Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress; Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China Spark Backlash

President Donald Trump marked the end of his first six weeks in office with a 1 hour and 40 minute speech to a joint session of Congress, the longest such address on record. He talked about topics ranging from immigration, the economy, and foreign policy. While the first joint address of a president’s term is not officially a State of the Union, it serves a similar purpose.

President Trump’s unprecedented 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect on Tuesday, sparking backlash. In 2024, the U.S. imported nearly $1 trillion worth of goods from the two nations. The U.S. also doubled tariffs on China from 10 to 20% across the board. The U.S. imports roughly $400 billion in goods from China every year. Trump said that the reason for these tariffs was in response to the vast amounts of fentanyl coming through the borders, and much of the fentanyl is sourced in China.

A storm landed in California Tuesday night that’s expected to bring heavy rain, gusty winds, and even the possibility of weak tornadoes. In Oklahoma, a tornado touched down early Tuesday morning, reaching peak winds of up to 105 miles per hour, uprooting trees and homes. In New Orleans, severe weather is threatening Mardi Gras celebrations, with powerful storms sweeping through the state, bringing strong winds and the risk of tornadoes. Authorities emphasized that they will not hesitate to cancel activities for safety reasons.