‘He tries to divide us’: Spanberger slams Trump in SOTU rebuttal, accuses him of lies and corruption
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) accused President Donald Trump of forsaking the American people in favor of himself in the Democratic rebuttal to his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
The evening of Tuesday, Feb. 24, Trump delivered his State of the Union address, in which he celebrated the first year of his second term as president. He opened his speech by describing America as "bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before."
Traditionally, following a president's State of the Union address, the opposing political party is given a chance to provide a rebuttal. Spanberger was chosen to deliver the Democratic response for this year's address. She did so from the House of Burgesses in Colonial Williamsburg.
Leading into Tuesday night, Spanberger told reporters that affordability would be the focus of her speech.
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It's an idea that Trump addressed directly when delivering his own remarks. After saying that prices were far higher under his predecessor, former president Joe Biden, he took aim at Democratic legislators.
"Now, the same people in this chamber who voted for those disasters suddenly use the word 'affordability,'" he said. "A word -- they just used it, 'cause somebody gave it to 'em. Knowing full well that they caused and created the increased prices that all of our citizens had to endure. You caused that problem. You caused that problem."
The core argument of Spanberger's rebuttal speech was the assertion that Trump's remarks were dishonest and intentionally divisive.
"In his speech tonight, the president did what he always does: he lied, he scapegoated and he distracted, and he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges -- so many of which he is actively making worse," Spanberger said. "He tries to divide us. He tries to enrage us, to pit us against one another -- neighbor against neighbor. And sometimes, he succeeds."
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Spanberger further claimed that the list of people benefiting from Trump's conduct only includes himself and those close to him, saying that "the scale of the corruption is unprecedented."
Her examples of where Trump has failed to deliver what Americans need most included affordability and immigration enforcement.
"Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? We all know the answer is 'No,'" Spanberger said.
According to Spanberger, not only Virginians, but Americans nationwide, are struggling to make ends meet due to high costs.
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"Since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariff costs," she said. "Small businesses have suffered, small businesses have suffered, farmers have suffered, some losing entire markets. Everyday Americans are paying the price."
Democrats are "laser focused" on making America more affordable for its citizens, Spanberger said.
The Virginia governor then took aim at Trump's immigration policies and recent, controversial activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including the multiple civilians killed by federal agents and the detainment of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos.
"Our president told us tonight that we are safer because these agents arrest mothers and detain children," Spanberger said. "Think about that. Our broken immigration system is something to be fixed -- not an excuse for unaccountable agents to terrorize our communities."
In closing, Spanberger emphasized that Democrats' latest victories -- including her own historic win -- are a sign that times are changing.
"Those who are stepping up now to run will win in November because Americans know you can demand more, and that we are working to lower costs, we are working to keep our communities and country safe and we are working for you," she said.
You can watch Spanberger's remarks below. The very beginning of her speech is cut off due to a technical error.
To watch Trump's State of the Union address, which turned out to be the longest one ever delivered, click here.
