Donald Trump urges working toward bipartisan compromises

Donald Trump. Pic/AFP

Trump remains mum on Russia probe
Trump used the hour-and-20-minute speech to try to overcome doubts about his presidency. He made no mention of the federal probe into whether his campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 presidential election. The speech was short on details about Trump's policy proposals.

No ground to shield Dreamers
Trump gave no ground on the contentious issue of whether to shield young immigrants known as "Dreamers" from deportation. Trump said he was "extending an open hand" for an immigration deal and that he would provide Dreamers a pathway to citizenship over 10 to 12 years in exchange for funding the border wall.

Democrat senators Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray. Pics/AFP

Little sign of unity
There was little sign of unity inside the House of Representatives chamber where Trump spoke. Republican lawmakers cheered wildly at the president's applause lines. Democrats often sat in their seats silently and many booed when he laid out his immigration proposals.

Denouncing 'depraved' North Korea
Turning to foreign policy late in the speech, Trump denounced the "depraved character" of North Korea's leadership and said Pyongyang's "reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland." "We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening," he said.

All the credit
Trump took credit for US economic gains including a soaring stock market and a low jobless rate. He boasted about the economic growth he believes will result from tax cuts Republicans pushed through Congress latelast year. "This is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American Dream," he said.

Guantanamo

Guantanamo to close no more
Trump also signed an executive order to keep open the controversial US prison at Guantanamo Bay, paving the way to transfer new terror detainees to the infamous facility in Cuba. The prison has been used for years to detain high-profile terror suspects and enemy combatants. The facility has been criticised for its grim conditions. "Terrorists who do things like place bombs in civilian hospitals are evil. When possible, we annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them," said Trump.

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