Welch Statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement in advance of President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress this evening: 

“President Trump’s second term is off to a chaotic and cruel start. The past

43 days have delivered an incredible disruption to Vermont families and communities—the complete opposite of the economic relief and stability people need. We’ve entered a painful trade war sparked entirely by the President’s whims. He’s illegally frozen congressionally-appropriated funds, fired thousands of government workers at the direction of Elon Musk, and is creating a constitutional crisis.

“I am thankful to be joined tonight by Allison Hope of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association. Allison and Vermont’s best-in-the-nation sugar makers know all too well the impact of Trump’s Trade War, which took a dangerous turn today. The maple industry, like so many industries in Vermont, will be hit by the new tariffs on Canada. The President’s tariffs are a reckless tax hike for America’s farmers, businesses and families. The honest and simple truth is that nobody wins a trade war.  

“I hope to hear tonight about how President Trump plans to lower grocery and health care costs for families, create jobs, and support working families—plans that he forgot to include in his inaugural address. I want to remind my colleagues across the aisle that all of us were elected to serve the best interests of our constituents and not to be enablers of policies that hurt them. Congress has an obligation to act as a check on the executive branch, especially when the president exceeds his constitutional authority. It’s not too late for Republicans in Congress to stand up to Donald Trump, stand up for democracy, and uphold Congress’s role as a separate and equal branch of government.”