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State of the Union - live: Women wear white in powerful message as Trump vows to ban late-term abortion

Follow the latest updates as Mr Trump prepares to deliver his second State of the Union address to a divided Congress

Clark Mindock
New York
,Chris Riotta,Joe Sommerlad
Wednesday 06 February 2019 06:12 GMT
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State of the Union: Trump asks Congress to end late term abortion

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Donald Trump is delivering the second State of the Union address of his presidency, where he has the opportunity to lay out his vision for the last two years of his first term in office and beyond.

With a damaging and politically contentious 35-day government shutdown having just ended in Washington, the president stands before a joint session in the House chamber — where is expected to make sweeping calls for unity in a time of dramatic division and to promote lofty efforts like the eradication of HIV by 2030.

But, Mr Trump’s audience in the House chamber will be noticeably different from his address last year. Flanked behind him and to his left will sit Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who proved to be a formidable political foil to Mr Trump during those shutdown negotiations last month after her party took control of the lower chamber during the 2018 midterm elections.

Follow live updates below

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First lady Melania Trump has arrived wearing black, in contrast with the women representatives and senators in the audience below.

Mr Trump's adult daughter Ivanka Trump is also in the audience, and is also wearing black.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 01:59

The president's cabinet has now entered the House chamber.

Leading the way is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, followed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

It appears as though Energy Secretary Rick Perry has been chosen as the designated survivor — the individual in the president's cabinet chosen to stay away from the State of the Union in case disaster strikes. His whereabouts are therefore a top government secret at the moment.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:01

Donald Trump has now entered the House chamber.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:03

Mr Trump is wearing a signature red tie, and was greeted with a thunderous applause from his supporters in the room.

Behind him is congressional leadership including House minority leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. 

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:05

Mr Trump is now at the podium.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:06

Mr Trump begins his remarks and says the US is at a moment of "unlimited potential".

Recognizing the moment, Mr Trump said that millions are watching and say that the American people watching are "hoping" that Washington will govern "not as two parties but as one nation".

The remark received a standing ovation, including from Ms Pelosi, sitting behind him.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:09

Please watch along on our Facebook page, if you would like.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:10

Mr Trump is starting things off with a notably bipartisan tone.

"Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country," Mr Trump said.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:11

The president is now discussing the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

He has now pointed out that three veterans from that invasion are present.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:12

Mr Trump is now noting that this year is the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Buzz Aldrin, one of the astronauts on that mission,  is in the audience.

Clark Mindock6 February 2019 02:13

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