Trump calls for “renewal of spirit”

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP speaks to Congress in a nationally-televised address Tuesday.

Calling for a “renewal of the American spirit,” President Donald Trump addressed Congress and a national television audience Tuesday night, promising to boost defense spending, improve the nation’s infrastructure and replace the Affordable Care Act – commonly known as Obamacare – with something better.

“From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears, inspired by the future, not bound by failures of the past, and guided by a vision, not blinded by our doubts,” Trump said.

The speech included a promise to spend $1 trillion on rebuilding American bridges and highways, construct a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and support a compromise immigration bill. Earlier in the day, the President told reporters that such reform could include a process for some illegal immigrants to get legal status.

The Democratic response came from former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who defended Obamacare, which has been credited with providing health insurance coverage to over 20 million people.

He also criticized Trump’s criticism of immigrants, refugees, the news media, the courts and the nation’s intelligence services.