Trump claims tariffs will eliminate income tax and relieve Americans
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term, providing a robust defence of his economic, trade, and immigration policies in anticipation of the November midterm elections. A central theme of his address was trade and tariffs. Trump reaffirmed his enduring conviction that tariffs imposed on foreign nations could ultimately serve as a substitute for the contemporary income tax framework. “As time goes by, I believe that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love,” he said. Trump characterised a recent Supreme Court ruling on tariffs as “unfortunate,” while maintaining that his tariff regime was safeguarding and benefiting the nation. He contended that the policy was producing substantial revenue for the United States and stopping other nations from “earning at the expense of America.” Significantly, he delivered his remarks in the presence of Supreme Court justices who were attending the address.
He further asserted that numerous nations and corporations that had entered into trade agreements with Washington desired those arrangements to persist, even in light of the court’s involvement, cautioning that any forthcoming agreement could be “far worse for them.” In a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, Trump asserted that “the state of our Union is strong” and depicted a nation he claimed was flourishing under his leadership. “Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” he stated. “You’ve seen nothing yet.” We are committed to continuous improvement. “This is the Golden Age of America.” During the address, Trump urged lawmakers to pass the ‘SAVE America Act’, asserting that it would stop undocumented immigrants from voting in US elections. “It’s simple, every voter must show an ID proving they are a citizen in order to vote,” he stated.
In discussing immigration, Trump asserted that his administration had achieved what he referred to as the “most secure border in the history of America.” He asserted “In the past nine months, zero illegal immigrants have been admitted into the United States,” while emphasising that the country would continue to welcome those who enter legally and contribute to national development. He also stated that the flow of fentanyl into the US had decreased by 56 percent over the past year, characterising it as a record low. Trump sharply criticised the previous administration, attributing high inflation and what he described as a “housing disaster” to its policies. He stated that inflation had decreased to 1.7 percent last month during his leadership. Petrol prices, he stated, had fallen below $2 a gallon, mortgage rates were decreasing swiftly, and the yearly expense of a standard mortgage had reduced by nearly $5,000 over the last year. “Low interest rates will solve the housing disaster,” he stated.
Emphasising job creation, Trump stated, “70,000 new jobs had been created in a short span,” noting that all recent job growth has originated from the private sector. He stated that American oil production had risen by over 600,000 barrels a day, while natural gas output had achieved a record high. “I kept my promise, drill, baby, drill,” Trump stated. He also noted that the United States had received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, which he referred to as a “new friend and partner.” Trump stated that his administration had put an end to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives within federal institutions. He also asserted that 2.4 million Americans had been removed from food stamps, describing it as a historic shift toward workforce participation. Trump stated: “Our country is winning again, to an extent we don’t even know what to do with it.”
