Trump proclaims 'new American moment'

International Desk: US President Donald Trump has proclaimed a "new American moment" as he delivers his maiden State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.

In a primetime address to Congress, he told lawmakers: "There has never been a better time to start living the American dream."

The Republican leader will say he is "extending an open hand" to Democrats to set aside bitter political division.

The American economy is booming but Mr Trump's approval rating languishes.

In an upbeat message a world away from the apocalyptic tone he struck in his "American carnage" inaugural address of just a year ago, Mr Trump said his administration is "building a safe, strong and proud America".

As many as 40 million television viewers are expected to tune in as he implores the nation to come together as "one team, one people and one American family", according to excerpts released by the White House.

On foreign policy, Mr Trump is noting that nearly all the territory in Syria and Iraq once controlled by the Islamic State group has been retaken.

He will vow: "We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated."

Massachusetts congressman Joseph Kennedy III, a great-nephew of President John K Kennedy, will deliver the Democrats' rebuttal to Mr Trump's speech.

He will attempt to seize Mr Trump's political mantle by purporting to speak for "Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken".

Bewailing a "fractured country" and depicting Mr Trump's presidency as "chaos", Mr Kennedy, 37, will say: "Many have spent the past year anxious, angry, afraid."

"Bullies may land a punch," he will say. "They might leave a mark.

"But they have never, not once, in the history of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defence of their future."

Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 31, 2018/Nasim