US President Donald Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday (March 4), delivering his first speech before both chambers since returning to office. The event, typically an opportunity for a president to outline their vision for the country, is happening amid heightened political tensions, with Democrats preparing various forms of protest, according to reports from CBS News and Axios.
<h2>White House dismisses protest concerns</h2>
Despite reports that some Democrats are planning to go further than ever before in their demonstrations, the White House has downplayed the issue. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital that Trump is prepared for any disruptions. "Democrats behaving like children would be the least surprising news of the night," Leavitt said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-trump-will-be-delivering-joint-address-to-congress-and-not-state-of-the-union-speech-8790570" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Why Trump will be delivering 'Joint Address to Congress' and not 'State of the Union' speech?</a>
<h2>Democrats plan protests, boycotts</h2>
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are actively preparing ways to express their opposition to Trump&rsquo;s policies. Some members of Congress plan to boycott the speech altogether, while others are expected to bring guests, including fired federal workers and Medicaid recipients.
Freshman Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, who won her Michigan seat in November despite Trump carrying the state, will deliver the official Democratic response immediately after the president&rsquo;s speech.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/time-to-make-things-right-ukraines-zelensky-ready-to-work-under-trumps-strong-leadership-after-us-halts-aid-8790721" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Time to make things right&rsquo;: Zelensky ready to work under Trump&rsquo;s &lsquo;strong leadership&rsquo; after US halts aid</a>
"This is not business as usual, and we would like to find a way&mdash;productively&mdash;to express our outrage," one House Democrat told Axios.
However, there is no consensus among Democrats about the best way to demonstrate their opposition. 
<h2>Planned demonstrations</h2>
A range of symbolic gestures and props have been proposed to make statements against Trump&rsquo;s address:
<ul>
<li>Signs with anti-Trump or anti-DOGE messages</li>
<li>Eggs or empty egg cartons to highlight inflation has driven up food prices</li>
<li>Pocket-sized copies of the US Constitution</li>
<li>Noisemakers, hand clappers, and red cards</li>
</ul>
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/arab-league-summit-egypts-sisi-says-trump-can-bring-peace-as-leaders-meet-to-oppose-his-gaza-plan-8790469">Arab Summit: Egypt&rsquo;s Sisi says &lsquo;Trump can bring peace&rsquo; as leaders meet to oppose&nbsp;his&nbsp;Gaza&nbsp;plan</a>
Additionally, some Democratic groups plan to use coordinated wardrobe choices as a visual protest:
<ul>
<li>Pink: The Democratic Women's Caucus will wear pink</li>
<li>Black: Female members of the Congressional Black Caucus have discussed dressing in black</li>
<li>Blue and yellow: Members of the Ukraine Caucus will wear ties and scarves in Ukraine&rsquo;s national colours to show support for President Volodymyr Zelensky.</li>
</ul>
Others plan to sit in silence, refusing to applaud for the duration of the speech, a traditional form of silent protest by opposition parties.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has encouraged Democratic lawmakers to&nbsp;be present for the address. In a letter to House Democrats, he stressed the importance of showing that the opposition party remains "ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-press-secretary-calls-trump-zelensky-showdown-an-incredibly-refreshing-moment-8790660">White House Press Secretary calls Trump-Zelensky showdown an &lsquo;incredibly refreshing&rsquo; moment</a>
Jeffries admitted that some members intended to skip the speech but called for a "strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber."

World: The speech, typically an opportunity for a president to outline their vision for the country, is happening amid heightened political tensions, with Democrats preparing various forms of protest.

US President Donald Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday (March 4), delivering his first speech before both chambers since returning to office. The event, typically an opportunity for a president to outline their vision for the country, is happening amid heightened political tensions, with Democrats preparing various forms of protest, according to reports from CBS News and Axios. White House dismisses protest concerns Despite reports that some Democrats are planning to go further than ever before in their demonstrations, the White House has downplayed the issue. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital that Trump is prepared for any disruptions. "Democrats behaving like children would be the least surprising news of the night," Leavitt said. Also read: Why Trump will be delivering 'Joint Address to Congress' and not 'State of the Union' speech? Democrats plan protests, boycotts Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are actively preparing ways to express their opposition to Trump’s policies. Some members of Congress plan to boycott the speech altogether, while others are expected to bring guests, including fired federal workers and Medicaid recipients. Freshman Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, who won her Michigan seat in November despite Trump carrying the state, will deliver the official Democratic response immediately after the president’s speech. Also read: 'Time to make things right’: Zelensky ready to work under Trump’s ‘strong leadership’ after US halts aid "This is not business as usual, and we would like to find a way—productively—to express our outrage," one House Democrat told Axios. However, there is no consensus among Democrats about the best way to demonstrate their opposition. Planned demonstrations A range of symbolic gestures and props have been proposed to make statements against Trump’s address: Signs with anti-Trump or anti-DOGE messages Eggs or empty egg cartons to highlight inflation has driven up food prices Pocket-sized copies of the US Constitution Noisemakers, hand clappers, and red cards Also read: Arab Summit: Egypt’s Sisi says ‘Trump can bring peace’ as leaders meet to oppose his Gaza plan Additionally, some Democratic groups plan to use coordinated wardrobe choices as a visual protest: Pink: The Democratic Women's Caucus will wear pink Black: Female members of the Congressional Black Caucus have discussed dressing in black Blue and yellow: Members of the Ukraine Caucus will wear ties and scarves in Ukraine’s national colours to show support for President Volodymyr Zelensky. Others plan to sit in silence, refusing to applaud for the duration of the speech, a traditional form of silent protest by opposition parties. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has encouraged Democratic lawmakers to be present for the address. In a letter to House Democrats, he stressed the importance of showing that the opposition party remains "ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance." Also read: White House Press Secretary calls Trump-Zelensky showdown an ‘incredibly refreshing’ moment Jeffries admitted that some members intended to skip the speech but called for a "strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber."

‘Will find a way’: Democrats plot to disrupt Trump’s Congress speech; White House calls it ‘childish behaviour’

After a turbulent start to his presidency, Donald Trump goes before the US&nbsp;Congress on Tuesday night to give a speech that will be closely watched for details of his plans for the economy and whether he can strike a more conciliatory tone.

World financial markets will be scrutinising the 9 pm&nbsp;(0200 GMT Wednesday) address in the House of Representatives for specifics of how the Republican president aims to make good on promises to tackle tax reform, boost infrastructure spending and simplify regulations he says are harming business.

White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election and divided in the early days of his presidency.

An average of recent polls by Real Clear Politics put his approval rating at about 44 per cent, low for a new president.

Trump, whose inauguration speech on Jan&nbsp;20 painted a dark picture of the United States and referred to &ldquo;American carnage&rdquo;, told Reuters last week that his address would be a speech of optimism.

In a rare show of self-criticism, Trump told the &quot;Fox &amp; Friends&quot; television program in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that &quot;maybe it&#39;s my fault&quot; the administration&#39;s goals on immigration may not have been communicated effectively.

He was referring to the troubled rollout of his Jan&nbsp;27 order to temporarily ban people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country.

Overall, Trump said he had performed well in the Oval Office so far. &quot;I think I get an A in terms of what I&#39;ve actually done, but in terms of messaging, I&#39;d give myself a C or a C+.&quot;

Invited to say how he would change the messaging, the businessman and former reality TV star said, &quot;Maybe I change it during the speech.&quot;

Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders, pulled the United States out of a Pacific trade deal and nominated a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to fill a vacant position on the Supreme Court. But his first month has been characterised by missteps, internal dramas and acrimonious disputes with the news media, and he has yet to score any legislative accomplishments.

The president&#39;s party controls both the House and Senate, giving him a chance to reshape the economy with lawmakers. He faces a host of questions going into his first speech before a joint session of Congress.

Details needed

Specifics of his plan to overhaul former President Barack Obama&#39;s signature healthcare law have not been released. Republican efforts to find a way to repeal and replace Obamacare have encountered resistance from party conservatives who say draft legislation emerging in the House will not reduce the cost of healthcare.

Trump has yet to describe how to pay for a sharp increase in planned spending on rebuilding US&nbsp;roads and bridges.

His proposals to cut taxes for millions of people and corporations have not been sketched out. His strategy for renegotiating international trade deals remains unclear. He took delivery on Monday of a Pentagon proposal for fighting Islamic State militants and must decide on it in the days ahead.

Trump seeks a big increase in defence spending but that plan includes a demand that non-defence federal agencies cut funds to offset the cost, painful reductions likely to face opposition in Congress. US&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would not back slashing State Department funding as the administration is expected to propose.

Trump is considering introducing legislation to provide a pathway to legal status, but not immediately to citizenship, for illegal immigrants, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official. It said Trump may refer to the idea in his speech.

Trump&#39;s lack of legislative success so far contrasts with most of his recent predecessors, though not all of them.

With the country facing a financial crisis, Obama laid out an economic stimulus plan days after his January 2009 swearing-in and it was approved in mid-February. In early February Obama signed two other bills into law: one providing federally funded healthcare to children and another making it easier for employees to sue employers for wage-based discrimination.

George W. Bush sent a sweeping tax cut proposal to Congress less than three weeks after taking office in January 2001. It was enacted four months later. Bill Clinton fulfilled a central campaign promise in his first weeks in office when he enacted a family-leave bill on Feb&nbsp;5, 1993.

Ronald Reagan sent dozens of detailed budget cut plans to Congress less than a month after his 1981 swearing in but George H.W. Bush accomplished little of note in his first 100 days.

Democratic displeasure

Trump&#39;s travel ban, which he says was needed for national security reasons, caused wide disruption at airports, sparked protests and was blocked by a federal court. He is expected to sign a replacement order on Wednesday.

Only three weeks into his term, Trump fired his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after disclosures surfaced that Flynn had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Stocks on major markets dipped along with the US&nbsp;dollar and US Treasury yields on Tuesday as investors waited for clues in Trump&#39;s address on how he aims to implement his economic agenda.&nbsp;

&quot;If he gives minimal detail this evening, then perhaps we might get a little bit wind out of the sails on this recent equity move,&quot; said Erik Wytenus, global investment specialist at JP&nbsp;Morgan Private Bank.

Tim Albrecht, a Republican strategist in Iowa, said the speech was Trump&#39;s best opportunity to date to explain where he wants to take the country. Albrecht doubted there would be much in the way of conciliatory language.

&quot;Despite those at home or in the audience, he&rsquo;s going to put forward what he believes needs to be done just as he did in the two years he ran for president,&quot; he said. &quot;As with everything in Trump land, conventional wisdom is thrown out the window.&quot;

Democratic lawmakers plan to attend the speech. But at least one, Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, has said he will protest Trump by refusing to applaud or give him a standing ovation, as is a custom at presidential speeches.

(Reuters)

White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election

After a turbulent start to his presidency, Donald Trump goes before the US Congress on Tuesday night to give a speech that will be closely watched for details of his plans for the economy and whether he can strike a more conciliatory tone. World financial markets will be scrutinising the 9 pm (0200 GMT Wednesday) address in the House of Representatives for specifics of how the Republican president aims to make good on promises to tackle tax reform, boost infrastructure spending and simplify regulations he says are harming business. White House officials say the speech will include some gestures toward unifying a country polarised by a bitterly fought election and divided in the early days of his presidency. An average of recent polls by Real Clear Politics put his approval rating at about 44 per cent, low for a new president. Trump, whose inauguration speech on Jan 20 painted a dark picture of the United States and referred to “American carnage”, told Reuters last week that his address would be a speech of optimism. In a rare show of self-criticism, Trump told the "Fox & Friends" television program in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that "maybe it's my fault" the administration's goals on immigration may not have been communicated effectively. He was referring to the troubled rollout of his Jan 27 order to temporarily ban people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country. Overall, Trump said he had performed well in the Oval Office so far. "I think I get an A in terms of what I've actually done, but in terms of messaging, I'd give myself a C or a C+." Invited to say how he would change the messaging, the businessman and former reality TV star said, "Maybe I change it during the speech." Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders, pulled the United States out of a Pacific trade deal and nominated a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to fill a vacant position on the Supreme Court. But his first month has been characterised by missteps, internal dramas and acrimonious disputes with the news media, and he has yet to score any legislative accomplishments. The president's party controls both the House and Senate, giving him a chance to reshape the economy with lawmakers. He faces a host of questions going into his first speech before a joint session of Congress. Details needed Specifics of his plan to overhaul former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law have not been released. Republican efforts to find a way to repeal and replace Obamacare have encountered resistance from party conservatives who say draft legislation emerging in the House will not reduce the cost of healthcare. Trump has yet to describe how to pay for a sharp increase in planned spending on rebuilding US roads and bridges. His proposals to cut taxes for millions of people and corporations have not been sketched out. His strategy for renegotiating international trade deals remains unclear. He took delivery on Monday of a Pentagon proposal for fighting Islamic State militants and must decide on it in the days ahead. Trump seeks a big increase in defence spending but that plan includes a demand that non-defence federal agencies cut funds to offset the cost, painful reductions likely to face opposition in Congress. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday he would not back slashing State Department funding as the administration is expected to propose. Trump is considering introducing legislation to provide a pathway to legal status, but not immediately to citizenship, for illegal immigrants, CNN reported, citing a senior White House official. It said Trump may refer to the idea in his speech. Trump's lack of legislative success so far contrasts with most of his recent predecessors, though not all of them. With the country facing a financial crisis, Obama laid out an economic stimulus plan days after his January 2009 swearing-in and it was approved in mid-February. In early February Obama signed two other bills into law: one providing federally funded healthcare to children and another making it easier for employees to sue employers for wage-based discrimination. George W. Bush sent a sweeping tax cut proposal to Congress less than three weeks after taking office in January 2001. It was enacted four months later. Bill Clinton fulfilled a central campaign promise in his first weeks in office when he enacted a family-leave bill on Feb 5, 1993. Ronald Reagan sent dozens of detailed budget cut plans to Congress less than a month after his 1981 swearing in but George H.W. Bush accomplished little of note in his first 100 days. Democratic displeasure Trump's travel ban, which he says was needed for national security reasons, caused wide disruption at airports, sparked protests and was blocked by a federal court. He is expected to sign a replacement order on Wednesday. Only three weeks into his term, Trump fired his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after disclosures surfaced that Flynn had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Stocks on major markets dipped along with the US dollar and US Treasury yields on Tuesday as investors waited for clues in Trump's address on how he aims to implement his economic agenda. "If he gives minimal detail this evening, then perhaps we might get a little bit wind out of the sails on this recent equity move," said Erik Wytenus, global investment specialist at JP Morgan Private Bank. Tim Albrecht, a Republican strategist in Iowa, said the speech was Trump's best opportunity to date to explain where he wants to take the country. Albrecht doubted there would be much in the way of conciliatory language. "Despite those at home or in the audience, he’s going to put forward what he believes needs to be done just as he did in the two years he ran for president," he said. "As with everything in Trump land, conventional wisdom is thrown out the window." Democratic lawmakers plan to attend the speech. But at least one, Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, has said he will protest Trump by refusing to applaud or give him a standing ovation, as is a custom at presidential speeches. (Reuters)

Policy details and tone will be key in Trump speech to Congress

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‘Will find a way’: Democrats plot to disrupt Trump’s Congress speech; White House calls it ‘childish behaviour’

Policy details and tone will be key in Trump speech to Congress