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As it happenedended

State of the Union: Trump interrupted by chanting as Pelosi rips up address on live TV

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Clark Mindock
New York
,Alex Woodward
Tuesday 04 February 2020 23:42 EST
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Nancy Pelosi rips up Trump's State of the Union speech in front of him

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Donald Trump has delivered his third State of the Union, a high-profile address made this year in the shadow of an ongoing impeachment trial and months away from the president's re-election.

The optimistic speech came just a day after Democrats oversaw a breakdown in its election processes in Iowa, where the 2020 Democratic primary season got off to a disastrous start that has still failed to deliver results nearly a day later.

But Mr Trump's speech was not without its own discord. Just before the address, the president was seen appearing to snub a handshake attempt from Ms Pelosi.

Then, after the speech, Ms Pelosi added to the night's drama by tearing up her copy of the speech, in plain view of the president and the cameras broadcasting the address across the nation.

The president had focused in his address on perceived victories over the past three years, and has remarked on his priorities for the coming year, reportedly including middle class tax cuts, school choice, immigration and the military.

He told one Philadelphia student that she would be getting a school scholarship, surprised a military family with the return of their soldier from Afghanistan and also instructed the first lady to give Rush Limbaugh the presidential medal of freedom, the highest honour for a citizen in the US.

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Trump says he has raised Nato contributions by $400 billion.

He also notes he created the US Space Force, the newest branch of the US military.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:33

Trump points to an eighth grader, Iain Lanphier, in the audience, who wants to eventually join the Space Force. Iain is the great-grandson of Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee, who has received extended standing ovations.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:36

An Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez retweet following the president's praising his administration for reducing food stamp numbers.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:38

Trump now championing school choice, with fourth-grader Janiyah Davis in the audience alongside her mother, Stephanie.

Janiyah was put on a 50,000 student waitlist for a high performing school, and Trump tells her that she has now been given a scholarship.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:40

Trump says that "no parent should be forced to send their child to a failing government school," in saying that further scholarships like the one given to Janiyah should be available.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:41

Trump notes his wife's Be Best initiative to reduce bullying in schools. He thanks her.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:41

Here's some background on the president's food stamp brags (cuts to funding have pushed people out of the programme).

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:44

Trump now saying that 180 million "very happy Americans" would be kicked off of their health insurance plans under Medicare for All, which he calls socialist.

That's a big number, and worth noting that the point of Medicare for All is to make sure every American is insured.

"To those of you watching at home I want you to know we will never let socialism destroy American healthcare," Trump says, attacking Medicare for All moments after saying his administration would always protect Social Security and Medicare.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:47

We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions," Trump says.

But that's not exactly true, and the administration did attempt to repeal Obamacare without providing an alternate bill that would protect those conditions.

Fact check: Very much false.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:48

Protests among Democratic women just interrupted the speech momentarily. Nancy Pelosi seemed to smile.

Clark Mindock5 February 2020 02:49

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