescription drug prices&nbsp;

Trump has occasionally sounded off on high drug prices since his election, and some analysts are bracing for similar talk on Tuesday. &quot;On U.S. drug pricing, we understand Trump may (again) disparage drug companies on Tuesday`s State of the Union address,&quot; Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a recent analyst note.

The biotech and pharmaceutical industries could come under pressure, including the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF and the SPDR S&amp;P Biotech ETF.&nbsp;

Comments about high drug prices could put a spotlight on companies in therapeutic areas that have come under scrutiny in the past, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to Mizuho Securities analyst Salim Syed. Biogen and Amgen Inc are among the companies selling such treatments.

National security and immigration&nbsp;

National defence and a strong military have been consistent themes under Trump. Defense stocks such as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon could come into focus, although many industry shares are around all-time highs already.

Immigration reform is another consistent topic for Trump and one he could address on Tuesday. For example, Trump has called for changes to the H-1B work visa program widely used to employ foreign tech workers in the United States. Mention of that program could signal plans to take more steps, and could affect Indian IT outsourcing companies including Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd.

Any hardline comments on illegal immigration or crime also could put private prison operators Geo Group Inc and CoreCivic Inc in focus.

Trump is expected to detail his long-awaited plan to help rebuild the nation's infrastructure

US President Donald Trump is set to give his first State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, with a broad audience - including stock investors - expected to tune in to the widely televised speech. Historically, stock market reaction has been mixed following presidents' new year messages. On average, the broad S&P 500 declined just 0.05 percent the day after, since 1965 when Lyndon Johnson gave the first televised evening State of the Union address. The S&P 500 jumped 1.4 percent the day after Trump's speech last February, as his unexpectedly measured tone boosted investor optimism that he could deliver on pro-business campaign promises, but investors doubt a repeat of such a move would come this time. Stocks linked to any specific theme in Trump's speech could turn volatile. Here are some to watch, based on potential topics he may address: Infrastructure Trump is expected to detail his long-awaited plan to help rebuild the nation's infrastructure. The president said on Wednesday his plan would result in about $1.7 trillion in overall investment over the next 10 years, more than he had previously announced. Trump's comments could shine a spotlight on construction and engineering stocks such as Granite Construction Inc, AECOM and Fluor Corp, building materials stocks such as Vulcan Materials Co, Martin Marietta Materials Inc and Eagle Materials Inc and machinery stocks such as Caterpillar Inc. Infrastructure-linked shares could start to fluctuate if the speech kicks off a bumpy legislative path for a spending bill. Some investors and analysts see a favourable climate for such stocks regardless of any federal package. Trade In the wake of delivering his "America First" agenda at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump could continue to promote his position on trade on Tuesday. Trump last week told the business summit in Davos that the United States would "no longer turn a blind eye" to what he described as unfair trade practices. Such a focus could affect shares of steel companies such as Nucor Corp and U.S. Steel Corp, which have vacillated since Trump's election on prospects for protectionist measures. Last week, Trump imposed steep tariffs on washing machines and solar panels, boosting shares of appliance maker Whirlpool Corp and some solar companies such as Sunrun Inc and Vivint Solar Inc. Trump also could address the North American Free Trade Agreement on the heels of the latest negotiations involving the United States, Canada and Mexico. Railroad Kansas City Southern and beer, wine and spirits maker Constellation Brands Inc are among several stocks that could sway on NAFTA comments. Prescription drug prices Trump has occasionally sounded off on high drug prices since his election, and some analysts are bracing for similar talk on Tuesday. "On U.S. drug pricing, we understand Trump may (again) disparage drug companies on Tuesday`s State of the Union address," Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a recent analyst note. The biotech and pharmaceutical industries could come under pressure, including the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF and the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF. Comments about high drug prices could put a spotlight on companies in therapeutic areas that have come under scrutiny in the past, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to Mizuho Securities analyst Salim Syed. Biogen and Amgen Inc are among the companies selling such treatments. National security and immigration National defence and a strong military have been consistent themes under Trump. Defense stocks such as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon could come into focus, although many industry shares are around all-time highs already. Immigration reform is another consistent topic for Trump and one he could address on Tuesday. For example, Trump has called for changes to the H-1B work visa program widely used to employ foreign tech workers in the United States. Mention of that program could signal plans to take more steps, and could affect Indian IT outsourcing companies including Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd. Any hardline comments on illegal immigration or crime also could put private prison operators Geo Group Inc and CoreCivic Inc in focus.

Factbox: US President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation.&nbsp;

The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump&rsquo;s second year in office and is traditionally a president&rsquo;s biggest platform to speak to the nation.&nbsp;

The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on &ldquo;building a safe, strong, and proud America,&rdquo; and will touch&nbsp;on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. &ldquo;The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,&rdquo; officials say.

What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller&rsquo;s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government &ldquo;deep state.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech:&nbsp;

<ins>Trade and Infrastructure&nbsp;</ins>

President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation&#39;s crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven&#39;t said where the money will come from.&nbsp;

Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation&rsquo;s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said.&nbsp;

Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. &ldquo;We have to have reciprocal trade. It&rsquo;s not a one-way deal anymore,&rdquo; an official&nbsp;said.

He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may&nbsp;consider&nbsp;retaliation over intellectual property issues.&nbsp;

<ins>Immigration&nbsp;</ins>

The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it.

Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan &ldquo;because the Republicans don&rsquo;t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.&rdquo;

Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.&nbsp;

Trump has vowed to protect the so-called &quot;Dreamers&quot; (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - &nbsp;in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well.

He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants&rsquo; ability to sponsor family members.&nbsp;

Some Democratic lawmakers have invited &ldquo;Dreamers&rdquo; as guests to hear the speech in person.

<ins>Jobs&nbsp;</ins>

The path towards&nbsp;lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump&#39;s administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States.

With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will &ldquo;make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,&rdquo; officials said.

He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump&rsquo;s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts.

<ins>Mid-Term polls&nbsp;</ins>

Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it&rsquo;s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around.

But there are warning signs that the party&rsquo;s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November.

While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in.&nbsp;

<ins>Unfiltered Moments&nbsp;</ins>

This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s.

The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump&rsquo;s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches.&nbsp;

He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is &quot;MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL.&quot;

 
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The theme of the speech will be: 'Building a safe, strong and proud America'

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation. The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump’s second year in office and is traditionally a president’s biggest platform to speak to the nation. The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on “building a safe, strong, and proud America,” and will touch on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. “The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,” officials say. What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government “deep state.” Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech: Trade and Infrastructure President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation's crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven't said where the money will come from. Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation’s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said. Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. “We have to have reciprocal trade. It’s not a one-way deal anymore,” an official said. He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may consider retaliation over intellectual property issues. Immigration The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it. Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan “because the Republicans don’t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.” Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. Trump has vowed to protect the so-called "Dreamers" (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well. He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants’ ability to sponsor family members. Some Democratic lawmakers have invited “Dreamers” as guests to hear the speech in person. Jobs The path towards lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump's administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States. With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will “make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,” officials said. He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump’s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts. Mid-Term polls Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it’s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around. But there are warning signs that the party’s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November. While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in. Unfiltered Moments This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s. The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump’s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches. He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is "MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL."

Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address