President Trump on Tuesday asked Republicans and Democrats to set aside their differences and collaborate on policy challenges from healthcare to immigration, ditching the red-meat rhetoric of his rallies for a sweeping bipartisan address to a joint session of Congress.
“My administration wants to work with members in both parties to make child care accessible and affordable, to help ensure new parents have paid family leave, to invest in women’s health, and to promote clean air and clear water, and to rebuild our military and our infrastructure,” Trump said during his highly anticipated speech on the House floor.
“True love for our people requires us to find common ground, to advance the common good, and to cooperate on behalf of every American child who deserves a brighter future.”
Trump urged cooperation on an immigration reform package, calling on Congress to prioritize changes that would make the legal immigration system more merit-based.
“I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation’s security, and to restore respect for our laws,” Trump said.
“If we are guided by the well-being of American citizens then I believe Republicans and Democrats can work together to achieve an outcome that has eluded our country for decades.”
Adhering closely to a set of prepared remarks throughout the address, the president frequently gestured to both sides of the physically and symbolically divided chamber as he encouraged lawmakers to pursue common areas of interest.
“Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing, and hope,” Trump said.
“Our citizens deserve this, and so much more — so why not join forces to finally get it done? On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people.”
But the president did not back down from the tougher immigration enforcement his administration has implemented to date. Trump pressed his opponents in Congress to consider the human side of their preference for more open borders, a side the White House highlighted with several of the guests who were invited to sit in the First Lady’s box.
“To anyone in Congress who does not believe that we should enforce our laws, I would ask you this one question: What would you say to the American family that loses its job … or loves ones because America refuses to protect our borders?” Trump asked.
Trump also highlighted the need for congressional cooperation on fixes to the Affordable Care Act, which has suffered escalating setbacks as insurance companies have withdrawn from the exchanges created by Obamacare.
“Obamacare is collapsing –- and we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice — it is a necessity,” Trump said.
“So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.”
The reform legislation should allow Americans to buy insurance plans across state lines and should expand the use of Health Savings Accounts, Trump said.
His unifying language went far beyond the policy debates that have filled the halls of Capitol Hill over the past few weeks, however. Trump reached beyond the room of elected officials to the people watching at home, calling on Americans to recognize their common ground at a time when many voters view the country as deeply divided.
“This is our vision. This is our mission. But we can only get there together,” Trump said. “We are one people, with one destiny. We all bleed the same blood. We all salute the same flag. And we are all made by the same God.”
Another moment of unity occurred when Trump turned his attention to the widow of slain Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who was sitting in the first lady’s box along with his daughter and his son-in-law. Most members of Congress from both parties stood to clap for Carryn Owens when Trump mentioned her husband’s recent sacrifice during a raid in Yemen.
