Alabama reaction to Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address

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Trump SOTU

President Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union address Tuesday night where he touched on everything from jobs and infrastructure to ISIS.

The speech was one of the longer speech’s given by a Commander-in-Chief, spanning an hour and 20 minutes, and when it concluded Alabama’s congressional delegation and state politicians offered their reactions to the speech, falling mostly along party lines in terms of opinion.

Here are of some of the highlights:

Kay Ivey headshotGovernor Kay Ivey – Republican:

Tonight, President Trump made clear his commitment to the American people and to improving the quality of life for everyone. By protecting our borders, strengthening our military and creating an environment that enhances domestic economic growth, the president underlined his commitment to national security. I echo his call to further improve our economy through continued deregulation, low taxes and investment in infrastructure.

Senator Richard ShelbyU.S. Senator Richard Shelby – Republican:

Tonight the President highlighted his many accomplishments and outlined his plan to continue advancing and unifying our country. From signing tax reform into law and eliminating restrictive regulations to growing our military and boosting support for veterans, President Trump has prioritized a conservative agenda that promotes a safe and strong America.

I look forward to his promise of rebuilding our infrastructure, which would keep our economy on the rise and provide significant opportunities to foster local economic growth.

Bradley Byrne Official fraud1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne – Republican:

The ‘state of our Union’ is strong. From a booming economy to greater respect around the globe, President Trump, his administration, and Congress have been able to turn our country around in a very short period of time. The good news is that things are just getting started.

4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt – Republican:

Despite resistance from the Washington establishment, President Trump’s first year has been marked with robust economic growth, job creation, record highs in the stock market and record lows when it comes to unemployment. Because of President Trump’s willingness to shake things up in Washington, and to step over entrenched partisan lines, the State of the Union is strong.

6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer – Republican:

President Trump ran on promises to make America more prosperous and more secure, and in his first year in office he has begun to deliver on those promises. As President Trump made clear tonight, he and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are just getting started.

7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell – Democat:

The promises President Trump made tonight in his State of the Union Address are worth about as much as the promises candidate Trump made on the campaign trail: absolutely nothing.

One year into this Administration, Trump has attacked Medicaid, which he promised to protect, he forced through tax cuts favoring the wealthy after promising tax relief for the middle class, and he eliminated coverage for millions of Americans after promising to expand healthcare access. President Trump is more focused on defending himself and attacking his opponents than helping the country. Alabama families need more jobs that pay better wages, and that is what I am fighting for in Congress.”