Trump’s Joint Address to Congress | 3.5.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Trump’s Joint Address to Congress | March 5, 2025

Overview On the March 5, 2025 episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe provide an in-depth analysis of President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. This landmark speech, delivered on Trump's first occasion addressing Congress since reclaiming the White House, was marked by fervent policy announcements, personal tributes, and unprecedented political theatrics. The episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of the key points, political reactions, and the broader implications of the address.

Key Policy Highlights

1. Border Security

   • Decrease in Illegal Border Crossings: President Trump touted a significant reduction in illegal border crossings, highlighting the administration's swift action in strengthening border security.
     • Georgia Howe (00:56): “And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded.”
   • Critique of Democratic Policies: Trump criticized Democratic approaches, emphasizing that the main obstacle was the previous administration rather than legislative shortcomings.
     • Georgia Howe (00:56): “The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”

2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies

   • Elimination of DEI Initiatives: Trump announced the termination of DEI programs across federal agencies and private sectors, advocating for merit-based hiring practices.
     • Georgia Howe (04:16): “We've ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector and our military.”

3. Trade and Tariffs

   • Reciprocal Tariffs Introduction: The administration unveiled plans for reciprocal tariffs on international trading partners, aiming to enforce fair trade practices.
     • Georgia Howe (04:45): “Whatever they tariff us other countries, we will tariff them. That's reciprocal back and forth.”

4. Terrorism and National Security

   • Capture of Terrorist Mastermind: Trump announced the apprehension of a key figure responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing, a significant event during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
     • Georgia Howe (05:07): “Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity.”

5. Ukraine and Foreign Policy

   • Peace Negotiations: Following a contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump expressed optimism about ending the war swiftly through negotiations.
     • Georgia Howe (05:36): “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians... Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you.”

Congressional Response and Notable Incidents

The address was met with significant opposition from Democratic members of Congress, culminating in chaotic disruptions and unprecedented outbursts.

• Democratic Protests and Interruptions: Democrats refused to acknowledge any of Trump’s points, staging protests with signs like “liar” and “this is not normal,” and engaging in loud disruptions.
• Al Green’s Outburst: In a historic moment, Democratic Representative Al Green vocally interrupted Trump’s speech, leading to his removal by the House Sergeant at Arms.
  • Georgia Howe (07:13): “Take your seat.”
  • John Bickley (07:49): "Democrats sitting before me for just this one night. Why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America..."

Special Guests and Personal Tributes

Trump’s address featured emotional tributes to several individuals who have been impacted by various policies and events, adding a personal touch to his policy announcements.

1. DJ Daniel

   • Story: A young Texas boy diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018, now dreaming of becoming a police officer.
   • Tribute: Trump honored Daniel by appointing him as an agent of the United States Secret Service.
     • Georgia Howe (09:05): “I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service.” (09:53)

2. Peyton McNabb

   • Story: A female high school athlete who suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a male player’s aggression.
   • Tribute: Trump pledged to enforce policies that would remove males from women’s sports teams.
     • Georgia Howe (10:21): “From now on, schools will kick the men off the girls team or they will lose all federal funding.”

3. Jason Hartley

   • Story: A high school senior from a family of military service members, aspiring to attend West Point after losing his father, a Los Angeles county sheriff.
   • Tribute: Trump announced Jason’s acceptance into the corps of cadets at West Point.
     • Georgia Howe (10:52): “I'm pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.”

4. Mark Fogel and Cory Comperator

   • Story: Mark Fogel, detained in a Russian prison, was released due to Trump’s intervention. Cory Comperator, a firefighter and veteran, was killed by an assassin targeting Trump.
   • Tribute: Trump honored both individuals, emphasizing his commitment to justice and protection.
     • Georgia Howe (12:33): “Mark Fogle was born in a small rural town in Butler, Pennsylvania... Corey Comperatori was killed by Trump's would-be assassin.”

5. Lake and Riley’s Families

   • Story: Families who lost loved ones to illegal immigrants and gang members.
   • Tribute: Trump honored these families, highlighting the human cost of inadequate border security.
     • Georgia Howe (13:02): “Lakin was stolen from us by a savage illegal alien gang member...”

Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act

A significant portion of the episode delves into the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, its legislative journey, and expert analysis.

1. Legislation Details and Senate Vote

   • Amendment to Title IX: The act aimed to codify Trump's executive order to prevent biological males from participating in women's sports.
     • Sarah Perry (14:11): “It was actually simply an amendment to Title IX...”
   • Senate Outcome: The act failed to secure the necessary 60 votes, falling short by nine votes due to opposition from Democrats and nominal independents.
     • Sarah Perry (14:11): “The bill fell short of the threshold of 60 votes needed... 43 Democrats and then two nominal independents voted against the bill.”

2. Expert Analysis with Sarah Perry

   • Policy Impact: Sarah Perry, Senior Legal Fellow at Heritage, critiqued the bill’s limitations and the NCAA’s subsequent policy changes.
     • Sarah Perry (15:11): “There are no enforcement mechanisms... schools are incentivized to make sure they are trans-inclusive because they want a cut of the piece.”
   • NCAA Policy Changes: Although the NCAA announced policy changes purported to protect women’s sports, Perry argued these lacked enforceable measures and were influenced by financial incentives.
     • Sarah Perry (15:11): “What they've done is exactly what they did before... to essentially send everything back to the membership governing sports bodies.”

3. Olympic Sports Implications

   • International Pressure: Trump advocated for international sports bodies to maintain gender-segregated athletics, aligning with majority American public opinion.
     • Sarah Perry (16:26): “I believe, so goes the rest of the world. Trump himself has made calls for international sports governing bodies to make sure that we don't see a repeat of individuals injured like we have in past events.”

Conclusion

The episode of Morning Wire masterfully navigates the multifaceted aspects of President Trump’s joint address to Congress, juxtaposing policy announcements with heartfelt personal stories and showcasing the deep partisan divide within Congress. Through expert interviews and detailed analysis, John Bickley and Georgia Howe provide listeners with a thorough understanding of the address’s significance and its potential impact on American politics and society.

Notable Quotes

• Georgia Howe (00:09): “The golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before.”
• Cabot Phillips (02:31): “Renewal of the American dream.”
• Georgia Howe (04:35): “Whatever they tariff us other countries, we will tariff them.”

Key Takeaways

• Trump’s address emphasized significant policy shifts in border security, DEI initiatives, and international trade.
• The speech was marked by intense partisan conflict, with Democrats actively disrupting proceedings.
• Emotional tributes highlighted the personal stakes behind Trump’s policies, aiming to humanize political agendas.
• Legislative efforts to protect women in sports faced substantial opposition, reflecting broader cultural and political battles.

For those who missed the episode, Morning Wire provides a detailed and engaging recap, ensuring listeners stay informed on the critical developments shaping the nation.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

President Trump strikes a triumphant tone in his first address to Congress since retaking the White House.

[Georgia Howe]

The golden age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before.

[Tim Rice]

What priorities did the president lay out and how was he received by both houses of Congress?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, March 5th, and this is Morning Wire. Trump invited several special guests last night, including those victimized by past policies as well as those who prevailed over hardship.

[Georgia Howe]

In 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago.

[Tim Rice]

And every Senate Democrat votes against keeping men out of women's sports. We talked to a legal expert about the efforts to protect women's spaces.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with Morning wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Brandon]

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[Tim Rice]

In his first joint address to Congress since retaking the White House, President Trump touted his record while laying out his plans on immigration, foreign policy, and trade.

[John Bickley]

Here was some of the key highlights. Is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, a Cabot? So, all eyes on Washington last night as Trump gave his joint address. And the evening was many. It was raucous, funny, at times intense. What did we hear from the president last night?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, we heard a lot. At one hour and 40 minutes, it was the longest address to Congress in American history. Now, much of that was due to interruptions from Democrats. We'll get to that in a bit, but a lot to cover. The theme of Trump's address was, quote, renewal of the American dream. The president took the podium and kicked things off with a simple message to.

[Georgia Howe]

My fellow citizens, America is back.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, typically, a president's first address to Congress is largely focused on what they're going to do in the future. But Trump started things off by listing off what his administration has already accomplished in the six weeks since he took office. As we expected, he started by touting the record decrease in illegal border crossings last month.

[Georgia Howe]

And we quickly achieved the lowest numbers of illegal border crossers ever recorded. Thank you. The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.

[Cabot Phillips]

Next. Trump went on to laud the accomplishments of Doge while pointing out especially egregious examples of government waste that his administration has uncovered.

[Georgia Howe]

$22 billion from HHS to provide free housing and cars for illegal aliens. $45 million for diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma. $40 million to improve the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants. Nobody knows what that is. $8 million to promote LGBTQI plus in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of.

[Cabot Phillips]

And as we expected, Trump took aim at DEI policies, vowing to force the federal government and corporations to implement merit based hiring strategies.

[Georgia Howe]

We've ended the tyranny of so called diversity, equity and inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector and our military. Our country will be woke.

[Cabot Phillips]

And the president also used the address to break news on multiple fronts. First, he announced that reciprocal tariffs on our trading partners would officially go into place on April. Second.

[Georgia Howe]

Whatever they tariff us other countries, we will tariff them. That's reciprocal back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them.

[Cabot Phillips]

And then he announced for the first time the capture of one of the masterminds behind the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 US service members during the bot's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

[Georgia Howe]

Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.

[Cabot Phillips]

Trump went on to address the war in Ukraine following that contentious meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky last week. According to Trump, he says Zelensky is willing to come back to the negotiating table and end the war swiftly.

[Georgia Howe]

Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, he said. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you. I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn't that be beautiful? Wouldn't that be Beautiful.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, as I alluded to earlier, one of the big stories of the night was the response from Democrats. Not only did they refuse to stand or even applaud for really anything Trump addressed, including the capture of terrorists or the return of American prisoners in Russia, they staged a number of protests. Dozens of members held up signs throughout the evening with words like liar, Musk steals, this is not normal, et cetera. And there were also a number of loud outbursts and boos. And in a just truly stunning moment, one Democratic member, Al Green, stood up and yelled at Donald Trump in the middle of his speech. Greene ignored numerous warnings from Speaker Johnson, continued to scream for 60 seconds or so, and was finally forced off the floor by the House Sergeant at Arms. It was a wild, unprecedented moment. Have a listen, Mr. Green.

[Georgia Howe]

Take your seat.

[Cabot Phillips]

Take your seat, sir.

[Georgia Howe]

Take your seat. Finding that members continue to engage in.

[Cabot Phillips]

Willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the Sergeant at Arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber. It's worth noting after the address, Speaker Johnson said that there would likely be an effort to censor Green over that outburst. For his part, Trump took the opportunity to address the Democrats gathered in the chamber.

[Georgia Howe]

Democrats sitting before me for just this one night. Why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America, for the good of our nation. Let's work together and let's truly make America great again.

[John Bickley]

Well, as you said, we witnessed a lot last night that we've never quite seen before.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, nothing quite like it.

[John Bickley]

Kevin, thanks for bringing us the highlights.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[John Bickley]

Next up, we'll talk about the special guests Trump invited to the event.

[Brandon]

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[John Bickley]

While Trump's speech was heavy on policy, he also dedicated quite a bit of time to special guests who joined him in the gallery. The tributes were heartwarming and in some cases, heartbreaking.

[Tim Rice]

Joining us now to highlight some of the personal stories shared with the American people last night is Daily Wire managing editor Tim Rice. So, Tim, there were laughs and tears. What can you tell us about the president's guests.

[Brandon]

Absolutely, Georgia. And, you know, there's way more to recap than we have time for, but I'll do my best to highlight some of the most notable moments. We have to start with one of the most tender moments of the night. DJ Daniel, a young Texas boy who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018 and who dreams of being a police officer. He was in the audience dressed in a police uniform given to him by the Houston Police Department. Trump shouted him out and mentioned that he had been made an honorary cop by a number of police departments. And then Trump surprised him with a very special honor. And I'll be honest, I shouted out loud when it happened. Here's some of that incredible moment.

[Georgia Howe]

I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service.

[Brandon]

Trump also told the story of Peyton McNabb, a female high school athlete who suffered a traumatic brain injury when a male player who was allowed to play on the girls team spiked a volleyball into her head.

[Georgia Howe]

It was a shot like she's never seen before. She's never seen anything like it. Peyton is here tonight in the gallery. And Peyton, from now on, schools will kick the men off the girls team or they will lose all federal funding.

[Brandon]

Also in attendance was Jason Hartley, a high school senior who comes from a family of military service members and law enforcement. As a boy, Jason lost his father, who was a Los Angeles county sheriff. His dream is to be accepted to West Point. Here's what Trump said to him.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted. You will soon be joining the corps of cadet.

[Brandon]

The gallery erupted with that unexpected good news.

[Tim Rice]

Well, I got chills when Trump spoke about Mark Fogel, another one of his guests. As we reported here, Mark was detained in a Russian prison for years until Trump worked to have him released. What was that moment like?

[Brandon]

Yeah, what a remarkable story. And it ties into the first assassination attempt. As our own Cassie Akiva has reported, Trump promised Mark's mother, Malfean, that he would get her son back if he was reelected. He made that promise just minutes before taking the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a would be assassin fired at him tonight. Trump said that God spared him that day so he could make America great again. But I imagine Malfean thinks God saved Trump so he could bring her son.

[Georgia Howe]

Home after 22 days in office. I did just that. And they are here tonight. As fate would have it, Mark Fogle was born in a small rural town in Butler, Pennsylvania. Have you heard of It I just happened to go there last July 13th for a rally that was not pleasant. And that is where I met his beautiful mom right before I walked onto that stage. And I told her I would not forget what she said about her son. My life was saved by a fraction of an inch. But some were not so lucky. Cory Comperator was a firefighter, a veteran, a Christian, a husband, a devoted father and above all a protector.

[Brandon]

Corey Comperatori's wife Helen and two daughters Allison and Kaylee were also in the audience. Corey of course was in attendance at the Butler rally and who was killed by Trump's would be assassin. Trump has made it a point to honor comparatori since then, including over the summer at the Republican National Convention and of course again tonight.

[Tim Rice]

Right. And then there were others who lost daughters to illegal immigrants and gang members. Trump honored Lake and Riley's mother and sister in and Jocelyn Nungaree's mother Alexis.

[Georgia Howe]

Lakin was stolen from us by a savage illegal alien gang member who was arrested while trespassing across Biden's open southern border. He had then been arrested and released in a Democrat run sanctuary city. A disaster before ending the life of this beautiful young angel. With us this evening are Lakins beloved mother Alison and her sister Lauren.

[Brandon]

And it's worth noting that at least three Democrat senators, Mark Kelly, Kirsten Gillibrand and Richard Blumenthal did not stand for Riley's family. And those are just the ones we saw on the feed.

[Tim Rice]

While some really unforgettable tributes last night. Tim, thanks for sharing these stories.

[Brandon]

You bet.

[Tim Rice]

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports act failed to garner a single Democrat vote on Monday, falling below the 60 votes it needed to advance in the Senate.

[John Bickley]

Joining us now is Sarah partial Perry, senior legal fellow at Heritage. Sarah, thank you so much for joining us. So first, can you lay out the details of the act, what exactly this vote was about?

[Sarah Perry]

It was actually simply an amendment to Title IX that would have essentially codified Trump's executive order preventing biological males from participating in women's sports. Very simple. Use the structure of Title IX itself and simply would have made very clear that male and female individuals are biologically distinct and that schools have to keep their athletic scholastic programs separate. Unfortunately, the bill fell short of the threshold of 60 votes needed to end debate by nine votes. In fact, 43 Democrats and then two nominal independents who caucus with them voted against the bill. Essentially Democrats Democratic. And they did exactly what unfortunately we all anticipated they were going to do.

[John Bickley]

While there is Democrat resistance like this Conservatives have seen some major wins in this arena. There's one supposed win that I wanted you to drill down on for us. The NCAA announcing a policy change that appears to better protect women's sports. Some say this is actually deceiving. Can you unpack that for us?

[Sarah Perry]

Yeah, absolutely. It looks like a win in theory. It talks about individuals who are assigned male and female at birth. Well, that's a misnomer right there. We know individuals are not assigned sexes. They are clinically verified to be male or fema, except in rare instances where there are developmental disorders of sexual function. But that is less than 1% of the entirety of the population. There are no, quote, transgender athletes in American collegiate athletics. There are only males and females. And there are, of course, no enforcement mechanisms in this particular policy. What they've done is exactly what they did before and what they've done now since the beginning of the transgender contagion. And that is to essentially send everything back to the membership governing sports bodies and say, okay, now you can enforce this. And what enforcement looks like, no one can tell because there are no enforcement mechanisms. There's $1.28 billion at stake in the funding that goes to the annual revenue that funds these particular member colleges and universities. That's on the line. And of course, these schools are incentivized to make sure they are trans inclusive because they want a cut of the piece.

[John Bickley]

And what about the Olympics sports? There have been some reports that we might see some changes there, some pressure from the White House. Where does that stand now?

[Sarah Perry]

Well, what we're seeing is essentially increasing international calls to be able to make sure that male and female athletics are separate, as goes America, I believe, so goes the rest of the world. And Trump himself has made calls for international sports governing bodies to make sure that we don't see a repeat of individuals injured like we have in past events, whether at the collegiate level or on the international stage. I'm hopeful that now that we've seen the rest of the developed world back off of what this really was in terms of a transgender contagion and the trans, early trans, often with an ignorance to our biological reality, and in light of the fact that 79% of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, support sex separated sports, that the Olympic Committee will take a nod, considering America's presence in the International Olympic Games on a grand scale, and will ultimately toe the line on common sense and biological reality.

[John Bickley]

It truly is an 8020 issue, as you just highlighted. Sarah, thank you so much for talking with us.

[Sarah Perry]

Thanks, John.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us and if you enjoyed what you heard this morning, share this episode with a friend.