(Web Desk) - US President Donald Trump boasted that his administration has delivered a "turnaround for the ages" as he addressed Congress on Tuesday. "This is the Golden Age of America."
As he arrived to address a joint session of Congress Trump was welcomed with cheers and a standing ovation from Republicans – while many Democrats remained firmly seated.
"My fellow Americans, our nation is back bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before," said Trump.
In what promised to be a marathon speech to lawmakers, Trump was trying to sell voters on the achievements of a breakneck and deeply divisive first year back in power.
But the 79-year-old remains deeply unpopular in opinion polls and Republicans fear they could lose their wafer-thin majority in the House to the Democrats – alyzing the rest of Trump's second term and exposing him to a possible third impeachment.
Trump however struck a defiant tone in the first official State of the Union of his second term.
"Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages," Trump said.
A Lengthy speech expected
Trump, who has a propensity for ad-libbing, said on Monday his address would be lengthy. His 100-minute speech last March - technically not a State of the Union speech, but otherwise similar - was the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history.
The White House officials said this year's edition was crafted with room for unscripted moments.
"We are planning around it," one official said.
Last year, some Democrats interrupted Trump's speech with jeers before walking out in protest. This time around, more than 20 Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate skipped the speech altogether in favour of an outdoor rally on the National Mall.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, whose decisive victory in November was seen as an early midterm warning sign for Republicans, will deliver the official Democratic response to the speech.
The story is developing