Trump boasts 'turnaround for the ages' in Congress

Longest State of the Union speech to date

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US President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. AFP

(AFP)

US President Donald Trump boasted of a “turnaround for the ages” in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, seeking to reverse dismal polls and see off mounting challenges at home and abroad ahead of crucial midterm elections.

Mr Trump sought to paint a rosy picture of his achievements in his longest-ever speech to Congress — and despite branding Democrats “crazy” the Republican president largely struck a measured tone.

But Mr Trump's speech — met with repeated standing ovations from Republicans while Democrats remained seated in protest and sometimes heckled — was notably short on actual policy announcements.