United States President-elect Donald Trump addressed thousands of cheering supporters in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday. The event marked his first public rally since his election victory in November this year.
For more than 75 minutes, Trump celebrated his return to power, tested his message of national unity, and struck his usual bellicose tone on both foreign and domestic issues.
Here are the main highlights:
Trump balances a message of unity with trademark aggressiveness
Trump’s speech echoed familiar rhetorical calls for unity. Declaring his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris “a landslide,” Trump emphasized a new sense of national pride, saying, “We have a sense now that we didn’t have a while ago.”
He extended an olive branch to Democrats, commenting, “We want to try to bring everybody together. We’re going to try. We’re going to really give it a shot,” according to Associated Press (AP).
Despite these conciliatory notes, much of the speech stuck to Trump’s characteristic style, including “ripping off” foreign nations and falsely claiming that he won the 2020 election, not President Joe Biden.
Tough talk on the Panama Canal
Trump targets the Panama Canal As a new point of contention in his “America First” agenda. He criticized Panama for “unreasonable” shipping charges and floated the idea of regaining control of the canal, which the US relinquished to Panama in 1999.
Trump blamed former President Jimmy Carter for the decision, calling it “stupid.”
“If the moral and legal principles of this great act of giving are not upheld, we will demand the return of the Panama Canal to the United States,” Trump announced.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino categorically rejected this notion, saying, “Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will remain so.” Mulino, a conservative leader often aligned with Trump, defended the toll structure as necessary to maintain the canal’s operation and sovereignty.
On Elon Musk as president
Addressing rumors of his growing influence, Trump dismissed the idea of handing over power to billionaire Elon Musk. Referring to the Democrats’ suggestion, Trump said, “No, no. That’s not happening. He will not be president.”
Musk’s recent social media posts helped derail a bipartisan budget deal, contributing to tensions in Washington. Trump has empowered Musk by appointing him as co-chairman of a commission focused on reducing federal spending, but his comments indicated that Musk’s rising profile does not overshadow Trump’s authority.
To avoid tariff and budget disputes
Trump apparently stepped forward to discuss Washington’s budget fight, which has seen him fail to convince House Republicans to raise the national debt ceiling. Instead, he focused on broader economic goals and avoided providing details about his proposed tariffs, a key element of his platform.
Celebrates Republican gains in demographics
Trump highlighted the broad coalition of the Republican Party, thanking ‘Turning Point USA’ for its efforts to mobilize young voters, Hispanics and black voters. “You had a grassroots army of turning points,” Trump said, adding, “It’s not my victory, it’s your victory.”
The rally bolstered Trump’s popularity among conservatives, signaling his continued reliance on a mix of fiery rhetoric and grassroots mobilization to achieve his policy goals.
(with input from AP)
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