America 'is back', declares Trump in Congress speech

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky has told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and the finalization of a US minerals deal, days after the pair's explosive White House meeting.

The dramatic collapse of Kyiv and Washington's wartime alliance has played out in the open since the televised dispute in the Oval Office last week, followed by Ukraine's top ally suspending crucial military aid.

Zelensky has since sought to bring Trump back onside, posting on social media that their clash was "regrettable" and he wanted "to make things right".

In his address to US Congress later on Tuesday, Trump read aloud from a letter he said he recently received from Zelensky, which matched the social media statement.

"The letter reads, 'Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians," Trump told US lawmakers in his first address since returning to office.

"We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.'"

Addressing Congress, Trump added that, "regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you."

In the Oval Office on Friday, Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for US assistance and Trump berated the wartime leader as not having "cards" to play.

Zelensky left without signing an agreement pushed by Trump for the United States to secure control over Ukrainian mineral resources.

While Trump was expected to use Tuesday's speech to lay out a plan for the Ukraine war, he did not further detail how he envisages ending the gruelling three-year conflict.

He did say he had engaged in "serious discussions with Russia".

Trump's rapproachement with Moscow and decision on Monday to halt military assistance to Kyiv has stunned allies.

Like Ukraine, the European Union has been excluded from US-Russian negotiations towards a potential truce, prompting fears any deal proposed would be on Moscow's terms.

Moscow meanwhile hailed Trump's decision to halt assistance to Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it a "solution which could really push the Kyiv regime to a peace process".

The US pause impacts hundreds of millions of dollars of weaponry in the process of being sent to Ukraine, The New York Times reported.

US to get Greenland

Trump urged Greenland to choose to join the United States but vowed to take the Danish-ruled island "one way or the other" -- whatever the locals decide.

In a partisan speech to Congress, Trump offered only passing lines on world affairs, focusing on his domestic goals like rounding up undocumented immigrants and slashing government spending.

But he underlined his expansionist vision of the United States, as he repeated his aspirations to take Greenland and claimed an initial victory on retaking control of the Panama Canal.

One week before general elections in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with an independence movement, Trump said he had a message for the "incredible people" of the sparsely populated but mineral-rich and strategically-placed island.

"We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America," Trump said.

But he made clear he would not give up if persuasion fails, saying: "One way or the other we're going to get it."

"We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before."

"To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," he said, as he mentioned the port deal.

"We didn't give it to China. Gave it to Panama -- and we're taking it back," he said.

Trump had earlier not ruled out military force to seize either the Panama Canal or Greenland.

Panama Canal taken back

Trump said the United States had started to take back the Panama Canal after a deal by a Hong Kong firm to sell ports to a US-led consortium.

"To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," he said in a speech to Congress. "We're taking it back."

America 'is back'

Trump declared "America is back" Tuesday in his first address to Congress since returning to power, facing instant Democratic hostility as he touted radical social and economic policies, while hailing his billionaire adviser Elon Musk.

With Musk, the world's richest person, among those attending the primetime televised speech, the 78-year-old Republican said after less than two months back in power he is "just getting started."

The "American dream is unstoppable," he declared.

Almost every line got loud applause from Republican Party members, including on two occasions when Trump singled out Musk, who stood up to salute the Congress.

But protests also began within minutes.

One Democratic congressman, Al Green, was ordered ejected because he refused to stop heckling, claiming Trump has no mandate to dismantle healthcare programs, and shaking his walking stick at the president.

Other Democrats silently held up placards including "False" and "Musk steals" and "That's a lie!"

And at one moment, numerous Democrats yelled "January 6!" at Trump, referring to his supporters' violent attack on the Capitol in 2021 after he refused to concede his election loss.

The Republican president was undeterred, hailing his first six weeks and vowing to press on with his polarizing bid to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war -- whatever the cost.

War on drug cartels

Trump vowed to "wage war" on Mexico's drug cartels, which he accused of rape and murder as well as "posing a grave threat" to US national security.

"The cartels are waging war on America, and it's time for America to wage war on the cartels, which we are doing," Trump said..

The United States economy is set to see some "disturbance" from tariffs, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, but he touted levies as a tool that would help domestic industries boom.

"Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs. They're about protecting the soul of our country," Trump said in his first address to a joint session of Congress since returning to the White House.

"There'll be a little disturbance, but we're okay with that. It won't be much," he added.

He warned that those who do not make their products in the United States will have to pay levies, "in some cases a rather large one."

Trump also took aim at the European Union and countries including Canada, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Korea over what he called "unfair" practices.

"This is happening by friend and foe. This system is not fair to the United States, and never was," he said.

He added that reciprocal tariffs tailored to US trading partners would "kick in" on April 2 to remedy the situation.

Trump promised "trillions of dollars" in gains from levies, alongside job creation, stressing that rescuing the economy was among his "very highest priorities."

Cost-of-living pressures were a key issue in the November election that saw Trump return to power, and the Republican has promised to swiftly reduce prices.

To combat lingering inflation, Trump has vowed to lower energy costs and cut federal spending.

He said he seeks "permanent income tax cuts all across the board."

Trump has moved swiftly to impose tariffs hitting some $1.4 trillion in US imports from Canada, Mexico and China -- with further levies in the pipeline.

The moves sent shockwaves through financial markets, drawing swift retaliation including announcements of counter-tariffs and other measures.

While economists have warned that sweeping tariff hikes will dent US GDP growth and cause a near-term increase in inflation, Trump's promises of tax cuts and deregulation are among plans that could boost growth down the road.

- Reality TV style -

Trump reverted to his tried-and-tested reality TV instincts. At one point he called attention to a boy with brain cancer who dreamed of becoming a policeman and -- in front of Congress -- was handed an official ID by the head of the Secret Service.

But in what mostly sounded like a campaign speech rather than an address to the nation, Trump made no attempt to reach out to opponents.

He got big cheers from supporters on pronouncing that his culture war on diversity programs and transgender rights meant "our country will be woke no longer."

He claimed that he was trying to resolve an "economic catastrophe," despite actually inheriting the strongest developed economy in the world from his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.

He defended his disruptive economic moves -- even as the trade war he launched against Canada, China and Mexico is prompting jitters on world markets.

After a torrent of warnings that tariffs will badly hurt US exporters, including politically powerful farmers, he conceded they would bring "a little disturbance."

"Have a lot of fun," Trump said to farmers, whom he said "I love."

And after enumerating a series of murders committed by migrants, Trump got big applause when he vowed to "wage war" on Mexican drug cartels.

Well before he had finished, dozens of Democrats had already walked out.

Lesotho joke

Trump mocked tiny Lesotho as a country "nobody has ever heard of" as he defended his sweeping cuts in aid.

Trump highlighted the landlocked African constitutional monarchy during an address to Congress as he gave a long list of past US aid projects.

"Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho," Trump said, struggling with the pronunciation.

"Which nobody has ever heard of," Trump added, as Republican lawmakers laughed and Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson grinned behind him.

Lesotho has one of the highest rates in the world of HIV/AIDS, which the United States has sought to address by providing medication and other social support, including raising awareness among sexual minorities who face stigma.

The United States has committed more than $630 million since 2006 to anti-HIV/AIDS efforts in Lesotho, according to the US embassy there.

Longest-ever speech to Congress

Donald Trump gave the longest-ever address to a joint session of Congress by any US president on Tuesday, clocking in at more than one hour and 40 minutes.

Republican Trump's speech beat the previous record set by Democratic President Bill Clinton in his State of the Union address in 2000.