Main themes of Donald Trump's maiden speech to Congress

US President Donald Trump (centre) is applauded while delivering his first address to a joint session of Congress from the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington, DC. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON (REUTER) - President Donald Trump delivered his closely-watched maiden speech to the US Congress on Tuesday (Wednesday March 1, Singapore time) as he sought to rebound from a chaotic start to his presidency.

Here are some of the main themes of his speech:

IMMIGRATION

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- Trump promised new steps to "keep out those who would do us harm" and said his administration had been working on improved vetting procedures. He said the vast majority of people convicted for terrorism-related offences since the attacks on Sept 11, 2001, had come from outside the United States and vowed the country should not "become a sanctuary for extremists".

- He said the United States should switch away from lower-skilled immigration and adopt a merit-based system, adding that Republicans and Democrats could work together to achieve immigration reform as long as it focused on improving jobs and wages, and strengthening the country's security.

- Construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border will begin soon, Trump said. Throughout his election campaign and in the first weeks of his presidency, he said Mexico would pay for the wall, but he made no mention of that in his speech.

DEFENCE SPENDING AND FOREIGN POLICY

- Trump promised to send to Congress a budget to rebuild the military, billing it as one of the largest-ever increases in defence spending.

- He vowed to work with US allies, including in the Muslim world, to destroy the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), describing the radical militant group as a "network of lawless savages."

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- He vowed support for the Nato military alliance but said US partners must meet their financial obligations. He also reaffirmed "our unbreakable alliance" with Israel.

HEALTHCARE REFORM

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- Trump called on Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare. He said reforms should lower the cost of healthcare and ensure people with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage.

- He proposed tax credits and expanded health savings accounts for people to purchase health insurance. Legal reforms should also protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance.

TAX

- He vowed "historic" reforms to reduce the corporate tax rate to make US companies more globally competitive and promised "massive" tax relief for the middle class. He gave no new details on the tax reforms he would like to see and made no mention of a border adjustment tax that lies at the heart of a Republican proposal in the House of Representatives.

INFRASTRUCTURE

- He said Congress will be asked to approve legislation for a US$1 trillion (S$1.4 trillion) investment in infrastructure, financed through both public and private channels. "Buy American" and "Hire American" will be the guiding principles, he said.

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