Donald Trump arriving to address Congress.

During his highly-anticipated maiden speech to Congress, Mr Trump said America’s immigration system was costing taxpayers billions.

“Nations around the world like Canada, Australia and many others have merit-based immigration systems. It’s a basic principle that those seeking to enter a country ought to be able to support themselves financially,” he said.

“Yet in America we do not enforce this rule, straining the very public resources that our poorest citizens rely upon.

“Switching away from this current system of lower skilled immigration and instead adopting a merit-based system, we will have so many more benefits.”

Mr Trump said he was going to bring back millions of jobs to the US and protecting workers also meant reforming the system of legal immigration.

“It will save countless dollars, raise workers’ wages, and help struggling families, including immigrant families, enter the middle class, and they will do it quickly, and they will be very, very happy indeed.

“I believe strongly in free trade, but it also has to be fair trade. It’s been a long time since we had fair trade,” he said.

“The current outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers and puts great pressure on taxpayers.”

President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., waves on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, before his address to a joint session of Congress. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/APSource:AP

Mr Trump said America had spent about $6 trillion in the Middle East, while the country’s own infrastructure crumbled.

“With $6 trillion, we could have rebuilt our country twice,” he said.

“I will be asking Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure of the United States financed through both public and private capital, creating millions of new jobs.”

He said this effort would be guided by two core principles “buy American and hire American”.

Mr Trump also mentioned that he had withdrawn the US from the “job-killing” Trans-Pacific Partnership, although this was met with less enthusiastic applause.

KEEPING AMERICA SAFE

During his speech Mr Trump revealed there were four “very brave” Americans in the audience whose family members had been killed by illegal immigrants.

Mr Trump told the Congress that the son of one of the four was “viciously murdered by an illegal immigrant gang member who had just been released from prison”.

He said the husbands of the two women — one who was accompanied by her daughter — had been gunned down by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record and two prior deportations.

He said the offenders should never had been in the country.

Mr Trump said the government would “soon begin” the construction of the wall along America’s southern border with Mexico.

“As we speak tonight, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our very innocent citizens,” he said.

“To any in Congress who do not believe we should enforce our laws, I would ask you this one question: What would you say to the American family that loses their jobs, their income or their loved one because America refused to uphold its laws and defend its borders?”

The President said he had directed the Department of Justice to form a taskforce of reducing violent crime.

“I have further ordered to co-ordinate an aggressive strategy to dismantle the criminal cartels,” he said.

“We will stop the drugs from pouring into our country and poisoning our youth, and we will expand treatment for those who have become so badly addicted.”

Donald Trump said the government would soon begin the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFPSource:AFP

There was also an emotional moment when Mr Trump introduced the widow of a US Navy SEAL killed during a raid in Yemen.

A teary-eyed Carryn Owens took deep breaths and wept on Tuesday night as the joint chamber offered a long standing ovation in the memory of William “Ryan” Owens - something Trump later joked may have broken a record.

Trump said Defence Secretary James Mattis confirmed: “Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies.”

Trump said Owens “laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom - we will never forget him”.

Three other US service members were wounded in the January raid.

Carryn Owens, wife of Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens, (centre) is recognised as US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the US Congress. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFPSource:AFP

WE CANNOT ALLOW TERRORISTS IN

The President said the government was also taking strong measures to protect the nation from radical Islamic terrorism.

Referring to his controversial immigration policy, Mr Trump said his administration had answered the pleas of the American people for immigration enforcement and border security.

“By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions and billions of dollars, and make our communities safer for everyone,” he said.

He said Department of Justice showed the vast majority of individuals convicted of terrorism and terrorism-related offences since 9/11 came here from outside the US, and his administration had been working on improved vetting procedures.

“We cannot allow a set of terrorists to form in our country, we cannot allow our nation to become a sanctuary for extremists.

“As promised, I directed the Department of Defence to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS, a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men and women and children, of all faiths and all beliefs.

“We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.

“I have also imposed new sanctions on entities and individuals who support Iran’s ballistic missile program and reaffirmed our unbreakable alliance with the State of Israel.”

Trump also voiced support for NATO but reiterated his call for partner countries to meet their financial obligations to the military alliance.

Trump has previously called NATO “obsolete,” setting some allies on edge about his commitment to the partnership.

US First Lady Melania Trump in Congress for the speech. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFPSource:AFP

Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFPSource:AFP

‘UNITED IN CONDEMNING HATE AND EVIL’

Mr Trump began his speech with a comment on the recent threats to Jewish community centres and the shooting in Kansas City.

“As we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our nation’s path toward civil rights and the work that still remains to be done,” the US President said to loud applause and a standing ovation.

“Recent threats targeting Jewish community centres and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, reminds us that while we may be a nation divided on policies. We are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil, in all of its very ugly forms.”

The president had received criticism from some civil rights groups who had accused him of being slow in denouncing the violent acts.

Mr Trump said he was “here tonight to deliver a message of unity and strength”.

“Each American generation passes the torch of truth, liberty and justice, in an unbroken chain all the way down to the present. That torch is now in our hands, and we will use it to light up the world,” he said.

The US President said a new national pride was sweeping across the nation and optimism that was placing “impossible dreams firmly within our grasp”.

“What we are witnessing today is the renewal of the American spirit.

“Our allies will find that America is, once against, ready to lead.”

Mr Trump reacts after addressing a joint session of Congress. Picture: Jim Lo Scalzo/APSource:AP

‘UNITED OVER ONE VERY SIMPLE BUT CRUCIAL DEMAND’

Mr Trump said he would not allow the mistakes of recent decades to define the course of the country’s future.

He said the “earth shifted beneath our feet” in 2016 when rebellion started and grew into a loud chorus.

“The chorus became an earthquake and the people turned out by the tens of millions and they were all united by one very simple but crucial demand - that America must put its own citizens first, because only then can we truly make America great again,” he said.

Mr Trump said dying industries would come roaring back to life, heroic veterans would get the care they need and the military would be given the resources it deserved.

“Above all else, we will keep our promises to the American people.”

US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the US Congress. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

GOVERNMENT HAS SAVED MILLIONS

The President went on to spruik some of his new administration’s achievements.

Since in inauguration, Mr Trump said Ford, Fiat, Chrysler, Lockheed, Walmart, Intel and many others have had announced they would invest billions in the US and would create tens of thousands of jobs.

“The stock market has gained almost $3 trillion in value since the election on November 8 - a record,” he said.

He said the government had saved hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the cost of the F-35 jet fighter, and would save billions more on contracts across the government.

“We have placed a hiring freeze on non-military and non-essential federal workers,” he said.

“We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption by imposing a 5-year ban on lobbying by executive branch ... and a lifetime ban on becoming lobbyists by a foreign government.”

Mr Trump said the government had imposed a new rule which mandated that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated.

He said he had also cleared the way for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines, and had issued a new directive that new American pipelines be made with American steel.

Mr Trump arriving to address Congress.Source:Supplied

Mr Trump called on members of Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare.

“We should help Americans to purchase their own coverage through the use of tax credits and expanded health savings accounts, but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by our government,” he said.

He said legal reforms should be implemented to protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs.

“The time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across state lines.”

Mr Trump urged Democrats and Republicans to get together and unite for the good of the country.

“Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed.

“Every problem can be solved, and every hurting family can find healing and hope. Our citizens deserve this, and so much more, so why not join forces and finally get the job done, and get it done right?”

HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR FIRST SPEECH

Mr Trump’s address on Tuesday night (local time) came at a pivotal moment for the new US president, who was elected on pledges to swiftly shake up Washington and follow through on the failed promises of career politicians.

He stood before Democrats appalled by his politics and policies, and many Republicans who were barely more supportive during the presidential campaign.

Republicans, impatient to begin making headway on legislation, had hoped Mr Trump would arrive on Capitol Hill armed with specifics on replacing the “Obamacare” health care law and overhauling the nation’s tax system, two issues he’s so far talked about in mostly general terms.

GOP politicians want to act on both this year but are divided over how to proceed.

It was thought Mr Trump may also have voiced support for immigration legislation, a senior administration official said ahead of the address.

During a traditional pre-speech lunch with news anchors, Mr Trump said he was open to a “compromise” bill that could include legalisation for some of the millions of people living in the US illegally and a pathway to citizenship for the “Dreamers” — people brought to the US illegally as children.

A person with knowledge of the meeting confirmed Mr Trump’s comments on the condition of anonymity in order to reveal the private discussion.

Mr Trump has had turbulent start to the presidency.

Republicans looking to President Donald Trump to provide details on how to proceed with his signature reforms. Picture: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/APSource:AP

The White House bungled the rollout of a sweeping immigration and refugee ban and has been plagued by persistent questions about Trump campaign advisers’ contacts with Russia during the election.

The president has picked fights with the media and the intelligence community, blaming agencies he now oversees for leaking classified information that put him in a negative light.

This has left him saddled with historically low approval ratings for a new president.

Just 44 per cent of Americans approve of his job performance, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey.

— With AP