WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to Congress:

“Tonight, the American people heard a lot of hot air from President Trump.  What they didn’t hear was a credible plan to lower prices, help working families, and address middle-class concerns. 

“President Trump’s speech fell flat because his rhetoric failed to meet reality.  The facts speak for themselves: Trump’s policies are raising costs and weakening America.  He’s laying off air safety and defense workers.  He’s imposing costly tariffs and increasing health care costs by threatening Medicaid and Medicare.  President Trump is undermining confidence in U.S. governance, fueling uncertainty, and stoking inflation.  The economy is backsliding and prices are rising due to Trump’s toxic mismanagement.

“His misguided actions make it clear he’s prioritizing his fellow billionaires over working Americans.  President Trump is racing to try and jam through a billionaires-first tax cut that will leave everyday Americans behind.

“You don’t need a fact-checker for all the whoppers he told because people can simply look at their wallets and grocery bills to see Trump sold them a bad bill of goods.  Americans are rightfully frustrated that Donald Trump is breaking promises and giving the working-class a raw deal. 

“It was incredibly tone deaf to declare ‘the days of being ruled by unelected bureaucrats are over’ and then he went on to spotlight Elon Musk in his guest box.  What Trump and Musk are systematically attempting to do is undermine and politicize institutions and conventions that are foundational to democracy. 

“Congress must wisely invest in people and infrastructure to effectively serve taxpayers, expand opportunity, and build for the future. 

“President Trump needs to change course.  Progress is possible.  Not with speeches or gaslighting, but with action, innovation, and a principled commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, competitive, and prosperous United States of America.”