Washington [US], December 19: In a prime-time address to the nation, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the upcoming economic outlook, while also stating that his administration plays a significant "fixing and remediation" role.
Yesterday morning, December 18th (Vietnam time), President Trump delivered his year-end address, highlighting the achievements of his administration over the past year, addressing social issues, and outlining commitments for 2026.
Focus on the economy
American media outlets assessed that Trump's speech offered little new information. He began with the economic issue, a matter of great concern to Americans, by claiming he "inherited a mess" from the previous administration. Trump's economic message emphasized that despite a difficult start, his administration is operating effectively and easing pressure on prices and inflation, CNN reported.
"We are on the verge of an unprecedented economic boom in the world," President Trump declared, adding that people would save a significant amount of money from the tax cuts. The White House occupant emphasized that he had helped the US attract $18 trillion in investment. However, the White House website officially states that the total US and foreign investment is $9.6 trillion. Some other statistics provided by Trump are also considered contradictory.
Recent surveys have shown that the American public is not very optimistic about the economic outlook. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on December 16th showed that about 33% of respondents approved of the White House's handling of economic issues. Another poll by PBS/NPR/Marist yielded a similar result, with 36% believing he is doing a good job.
One of the rare new policies announced by Trump was that the government would send a special allowance of $1,776 to U.S. military personnel, with the money to be transferred before Christmas. Regarding foreign policy, the White House occupant stated that he "resolved eight conflicts in 10 months, bringing peace to the Middle East."
Controversy over immigration
Beyond economics, immigration also occupied a significant portion of President Trump's speech. He criticized the previous administration for allowing a flood of illegal immigrants into the United States. He asserted that changes in his first year in office had transformed the U.S. border from its "worst" state to its strongest, with tough immigration policies.
New developments have emerged in the controversy surrounding the Trump administration's immigration policy. Specifically, Reuters reported on December 18th that a federal judge in Washington, D.C., declared that the government has no right to prohibit members of Congress from conducting surprise inspections of immigration detention facilities. Judge Jia Cobb's ruling overturned regulations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requiring lawmakers to give prior notice before visiting these facilities. Democratic members of the House argued that surprise inspections are necessary to ensure transparency, given reports of abuse, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions at detention centers.
In a related development, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara criticized the methods used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on December 17th, following the spread of a video showing a woman being dragged through the streets by an agent. According to CBS, O'Hara stated that ICE members made no attempt to de-escalate the situation. He also argued that ICE's approach, such as having agents wear masks and travel in vehicles without license plates, instilled fear in the public.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper