Trump 2.0 ‘just getting started’

United States President Donald Trump touted his disruptive accomplishments after only 44 days since assuming office, telling legislators that his administration was “just getting started.”

In his first address to Congress since returning to power Tuesday, the longest presidential speech lasting over one hour and 40 minutes, Trump declared, “America is back” and “the American Dream is unstoppable.”

To cheers of “USA” and “Trump, Trump, Trump”, he proclaimed that his culture war on diversity programs and transgender rights meant “our country will be woke no longer.”

He defended his disruptive economic moves — even as the trade war he launched against Canada, China and Mexico is prompting jitters on world markets.

“We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on earth,” Trump said.

After a torrent of warnings that tariffs will badly hurt US exporters, including politically powerful farmers, he conceded they would bring “a little disturbance.”

And after enumerating a series of murders committed by migrants, Trump got big applause when he vowed to “wage war” on Mexican drug cartels.

Almost every line got loud applause from Republican Party members, including on two occasions when Trump singled out SpaceX and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk, who stood up to salute Congress.

Aided by Musk, Trump has cracked down on the federal bureaucracy, firing thousands of workers, shuttering entire agencies and decimating foreign aid.

“The days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over,” Trump said.

Zelensky letter

Days after a televised row in the Oval Office with Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said Ukraine’s leader had told him in a letter he was now ready for talks with Russia and sign a minerals deal.

“I received an important letter from President Zelensky of Ukraine. The letter reads, ‘Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,’” Trump said in his speech.

“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,” Trump added.

Zelensky earlier Tuesday said he wanted to “make things right” with Trump after their jaw-dropping clash Friday, followed by the suspension of all US military assistance to Ukraine, which Russia invaded three years ago.

“I appreciate that he sent this letter. Just got it a little while ago,” Trump said.

“Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace,” he said.

Trump also doubled down on his controversial vows on “taking back” the Panama Canal and getting Greenland from Denmark by “one way or another.”

One Democratic congressman, Al Green, was ejected from the gallery because he refused to stop heckling Trump over healthcare programs, and shaking his walking stick at the president.

Other Democrats silently held up placards including “False” and “Musk steals” and “That’s a lie!”