State of the Union: Trump interrupted by chanting as Pelosi rips up address on live TV
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has delivered his third State of the Union, a high-profile address made this year in the shadow of an ongoing impeachment trial and months away from the president's re-election.
The optimistic speech came just a day after Democrats oversaw a breakdown in its election processes in Iowa, where the 2020 Democratic primary season got off to a disastrous start that has still failed to deliver results nearly a day later.
But Mr Trump's speech was not without its own discord. Just before the address, the president was seen appearing to snub a handshake attempt from Ms Pelosi.
Then, after the speech, Ms Pelosi added to the night's drama by tearing up her copy of the speech, in plain view of the president and the cameras broadcasting the address across the nation.
The president had focused in his address on perceived victories over the past three years, and has remarked on his priorities for the coming year, reportedly including middle class tax cuts, school choice, immigration and the military.
He told one Philadelphia student that she would be getting a school scholarship, surprised a military family with the return of their soldier from Afghanistan and also instructed the first lady to give Rush Limbaugh the presidential medal of freedom, the highest honour for a citizen in the US.
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Trump gets a round of applause for noting he approved an effort to kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Now moves on to discuss the death of Kayla Mueller.
Trump tells parents of Kayla Mueller that US special forces "never forgot Kayla, and neither will we."
Trump now pivots to the story of Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, whose family is in the building tonight as a guest.
He says that Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was responsible for his Iraq death, and that he has now been killed by an American strike.
"The terrorist responsible for killing Sergeant Hake was Qassem Soleimani, who provided the deadly roadside bomb that took Chris's life. Soleimani was the Iranian Regime's most ruthless butcher, a monster who murdered or wounded thousands of American service members in Iraq," he said.
"As the world's top terrorist, Soleimani orchestrated the deaths of countless men, women, and children. He directed the December assault on United States Forces in Iraq, and was actively planning new attacks. That is why, last month, at my direction, the United States Military executed a flawless precision strike that killed Soleimani and terminated his evil reign of terror forever."
"Our message to the terrorists is clear: You will never escape American justice. If you attack our citizens, you forfeit your life!"
On Iran: "In recent months, we have seen proud Iranians raise their voices against their oppressive rulers. The Iranian regime must abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, stop spreading terror, death, and destruction, and start working for the good of its own people."
"Because of our powerful sanctions, the Iranian economy is doing very poorly. We can help them make it very good in a short period of time, but perhaps they are too proud or too foolish to ask for that help. We are here. Let's see which road they choose. It is totally up to them."
Of note: Trump dashed an international agreement with Iran that had effectively stopped that country's nuclear developments.
Trump says he wants to bring US soldiers home from Afghanistan.
"In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are underway. I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them innocent."
"It is also not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency. These are warfighters, the best in the world, and they either want to fight to win or not fight at all. We are working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home."
Trump now surprises the family of Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams, whose wife Amy Williams and kids were seated as guests.
Then, the soldier walked out into the room, as Amy stood in tears.
Chants of "USA! USA! USA" now in the House chamber from Republicans, after the surprise return of Srgnt Williams.
Trump now in the home stretch, praising America's past and future.
"The American Nation was carved out of the vast frontier by the toughest, strongest, fiercest, and most determined men and women ever to walk the face of the Earth. Our ancestors braved the unknown; tamed the wilderness; settled the Wild West; lifted millions from poverty, disease, and hunger; vanquished tyranny and fascism; ushered the world to new heights of science and medicine; laid down the railroads, dug out canals, raised up the skyscrapers — and, ladies and gentlemen, our ancestors built the most exceptional Republic ever to exist in all of human history. And we are making it greater than ever before."
"This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance."
More of his moving tribute to America: "We are Americans. We are the pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the new world, we built the modern world, and we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of Almighty God.
He continues: "America is the place where anything can happen. America is the place where anyone can rise. And here, on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true."
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