CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KFSN) — The first State of the Union address of President Trump’s second term promised affordability going forward.
The president hopes to change Americans’ minds about his economic agenda.
“The roaring economy is roaring like never before,” President Trump said, months before a vital midterm election.
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The commander-in-chief revealed his plans to move forward with new tariffs without action from Congress just days after the Supreme Court struck down previous taxes on imported goods.
Those justices sat just feet away as the President shared his intentions.
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Moments after the President’s remarks, Valley Congressman Jim Costa shared his concern about this latest ambition.
“I think that’s very disturbing,” Costa said, “and I think for people who believe equal justice under the law. They wonder, well, if the President doesn’t think the Constitution applies to him, then maybe we should look as to whether or not we think it applies to us.”
Republican and former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy said on ABC News after the address that he believes the President hit all the right notes, saying, “He (Trump) raised the point of where he’s been successful, and then where it’s just turning the corner. He’s only been in one year.”
President Trump also backed the administration’s immigration crackdown as unrest continues across the country, saying the U.S. holds the strongest and most secure border in American history.
“We are deporting illegal alien criminals from our country at record numbers, and we’re getting them the hell out of here fast,” the president said.
Costa countered the crackdown’s effectiveness, saying the president missed a chance to offer actual immigration reform, an opportunity he believes Congress would jump on, especially here in the Valley.
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“Taking a five-year-old out of Minneapolis and detaining and then deporting that little child with his father. That’s not the worst of the worst. That’s not what Americans are looking for,” Costa said.
Valley Republican Vince Fong was also in attendance Tuesday, writing in part, “Our Central Valley deserves relief and opportunity, and with President Trump in office, that is what they are seeing. More money in their pockets. A stronger economy. Safer cities. A proud and confident America once again leading on the world stage.”
In the Central Valley, people told Action News they aren’t feeling any financial freedom.
The first State of the Union Address of President Trump’s second term promised affordability going forward.
“I don’t think so, I don’t agree with him at all. To be honest, you ask me, I’m telling you, I don’t agree with Trump at all,” said Belvin, a Fresno resident.
Shopper Lolisa Standifer adds to the difficulties families face, saying, “I mean, there are months where you see cucumbers that are low, and then there are months where you’ll see cucumbers for $1.50. Prices go up, go down, make you wonder, but we have to keep working.”
Many, like Standifer, are being forced to make sacrifices at the store.
“Healthy food is more expensive than chips and everything. You see people grabbing chips and everything because we just need to eat,” she said.
The president also shared plans for several cost-cutting measures, including affordable health care, a key issue ahead of November’s midterm elections.
“I want to stop all payments to big insurance companies and instead give that money directly to the people, so they can buy their own healthcare,” Trump said.
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