Trump in SOTU Address: ‘Time for a Merit-Base Immigration System’

US President Donald Trump addressed the State of the Union

(Photo: AP exchange)

US President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address on 31 January. Amid cheering Republicans and protesting Democrats, Trump called upon the gathering to set aside “differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve.”

In his speech, he honoured army officers and firefighters who risked their lives to rescue people during natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey, that struck the USA in 2017.

President Trump also highlighted the need for a ‘merit-based immigration system’.

Over the next few weeks, the House and Senate will be voting on an immigration reform package. In recent months, my administration has met extensively with both Democrats and Republican to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform/ Based on these discussions, we presented Congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise – one where nobody gets everything they want but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs and must have. The third pillar ends the visa lottery – a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people... It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system – one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society and who will love and respect our country. 

Donald Trump, US President 

Trump also took credit for US economic gains and a soaring stock market.

Since the election, we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. After years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages. Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low. African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded and Hispanic American unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history.

Donald Trump, US President 

“We repealed the core of the disastrous Obamacare,” he proudly announced. He said his government made the maximum reforms “than any other American government in history.”

First lady Melania Trump arrived at Capitol Hill separately, with her spokesperson saying she went early to accompany a group of guests at the address. Melania has not been seen in public with her husband since The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that in 2016, Trump allegedly paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair with him. Trump’s lawyer later denied the allegations.

Read more about Trump’s first State of the Union address here.

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar