Congressman Boyle Responds to President Trump’s First State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address to Congress.

"During tonight's State of the Union Address, the President laid out a vision of our country that was detached from the reality of his administration. Since taking office just over one year ago, President Trump has offended allies, defended adversaries, pushed reckless policies, divided Americans, and picked useless Twitter fights. Although the President would prefer that we judge this year on the basis of the rehearsed remarks he just delivered, his first year in office has been filled with broken promises, damaging bluster, and willful attacks on our democratic institutions.

Tonight, the President spoke of a roaring economy. Yet, the record the President claims as his own is based on smoke and mirrors: he takes credit for the continuation of progress made during the Obama administration while neglecting the true, disproportionate impact of his own economic policies. His tax plan provides 83% of its benefits to the wealthiest 1%, strips working families and the most vulnerable of health insurance coverage, provides loopholes to hedge funds, and incentivizes outsourcing to other countries. It's a destructive agenda that will wreak havoc on American workers and further exacerbate income inequality on our country – as the President's friends and donors thrive.

Tonight, the President also spoke about his hopes for a bipartisan immigration package that addresses security at the border and provides legal status for millions of Dreamers brought to this country as children. But when presented with that very plan last month, the President, the "great deal maker," walked away from the negotiating table at the last minute and shut down the government. The President also vowed he'd focus on a comprehensive infrastructure package – as he repeatedly promised as a candidate for office. But over a year in office and he's yet to propose a plan or reach out a hand to Democrats like me and the Blue Collar Caucus that I co-chair – fighting every day to pass a real infrastructure bill, strengthen the middle class, and create good-paying jobs. If the President were serious about fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, he'd stop playing politics, put Twitter aside, and get to work.

Despite his claims to the contrary, the State of the Union has declined under President Trump's leadership. The President is embroiled in investigation, pushing policies that will decimate the American middle class, and raising serious doubts about the future of American leadership on the world stage. He may believe that the State of the Union is strong, but I remain deeply concerned about President Trump's disdain for our democracy, reckless partisanship, and dangerous policies."

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