Democracy is right now at risk: US senator

WASHINGTON

US Sen. Elissa Slotkin on Tuesday evening accused President Donald Trump of ignoring the rules, and putting democracy at risk.

"For generations, America has offered something better. Our security and our prosperity, yes, but our democracy, our very system of government, has been the aspiration of the world, and right now it's at risk," Slotkin said when delivering Democratic response to Trump's joint address to Congress.

Her remarks came right after Trump defended his administration's steps to cut government spending and reshape the global economy through tariffs in first joint address since the beginning of his second term.

"It's at risk when the president decides he can pick and choose what rules he wants to follow, when he ignores court orders and the Constitution itself, or when elected leaders stand by and just let it happen," Slotkin added.

About economy, Slotkin said Trump's "big game" will not help Americans get ahead.

"President Trump is trying to deliver an unprecedented giveaway to his billionaire friends, he's on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America, and to do that, he's going to make you pay in every part of your life," she added.

America needs to bring down costs on groceries, housing, health care and bring back good-paying jobs, she stressed.

The senator also slammed tech-billionaire Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) helping to cut US government spending and government contracts.

"While we’re on the subject of Elon Musk, is there anyone in America who is comfortable with him and his gang of 20-year-olds using their own computer servers to poke through your tax returns, your health information?” she said.

Slotkin criticized DOGE for the "mindless" mass firings of federal workers, saying: "No CEO in America could do that without being summarily fired."

Trump sees American leadership as 'merely a series of real estate transactions'

Turning to last Friday's clash between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, she said former President Ronald Reagan "must be rolling in his grave" after "the spectacle that just took place in the Oval Office last week."

"That scene in the Oval Office wasn't just a bad episode of reality TV. It summed up Trump's whole approach to the world. He believes in cozying up to dictators like (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and kicking our friends, like Canada, in the teeth," Slotkin said.

Trump sees American leadership as "merely a series of real estate transactions," she added.

"As a Cold War kid, I'm thankful it was Reagan and not Trump in office in the 1980s. Trump would have lost us the Cold War."

Stressing that America wants change, she said "there's a responsible way to make change and a reckless way."

"And we can make that change without forgetting who we are as a country and as a democracy."