North Dakota leaders react to Trump's address to Congress

FARGO – In the late evening hours of Tuesday, March 4,

President Donald Trump addressed the United States Congress for the first time

since taking office earlier this year.

After his speech, those representing the state of North Dakota were quick to weigh in on the president’s priorities for the next four years.

Trump’s “vision for the future of the United States” will bring more energy independence and border security, North Dakota

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., said in a statement late on Tuesday.

“I am proud to stand with President Trump in turning the page on the disastrous policies of the previous administration and deliver on a new era of American exceptionalism. From unleashing American energy to securing our border, the President laid out a clear road map to a stronger America and peace around the world,” Fedorchak said.

Under the Trump administration, unlawful border crossings in the north and south are predicted to hit the lowest number seen in years,

according to NPR factcheckers.

However, the U.S. was producing “record amounts of oil and natural gas” under the Biden administration,

NPR reported,

and set a natural gas record in 2023.

The country will get “back on track” under Trump, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said in a release on Tuesday.

“After being in office just over a month, the Trump administration has already put in place policies that are stopping the flow of illegal immigration, helping to build U.S. energy dominance and showing that America is back open for business to grow our economy,” Hoeven said. “At the same time, the President has made clear that we need to rebuild our military to keep our nation safe, support our veterans, make government work better and support our small businesses, including our farmers and ranchers. We look forward to continuing to work with President Trump on these priorities to build a better future for the American people.”

Over the last six weeks, a flurry of changes from the Trump administration have left North Dakota farmers, veterans advocates, victim service shelters, tourism industry leaders and federal workers concerned that the budget cuts, federal layoffs and new tariffs will harm the state’s economy, veterans health care and more.

Even North Dakota’s governor weighed in on Tuesday.

Since taking office in January, Trump has made “significant progress” by “bringing common sense back to America,”

Gov. Kelly Armstrong said in a release.

“Illegal immigration is down, investment in U.S. manufacturing is up, and North Dakota is among the states that stand to benefit most from the president’s focus on American innovation, common-sense regulations and government efficiency,” Armstrong, a Republican, said.

Members of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL were less enthusiastic following the address.

Under Trump’s administration, health care costs will go up as will household prices for working families, the

North Dakota Democratic-NPL chair Adam Goldwyn said online prior to Trump’s address.

“Whether it’s the price of eggs to housing, Trump’s policies are already making life more unaffordable for North Dakotans, and this will only get worse,” Goldwyn said in the release. “They’re going to steal from you and your grandma to pay for tax cuts for out-of-state billionaires.”

The price of eggs was rising under the previous administration as well.

During his Tuesday address, Trump blamed the skyrocketing price of eggs on former President Joe Biden.

However, the rising cost of eggs is largely due to an ongoing avian flu epidemic that is running rampant amongst crowded chicken factories,

NPR factcheckers reported on Tuesday,

leading to the slaughter of tens of millions of chickens that were producing America’s eggs.

In addition, the Minnesota DFL Party released a statement following Trump’s address that was critical of the administration’s agenda.

Trump’s policies will also harm Minnesotans, according to Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan.

“As he pushes forward with a budget plan that would rip health insurance away from thousands of Minnesotans who rely on Medicaid and a trade war that will raise the cost of everything from food to electricity, Donald Trump is showing Minnesota his true colors,” Minnesota DFL Executive Director Heidi Kraus Kaplan said in the release. “Minnesota Republicans will be held accountable for rubberstamping Donald Trump’s plans to cut taxes for the ultra-rich while shredding programs that support working-class Minnesotans.”

Some Democrats left the chamber in protest during Trump’s address, according to Reuters, while others applauded Trump at times throughout his speech.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., condemned the actions of some House Democrats on Tuesday in a release.

“Democrats in the Chamber sneered, heckled and booed,” Cramer said in the release. “You don’t have to hate America because you hate President Trump, and you don’t have to love Trump because you love America.”