See below for reactions by Virginia Democratic leaders, as well as the DNC, on Trump’s State of the Union speech last night. Bottom line:
DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker’s Statement Following Trump’s Joint Address to Congress
“Donald Trump just spent 120 minutes spewing lies, but Virginians know the truth because they’re the ones suffering. He’s broken every promise he made on the campaign trail—whether it’s raising costs, gutting Medicaid, or abandoning our veterans—to give tax breaks to his billionaire friends.
And now, Virginians are bearing the brunt of the one promise he’s kept: dismantling the federal workforce to build a government that answers only to him. His reckless actions are not only leaving hardworking Virginians without jobs and hurting Virginia’s economy, but they’re also eroding the very institutions that guarantee our government serves the people.
This administration’s utter disregard for working Americans has never been clearer. Virginians deserve more than an administration that prioritizes chaos over effective governance. They deserve more than Republican leaders who idly stand by this administration’s destructive agenda.
But Trump’s address serves as a crucial reminder: this November, we have the opportunity to elect a Democratic governor who will put Virginians first. We have the opportunity to expand our majority in the House of Delegates to pass legislation that benefits working families. We have the opportunity to guarantee that Virginia continues to be a Commonwealth that works for everyone.”
STATEMENT OF U.S. SEN. MARK R. WARNER
~ On President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress ~
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:
“Tonight, President Trump touted policies that are raising prices for Americans, draining our federal workforce, illegally threatening government programs and benefits, and terrorizing the immigrant communities that have shaped Virginia. The president bragged about his reckless plan to isolate America from its allies, turn our back on long-kept partnerships, raise taxes on hardworking families, and reverse historic advancements in U.S. innovation and competition. Our country can – and should – do better. I will continue doing everything I can to fight for Virginians.”
KAINE STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S 2025 ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after President Trump’s joint address to Congress:
“President Trump’s address showed that he and his Administration have no problem turning their backs on middle-class Americans. In his first few weeks in office, President Trump has imposed steep tariffs that will raise costs and hurt businesses, fired thousands of federal workers who provide critical services to millions of Americans, illegally stopped the flow of federal funds that support programs Americans rely on, and cozied up to dictators like Vladimir Putin while abandoning Ukraine and our democratic allies. If the President, his Administration, and Republicans in Congress continue to go down the current path they are on, they should expect that they will be met with fierce opposition as more and more Americans will feel the impacts of Trump’s terrible policies. I know many Virginians are worried about the state of our country, and they have my commitment that I’ll continue to stand up against any efforts that will harm Virginians, hurt our economy, or make Virginians less safe.”
Kaine brought Fairfax resident and veteran Jason King as his guest. Jason was fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division as a result of the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal employees.
| Statement from Ranking Member Connolly on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress |
| Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued this statement following President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, in which the President highlighted a litany of unlawful, corrupt, and cruel actions he has taken or intends to take:“Tonight, we heard a lot about how our government should serve Donald Trump, but nothing about how Donald Trump will serve the American people.
“Instead, President Trump doubled down on the Project 2025 playbook and on his agenda to terrorize immigrant communities, traumatize federal workers, eviscerate critical programs and services Americans rely on, poison our institutions with corruption, burn bridges with our allies, and increase the cost of living for hardworking people everywhere.
“Meanwhile, Republicans are falling in line behind this wannabe strongman and a billionaire oligarch all so they can give away trillions in deficit-busting tax cuts to big corporations and the very wealthiest. Their silence is a betrayal of the Americans they were sent to Washington to represent.
“Oversight Democrats have no higher calling than upholding our oaths to serve and protect the American people. As Trump, Musk, and their cabinet of cronies set out to make government serve them, Oversight Democrats remain committed to making sure government serves the people.”
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Vindman Statement on President Trump’s Chaotic Joint Address to Congress
WASHINGTON – Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) tonight released the following statement after President Donald Trump’s chaotic Joint Address to Congress.
“Tonight, we heard more nonsense from Donald Trump — divisive rhetoric, empty promises, and a refusal to take responsibility for the policies that have hurt American families. In one word: chaos.
“While he talks about ‘America First,’ his actions tell a different story: Short-sighted tariffs, rising health care costs, purging dedicated civil servants, threatening benefits for veterans, wrecking 401ks, and undermining our national security through weakness.
“As expected, his speech was filled with lies designed to distract from his failures. Instead of addressing the real challenges facing Americans, like the rising cost of living, he peddled falsehoods and fantasies.
“In Virginia’s Seventh District, we know what real leadership looks like. It looks like delivering lower costs, protecting the livelihoods of the hardworking federal employees who keep our country running, standing with our allies rather than cozying up to dictators, and fighting for better opportunities for every family.
“The American people deserve leaders who put them first — not their billionaire donors or partisan games. I remain committed to delivering real results for my constituents in Virginia’s Seventh District.”
Spanberger Statement Following President Trump’s Promise to Further Damage Virginia’s Economy
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“Virginians Deserve Leaders Who Are Focused on Creating Jobs, Not Unleashing Chaos”
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“As the Next Governor of Virginia, I Will Always Look Out for Virginians and Our Economy”
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RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger tonight released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
“Tonight, Virginians deserved to hear how President Trump plans to lower costs for families and end the damage caused by his administration’s reckless attacks on jobs here in the Commonwealth. Instead, thousands of Virginians still fear they’ll lose their jobs.
“The strength of our federal workforce is a kitchen-table issue here in Virginia. While I have long supported efforts to make our government more efficient and more responsive to the American people, this sledgehammer approach is hurting the financial security of Virginia workers and risking a devastating domino effect for our Commonwealth’s economy.
“Virginians deserve leaders who are focused on creating and protecting jobs, not unleashing chaos. As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always stand up for Virginians and our economy by focusing on the issues that matter most — lowering costs, strengthening our public schools, and increasing opportunity for every Virginian.”
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Trump Puts Putin Over Our Allies and Threatens Our National Security
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In response to Donald Trump doubling down on a dangerous foreign policy agenda that puts Putin over our allies, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Donald Trump threatened to be a ‘dictator’ on ‘day one,’ and now he’s siding with foreign adversaries like Vladimir Putin over America’s allies. There’s a reason why so many military leaders — including his own former chief of staff — think Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda makes us all less safe. Between parroting Putin’s talking points and pausing aid to Ukraine, Trump has shown that he is incapable of standing up to despots on the world stage and protecting America’s national security. Trump is pledging allegiance to the wrong red, white, and blue.”Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine shortly after parroting Kremlin propaganda in the Oval Office, embarrassing himself and the United States on the world stage. |
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NBC News: “President Donald Trump’s decision to pause American military aid to Ukraine is handing Russia’s Vladimir Putin the upper hand on the battlefield and in geopolitical negotiations, former officials and experts warned Tuesday.”
CNN: “Never before has an American president verbally attacked his visitor like Trump did Zelensky, leading to an almost real-time breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely. …
“Again and again, Trump has sided with Putin. But with voices raised in the Oval Office, Trump unleashed years of pent-up frustration toward Russia and Ukraine, which led to his first impeachment.
New York Times: “Trump Elevates Kremlin Talking Points, a Familiar Pattern From His First Term”
Politico: “The Kremlin on Sunday cheered the shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, saying the American view now ‘largely coincides’ with Russia’s take on geopolitics.
“Trump has upended U.S. policy on Ukraine in recent weeks and sought a more conciliatory approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, echoing Moscow’s talking points and recently accusing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of obstructing efforts to resolve the conflict started by Putin’s unprovoked invasion. In contrast, former U.S. President Joe Biden led efforts to support Kyiv against the Russian forces attacking Ukraine.”
Trump — who has repeatedly praised Putin — said he would have let Russia “take over” parts of Ukraine and threatened to let them “do whatever the hell they want” to our NATO allies.
CNN: “Trump says he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that doesn’t pay enough”
Washington Post: “Former president Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory… Some foreign policy experts said Trump’s idea would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin and condone the violation of internationally recognized borders by force. …
“Trump has consistently complimented Putin, expressed admiration for his dictatorial rule and gone out of his way to avoid criticizing him, most recently for the death in jail of political opponent Alexei Navalny.”
Daily Beast: “Fox News Edits Out Trump Saying He Might’ve Let Russia ‘Take Over’ Parts of Ukraine”
“[Trump] revealed how he personally would have prevented the war. According to Trump, all he needed to do was let Russia ‘take over’ parts of Ukraine.”
New York Times: “Mr. Trump often praises Mr. Putin — he has described the invasion of Ukraine as the work of a ‘genius’ — and has long admired him as a ‘strong’ leader.”
Washington Post, February 2022: “‘Genius,’ ‘Savvy’: Trump reacts to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine exactly as you’d expect”
REMINDER: Military leaders — including Trump’s own former chief of staff — slammed Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda and failure to protect American national security interests.
CNN: “‘A person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about. A person who cavalierly suggests that a selfless warrior who has served his country for 40 years in peacetime and war should lose his life for treason – in expectation that someone will take action. A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. ‘There is nothing more that can be said,’ Kelly concluded. ‘God help us.’”
CNN: “Retired Marine Gen. John Allen: Trump’s threats of military force may be ‘the beginning of the end of the American experiment’”
CNN: “Former Trump Defense Secretary General James Mattis said Trump ‘has no moral compass’ and was ‘dangerous’ and ‘unfit’ for office.”
Washington Post: “Mattis resigned after Trump directed him ‘to do something that I thought went beyond stupid to felony stupid, strategically jeopardizing our place in the world and everything else.’”
The Hill: “A retired four-star Army general said that he believes that President Trump is a ‘serious threat to US national security.’”
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Trump Doubles Down On Tax Handouts for Billionaires and Big Corporations on the Backs of Working Americans
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| Tonight, Donald Trump once again made it clear that he wants to give ANOTHER round of tax handouts to his billionaire backers and big corporations — instead of helping working families. Since Day One, Trump has done everything in his power to line the pockets of the ultra-rich, while doing nothing to address skyrocketing costs, high inflation, and a tanking economy.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to give his billionaires backers and big corporations another round of tax handouts, despite the fact that his expensive agenda will raise costs on working families.
Trump: “You’re all people that have a lot of money. … You’re rich as hell. … We’re gonna give you tax cuts.”
Trump: “I will never let the Trump tax cuts … be taken away.”
Trump on whether his second term tax policies would echo those of his first term: “Yes, and I’d do even more taxes.”
Vanity Fair: “Donald Trump Wants to Give His Favorite Corporations Another Giant Tax Cut in a Second Term”
Last week, Republicans pushed through their disastrous funding agenda, putting health care on the chopping block to fund Trump’s tax handouts to the ultra wealthy.
Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News: “THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET RESOLUTION has passed
“Vote was 217-215.”
Politico: “Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that he isn’t planning to make any changes to his budget plan to placate Republicans concerned about possible Medicaid cuts. …
“The budget blueprint sets out a minimum of $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a group of vulnerable House Republicans is arguing that the bulk of those reductions will have to come out of Medicaid given that the panel has virtually no other options to make cuts of that magnitude.”
New York Times: “House Republicans hunting for ways to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts have called for cutting the federal government’s share of Medicaid spending, including a proposal that would effectively gut the Affordable Care Act’s 2014 expansion of the program. …
“A move to lower federal spending on the Medicaid expansion population could effectively gut the program. Around 10 states that have expanded their programs have so-called trigger laws that reverse the Medicaid expansion if the federal government decreases funding for the population. … More than 21 million adults who were not eligible for Medicaid under pre-expansion guidelines received coverage last year.”
REMINDER: In Trump’s first term, his tax scam gave massive handouts to the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working families and created new incentives for companies to ship jobs overseas.
Forbes: “Trump Tax Cuts Helped Billionaires Pay Less Taxes Than The Working Class In 2018”
Washington Post: “For the first time in history, U.S. billionaires paid a lower tax rate than the working class last year”
CBS News: “Two years after Trump tax cuts, middle-class Americans are falling behind”
Washington Post: “Trump promised ‘America First’ would keep jobs here. But the tax plan might push them overseas.” |
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Trump’s Lying About His Dangerous Plans To Gut Social Security and Medicare
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| After trying to cut funds for Social Security and Medicare every year of his first term, Donald Trump lied to the American people on the campaign trail last year, claiming he’d protect both programs during his second term. Instead of following through on his promises, Trump’s administration is already taking steps to gut the programs, including rescinding Biden-Harris initiatives to lower prescription drug costs through Medicare and plotting to gut the Social Security Administration.
Trump tried to gut Social Security every year of his first term and is pledging cuts in a second term.
Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”
Trump’s FY18, FY19, FY20, and FY21 budgets each proposed billions of dollars in cuts to Social Security programs.
National Review: “Speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked whether he would cut entitlements at some point. ‘Will entitlements ever be on your plate?’ asked interviewer Joe Kernen. ‘At some point they will be,’ Trump responded. ‘At the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s the easiest of all things [to cut].’”
Mediaite: “During a Fox News town hall, President Donald Trump promised to cut entitlements like Medicare and Social Security if he were to win a second term. … ‘But if you don’t cut something in entitlements, you will never really deal with the debt,’ town hall co-moderator Martha MacCallum interjected, alluding to social safety programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ‘Oh, we’ll be cutting,’ Trump rushed to confirm.”
CNN: “In his book, Trump lamented big cuts the program would need without changes, and said he would consider privatization.
“‘The truth is undeniable, the workers of America have been forced to invest a sixth of our wages into a huge Ponzi scheme,’ Trump wrote.”
Trump’s billionaire backer and shadow president Elon Musk is already gearing up to slash Medicare and Social Security — leaving millions of Americans out in the cold.
Washington Post: “Social Security Administration leadership is under instruction to swiftly produce plans to cut its staff by half, according to two employees at the agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.”
NextGov: “At least five of the eight regional [Social Security Administration] commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving, according to a source familiar with the agency and an SSA employee not authorized to speak on the record. …
“Their departures come amid rumors of impending staff cuts at SSA, where the workforce is already at a 50-year low and has toiled amid a customer service crisis born of lack of funding.”
Prospect: “The decision could target one of the government’s most prominent public-facing initiatives: SSA field offices, where seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors whose parents have died can sign up for benefits and get information.”
ProPublica: “Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In”
“[T]he DOGE team landed at the Social Security Administration this week, with Musk drawing attention for his outlandish claims that large numbers of 150-year-old “vampires” are receiving Social Security payments. …
“Their first wave of actions — initiating the elimination of 41 jobs and the closing of at least 10 local offices, so far — was largely lost in the rush of headlines.”
New York Times: “Musk Wants to Slash $2 Trillion in Federal Spending. Is That Possible?”
“‘To eliminate a third of the government, you would have to dramatically eliminate full functions of the federal government,’ said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute. ‘You would have to dramatically scale back programs like Social Security, Medicare and defense and veterans.’”
On his first day in office, Trump immediately rescinded the Biden-Harris order to lower drug costs, targeting Medicare recipients across the country.
White House: “The following executive actions are hereby revoked: …
“Executive Order 14087 of October 14, 2022 (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans).”
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14087, ‘Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans,’ to further address prescription drug affordability through the work of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center). The Innovation Center tests innovative payment and service delivery models designed to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care furnished to its beneficiaries.” |
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Trump Pardoned Violent Insurrectionists That Brutally Attacked Police Officers – And Tried to Defund Law Enforcement
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| Check his record: Donald Trump pardoned violent insurrectionists who attacked police officers on Day One of his second term, and he repeatedly tried to defund law enforcement in his first one. The reality is Trump doesn’t care about keeping Americans safe — just pushing his dangerous agenda of revenge and retribution.
On Day One of his second term, Trump pardoned 1,500 January 6 rioters — including those who violently assaulted police officers.
Associated Press: “Trump issues sweeping pardon of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who attacked police”
“President Donald Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers, using his clemency powers on his first day back in office to undo the massive prosecution of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.”
Trump’s mass pardon protected violent insurrectionists from other dangerous crimes, stopping law enforcement from doing their job.
Politico: “DOJ has abruptly broadened its view of Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons. A judge wants answers.”
“At the heart of the controversy is the vague language of Trump’s mass pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. …
“Jan. 6 defendants have repeatedly argued that the language is so broad it covers other crimes that have nothing to do with Jan. 6.”
Politico: “DOJ says Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon covers man convicted of possessing grenades, classified info”
REMINDER: During his first term, Trump oversaw the largest spike in homicides since 1905 — and possibly ever — and repeatedly tried to cut police funding.
- In his first term, Donald Trump oversaw the largest single-year spike in the murder rate in more than a century.
- In his 2019 budget, Trump proposed a 50% cut to a federal program that helped hire local cops.
- Trump has demanded the defunding of federal law enforcement, while proposing using the FBI and Justice Department to go after his political enemies.
- Trump says he would withhold federal funding from local police departments that don’t adopt policies like stop-and-frisk or assist in mass deportations.
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