President Donald Trump did not offer GOP congressional leaders any easy lay-ups in his joint address Tuesday night, sending mixed messages on his existing legislative priorities and proposing others that ranged from impractical to totally unrealistic.<\/p>\n

Trump reiterated his campaign-trail promises to end taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security \u2014 policies House Republicans worry are too expensive to combine with permanently extending the president\u2019s tax cuts from 2017.<\/p>\n

He pressed Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, by name, to send through more money for his deportation agenda \u201cwithout delay\u201d \u2014 an ask that could give Senate Republicans renewed leverage to demand the House agree to their preference for passing Trump\u2019s border and energy policies now and moving a separate bill with his tax cuts later.<\/p>\n

But Trump also emphasized the importance of tax cuts, a potential nod to the House\u2019s desire to enact one bill encompassing all three priorities. And he made a new call for no taxes on American-made cars.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s legislative proposals got tougher from there. The president bashed the CHIPS and Science Act \u2014 which passed with bipartisan support in 2022 and has led to major investments in red districts and states \u2014 telling Johnson to \u201cget rid\u201d of the law and use \u201cwhatever\u2019s left over \u2026 to reduce the debt or any other reason you want to.\u201d Johnson stood and applauded. Other Republicans were less enthusiastic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve supported the CHIPS Act,\u201d Rep. Mike Lawler said. \u201cObviously, the investment in chip manufacturing is critical, and certainly in New York, it’s an important investment as we move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sen. Todd Young, a key architect of the CHIPS Act, ran out of the chamber on the phone a few minutes before the joint address ended and wouldn\u2019t stop to talk to reporters. Others who voted for the bill, such as Sens. Susan Collins, Roger Wicker and Bill Cassidy, did not answer questions, either.<\/p>\n

Other improbable acts Trump floated included codifying his executive order<\/a> that mandates the death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer and building a \u201cgolden dome\u201d missile system<\/a> around the United States \u2014 akin to Israel\u2019s so-called Iron Dome complex.<\/p>\n

Democrats, of course, won\u2019t help with any of this \u2014 even before their show of rebellion Tuesday night. Texas Rep. Al Green was ejected early in Trump\u2019s speech<\/a> after repeatedly shouting the president had \u201cno mandate.\u201d (Johnson is now calling to censure him<\/a>). Others held up signs reading \u201cMusk Steals,\u201d \u201cSave Medicaid\u201d and \u201cProtect Veterans.” They didn\u2019t join the escort committee that led Trump into the chamber and many refused to clap, even during bipartisan moments in the speech. Some left early.<\/p>\n

Trump seemed to relish in Democrats\u2019 discontent, saying that there was \u201cabsolutely nothing I can say to make them happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

What else we\u2019re watching:<\/p>\n

Musk on Blue Light News: <\/b>Musk will meet with the House GOP conference tonight to \u201cgive an update on his efforts\u201d and discuss codifying DOGE\u2019s cuts in a future government funding package, Johnson has said. Republicans have faced growing backlash in their districts to Musk\u2019s mass firings of federal workers and congressional Republicans considering possible Medicaid reductions.\u00a0<\/li>\n