Donald Trump promises ‘new chapter of American greatness’

Democrats listened unmoved by much, but to Republican ears the overhaul of President Barrack Obama’s signature healthcare law and tax reforms favouring businesses were welcome. The president, however, left them wanting. “He said things that sounded good, but they were the opposite of his actions and rhetoric of the past”, Ms Jayapal said after Mr Trump’s address to Congress.

Sure, Trump provided some direction.

Ensuring people with pre-existing health conditions are guaranteed “access” to health insurance, “and that we have a stable transition for Americans now enrolled in the health-care exchanges”.

While Trump has given a few speeches since taking office, this is truly the first time he will be able to stand in front of the entire nation and try to reframe what has widely been seen as a bumpy start to his administration. A strong call to reform taxation, replace Obamacare and a defence of the controversial “school choice” movement and voucher programs all come “straight out of the Republican playbook”.

It was a fear given credence by White House spokesman Sean Spicer who insisted, “It was not a reset speech”.

Most frustrating for Congress would have been for Trump to spend much effort during the prime-time address rehashing his accomplishments so far, or reliving his electoral-college win from November.

Trump’s speech was welcomed by the hundreds of mostly Republican lawmakers who witnessed it firsthand in Congress. “He just laid it out”.

Conservatives in the House are rebelling against the draft bill, and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., dismissed the legislation as an old draft that GOP leaders never meant to advance.

“You’re talking about 11 million undocumented people who live among us who are a critical part of our society and he wants to identify three or four bad instances as if that’s the picture”, Sherman said.

But Mark Sanford, a member of the conservative Freedom House Caucus who has drafted a separate repeal bill with Senator Rand Paul, dismissed this interpretation.

“The president makes the decision to set the tone he wants”, an official familiar with the speech-writing process told NBC News.

Following the speech, Sanford conceded disappointment there was no discussion of how to control spending as Trump simultaneously rallied lawmakers to support $1 trillion in infrastructure investments. It is true that, given that the very low expectations, Trump’s February 28 speech was a pleasant surprise.

Despite White House promises that the speech will be an optimistic vision for the country that crosses traditional lines of party and race, Democrats expect to hear little that they will like.

But what he failed to mention is that the Trump-ordered Yemen raid Owens took part in to gain intelligence, gained “no significant information” for the U.S. By leaving the details and dirty work to Congress, the president has provided himself with an out if millions of Americans lose their coverage when Obamacare is repealed.