US President Donald Trump has vowed to keep up his campaign of “swift and unrelenting action” in reorienting the nation’s economy, immigration and foreign policy in an unyielding address to Congress.

Trump's prime-time speech was the latest marker in his takeover of the nation's capital, where the Republican-led House and Senate have done little to restrain the president as he and his allies work to slash the size of the federal government and remake America’s place in the world.

The address drew interruptions from some Democratic lawmakers who held up signs and walked out in protest. The partisan rancour was reflective of the tumult that has accompanied Trump's first six weeks in office since he was sworn in on January 20.

The more than 90-minute address added up to a defiant sales pitch for the policies that he promised during his campaign and leaned into during his first weeks back in office.

Trump pledged to keep delivering sweeping changes to the country, rescuing it from what he described as destruction and mistakes left by his predecessor Joe Biden while repeatedly needling Democratic lawmakers who protested his remarks.

Trump began his speech to a standing ovation from fellow Republicans.

"To my fellow citizens, America is back," he said. "Our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again."

With a tight grip on his party, Trump has been emboldened to take sweeping actions after overcoming impeachments in his first term and criminal prosecutions in between his two administrations.

Trump, who has billionaire adviser Elon Musk orchestrating efforts to slash the size and scope of the federal government, said he was working to “reclaim democracy from this unaccountable bureaucracy" and threatened federal workers anew with firings if they resist his agenda.

Republicans cheer Elon Musk as President Donald Trump praises DOGE. – AP

Musk, who was seated in the House gallery, received a pair of standing ovations from Republicans in the chamber.

Trump’s theme was the "renewal of the American dream”, and he laid out his achievements as well as appealed to Congress to provide more money to finance his aggressive immigration crackdown.

“It has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action,” Trump said of his opening weeks in office. “The people elected me to do the job, and I am doing it.”

Trump spoke at a critical juncture in his presidency, as voters who returned him to the White House on his promise to fix inflation are instead finding economic chaos.

All the gains the S&P 500 have made since Election Day are now gone, while consumer sentiment surveys show the public sees inflation as worsening.

For a president who believes that announcements of corporate investments can boost attitudes about the economy, the speech was suddenly a test of his ability to rebuild confidence in his economic leadership.

“Among my very highest priorities is to rescue our economy and get dramatic and immediate relief to working families,” Trump said.

He promised to organise the federal government to lower costs on eggs and energy.

Trump also called for the extension of his first-term tax cuts and additional federal funding for his border crackdown, including for his promised efforts at “mass deportation” of people in the US illegally.

Donald Trump says the US 'needs Greenland' and he will reclaim the Panama Canal. – AP

The backdrop was the new economic uncertainty unleashed after the president opened the day by placing stiff tariffs on imports from the country’s neighbours and closest trading partners.

A 25 per cent tax on goods from Canada and Mexico went into effect early Tuesday – ostensibly to secure greater cooperation to tackle drug trafficking and illegal immigration – triggering immediate retaliation and sparking fears of a wider trade war. Trump also raised tariffs on goods from China to 20 per cent.

Trump seemed prepared to double down on his trade war, which experts have warned will raise prices for consumers.

“Whatever they tariff us, we tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we tax them,” Trump said.

Democrats held up signs with messages like "No King" and "This Is NOT Normal", and around 30 Democrats had walked out mid-speech less than an hour into Trump's remarks.

One Texas congressman, Al Green, was ordered removed after he refused to sit down.

"The chair now directs the sergeant at arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber," Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said after warning Democrats to maintain decorum.

Democrat Al Green interrupts Donald Trump's speech to Congress. – Reuters

Green, shaking his walking cane at Trump, appeared to be shouting that Trump did not win a mandate in November's election after the president bragged about the Republicans' victories. As he was led from the chamber, some Republicans sang: "Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, goodbye."

Trump, a political brawler by nature, appeared to revel in the disagreements.

"I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realise there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud," he said after Green's ejection.

Trump also used his speech to address his proposals for fostering peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, where he has upended the policies of the Biden administration in a matter of just weeks. On Monday, Trump ordered a freeze to US military assistance to Ukraine, ending years of staunch American support for the country in fending off Russia’s invasion.

Trump recited a letter he received earlier in the day from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that the wartime president wants to come back to the table after a explosive Oval Office meeting last week broke down negotiations for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. “We’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace,” Trump said. “Wouldn’t that be beautiful?”

In the Middle East, negotiations to extend a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have stalled, with Trump floating the permanent displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and a US “takeover” of the territory, straining partnerships with countries in the region and undoing longtime American support for a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Trump also urged Congress to extend his 2017 tax cuts. Congressional Republicans have advanced a sweeping $4.5 trillion plan that would extend the tax cuts, tighten border security and fund a huge increase in deportations.

The proposal calls for $2 trillion in spending reductions over a decade, with possible cuts to education, healthcare and other social services.

President Donald Trump takes aim at Democrats in Congress speech. – AP

In regard to foreign investment, Trump said Japan, South Korea and other countries were eager to invest "trillions of dollars each"  in a "gigantic" natural gas pipeline in Alaska, which would be one of the largest in the world.

"Japan, South Korea and other nations want to be our partner, with investments of trillions of dollars each," he said.

South Korea's industry ministry said Minister Ahn Duk-geun discussed the project with US officials during his visit to Washington last week, but no specific details have been decided.

"We will actively engage in discussions with the United States moving forward as it is a matter of mutual interest of the two countries," an industry ministry spokesperson said after Trump's remarks.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Wednesday expanding American gas, bioethanol and ammonia imports would "meet the national interests of both Japan and the US" as it would stabilize Japan's energy supply while reducing the US trade deficit. He made similar remarks after meeting Trump last month.

"We will carefully examine its technical possibilities and profitability" from the perspective of whether it would contribute to Japan's interest, Ishiba told a parliament session.

In the address to Congress, Trump highlighted his tariff plans and said it was now the turn of the United States to use tariffs against other countries as they had against the United States. He said he would impose reciprocal tariffs on April 2.

In closing, Donald Trump declares 'the golden age of America has only just begun'. – AP

Trump and first lady Melania Trump were joined in the motorcade to the Capitol by Musk.

The whole scene for Trump's speech was a marked contrast to his final State of the Union address in his first term. Five years ago, Trump delivered his annual address just after the Senate had acquitted him during his first impeachment trial and before the Covid-19 pandemic had taken root across society.

As he finished, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, stood and dramatically ripped up a copy of Trump's speech.

Trump's address, which was not referred to as a State of the Union because he is still in the first year of his new term, will be received very differently, said House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“We will not be ripping up the speech tonight," the Republican said. “I would like to frame it in gilded gold.”

The president also used his high-profile moment to press his efforts to reshape the country’s approach to social issues, as he looked to continue to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the country.

White House guests included Stephanie Diller, the widow of New York Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller, who was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop in March 2024; Marc Fogel, the Pennsylvania teacher who came home last month after years of detention in Russia, and his 95-year-old mother, Malphine; and relatives of Corey Comperatore, the former Pennsylvania fire chief who was killed as he protected his family during an assassination attempt on Trump last summer.