Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Impeached Trump Upbeat in State of Union Speech

Steve Herman

   In his third State of the Union address, President Donald Trump Tuesday
   night told a bitterly divided Congress and country that his
   administration, in three years, has "shattered the mentality of
   American decline" and rejected "the downsizing of Americans' destiny."

   Trump's nearly hour and a half speech -- filled with election-year
   boasting about renewed U.S. economic might, victories in trade talks,
   rebuilding the military and slashing unemployment for blacks and other
   minorities - comes as the Republican-controlled Senate is on the verge
   of voting Wednesday to acquit the president of two House-passed
   impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of a
   congressional investigation."

   We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time
   ago and we are never ever going back!" Trump declared.

   This marked the first time an impeached president delivered the annual
   presidential address in a year he is running for re-election.

   It was an extraordinary drama as Trump was greeted in the House
   chambers by ebullient Republicans chanting "Four More Years!" and
   Democrats reacting with tepid applause or looks of contempt. The
   evening began with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offering her hand for
   Trump to shake, but the president turned away without taking it. The
   speaker is considered a key nemesis by the president for her role in
   leading the Democrats' impeachment process.

.