An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890
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02.05.2020 Vol. 220 No. 090
WEDNESDAY
THE
State of the Union BY KATHERINE.KEALEY @iowastatedaily.com President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address (SOTU) late Tuesday. “O ur agenda is relentlessl y pro-family, pro-growth, and most of all, pro-American,” Tr ump said as part of the opening of his address. The SOTU is an annual speech given by the president to a joint session of the United States Congress at the start of the year. Tr u m p’s s p e e c h d i s c u s s e d reviving the American dream by decreasing unemployment rates, cutting taxes, bringing jobs back to America, as well as illegal immigrant crime rates and terrorism. Prior to the speech, several Democratic lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, arrived at the speech wearing white as a protest symbol against Trump. Pelosi said she has not spoken with the president since October. After the president was introduced by Pelosi, Congressional Republicans began to chant “four more years.” “Three years ago we launched the great American comeback,” Trump said. “Tonight I stand before you to share the incredible results: jobs
are booming, incomings are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging and our country is thriving and is highly respected again.” Trump said this is the “ blue collar boom” and claimed to have been the reason for the decrease in the unemployment rate. Unemployment among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women, veterans and disabled Americans has reached an all-time low during his presidency, Trump said. “The vision I will lay out tonight will demonstrate how we are building the world’s most prosperous and inclusive society,” Trump said. “One where every citizen can join in America’s unparalleled success and where every community can take part in America’s extraordinary rise.” Trump said during the administration of President Barack Obama more than ten million people were added to the food stamp rolls, but under his administration seven million Americans have come off food stamp rolls and 10 million people have been lifted off welfare. In the three years of the Trump administration 3.5 million working
UNION pg8
Pro-family, pro-growth, and most of all, pro-American.” The vision I will lay out tonight will demonstrate how we are building the world’s most prosperous and inclusive society.”
My administration is also defending religious liberty and that includes the constitutional right to pray in public schools.”
The American nation was carved out of the vast frontier by the strongest, fiercest and most determined, men and women ever to walk on the face of the earth.”
CAITLIN YAMADA/ IOWA STATE DAILY Trump delivered his third State of the Union address on Tuesday. He claimed responsibility for economic successes that occurred during his presidency.
Democrats respond to Trump’s State of the Union address BY JAKE.WEBSTER @iowastatedaily.com
COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan gave the Democratic Party’s response to President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address.
Touting policy initiatives undertaken by Democratic governors across the nation, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address late Tuesday. “Democrats across the country are getting things done,” Whitmer said. “Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolf is expanding the right to overtime pay, Michigan is too. Because if you’re on the clock, you deserve to get paid. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper are working to give hardworking teachers a raise.” Whitmer’s speech came shortly after Trump’s. The president achieved an all-time high approval rating in the Gallup poll, in a survey released early Tuesday. The poll found 63 percent approve of his handling of the economy. Trump’s reelection campaign press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, released a statement following the president’s
address highlighting the performance of the economy during the Trump presidency. “President Trump’s State of the Union address illustrated unmistakably that he has led the great American comeback, overseeing an unprecedented blue collar boom that would be reversed by the socialist government takeover policies of 2020 Democrats,” McEnany said in the statement. Whitmer seemingly responded to the economic figures in her speech. She spoke of several people who have to raise funds to pay for health care. “No one should have to crowdsource their health care, not in America,” Whitmer said. The upcoming November election was addressed in Whitmer’s response, she called 2020 a “big year.” “It’s the year my daughter Sherry will graduate from high school. It’s also the year she’ll cast her first ballot, along with millions of young Americans,” Whitmer said. “The two things are connected, because walking across a graduation stage is as important as walking in the voting booth the first time.”