Senator Elissa Slotkin Responds to Trump Speech

By dianeravitch

March 5, 2025 //

The recently elected Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan responded to President Trump.

She was terrific.

It takes about five minutes to watch.

I’m happy to say that I contributed to her campaign. She’s smart, strong, and articulate.

Categories Democracy, Elections, History, Resistance, Trump

32 Comments Post your own

FLERP! says:

March 5, 2025 at 2:22 pm

Boy, I have to disagree. I found her oddly calm and low-key and generic, with no gravitas to match the moment. The tone struck me as one that would accompany any normal response to a state of the union from years past, rather than the unparalleled insanity that had just transpired.

LikeLike

Reply
- And, In Missouri says:
  
  March 5, 2025 at 2:52 pm
  
  I have to disagree. She was excellent.
  
  Harping on tariffs, DEI, firings, egg prices and the rest is old news. That’s just noise that everyone has heard for months and it’s tuned out. It sets up the same old defensive “there they go again” and “yeh, but…” response from people at the diner and pundits on tv.
  
  She didn’t “we go high when they go low” (Sorry, Mrs. Obama). She was concise, to the points, and people listened. If she had gone on the attack or tried to contradict the presidents, we wouldn’t be talking about this because no one would be talking about it.
  
  She may not be JFK, Obama, or Jed Bartlet, but it seems she could model and convince kids on campuses and the 30-somethings to get active before it’s too late.
  
  As for INSIDE the chamber, I would have liked to have seen outrage! I would have liked to see signs and fingers pointed to GOP Representatives asking “Why are you hiding from your constituents?” Calling out the Speaker for suggesting representatives not hold public meetings – the absolute counter to a democracy.
  
  I would like to be hearing today from the f-x pundits and GOP some shock that the Democrats can dish it out, too, and can put the presidents on the defensive.
  
  Trudeau talked to and taught the American people. Where are the Democrats.
  
  So yes, the Representative spoke the truth with brevity, attention getting, and no bait. She and it IS being talked about today.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  - FLERP! says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 3:23 pm
    
    Hopefully most people agree with you.
    
    LikeLike
quikwrit says:

March 5, 2025 at 2:24 pm

DID YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY to what Trump said about your Social Security during his speech to Congress?

HE SAID ONLY that Social Security has “lists” of people who are well over 100 years old.

HE DIDN’T SAY that these people are actually getting Social Security benefits.

IF HE HAD SAID THAT, the Democrats could have said: “PROVE IT!”

AND HE CAN’T because those lists are for legal purposes only — just the way that banks keep records of everyone who had ever had a mortgage with them because those records have legal importance for decades after the mortgage is paid off, so too does Social Security keep lists of people who have ever received Social Security, even long after they have died.

WHAT’S GOING ON is that — as they have ever since Social Security began — Republican politicians have been trying to turn Social Security over to Wall Street banks, and in order to do that (they call it “privatizing”) they need to convince ordinary Americans that the Social Security Administration is incompetent and wasteful.

PART OF THEIR PLAN is also to convince you that Social Security is “going broke”, but in fact Social Security’s latest audit shows that it has $3 TRILLION — that’s THREE THOUSAND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS — in surplus money that’s safely invested in United States Treasury Bonds.

AND THAT’S WHAT the Wall Street banks want to get their grubby hands on. They are drooling over getting control of that $3,000,000,000,000 in Social Security surplus!!!

THEY DREAM of putting that money into Wall Street stocks so that they can collect millions of dollars in annual commissions!

YOU WILL HEAR Republican politicians tell you that Social Security’s surplus money is gone and that all that’s left are “IOUs” — but what the Republicans call “IOUs” are actually United States Treasury Bonds that are such a safe investment that even China and every other nation in the world puts their surplus money into U.S. Treasury Bonds.

SO — listen very carefully from now on so that you don’t get cheated out of the retirement security that Social Security provides for ordinary Americans like us.

AND LISTEN TOO to what Trump’s billionaires are saying: MEGABILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK is claiming that “Social Security is a Ponzi scheme” that must be “privatized” by handing it over to Wall Street.

AND Trump Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (another of the many billionaires in Trump’s cabinet) declared on the Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime show that “You know that Social Security is wrong! You know that Medicare and Medicaid are wrong!!! GET RID OF ALL THESE TAX SCAMS that hammer Americans!!!”

IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT WHAT’S COMING for your Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the statements by billionaires Musk and Lutnick LEAVE NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.

Why are billionaires being allowed to destroy programs that we ordinary Americans depend on? Why?

LikeLike

Reply
- afeatherkile says:
  
  March 6, 2025 at 12:39 am
  
  You are correct. It is not the records of social security benefit receivers that is being questioned. It is what is called by SSA the “Numident file.” This is a file of every SS number that has ever been issued and some corresponding data about the person to who that number was assigned.
  
  Earnings records and payments are well maintained but reports of deaths do not always get transferred over to the Numident files. This is a case of sloppy record keeping and records should be updated to show proper dates of death. The SSA reputation for benefit payment accuracy has been muddied by a DOGE story as was explained by Tom Margenau, a 32 yr SS expert who served as director of the SSA public Information office and a chief editor of many publications. I don’t know how we got folks over 350 years old noted…except by gross negligence over the years.
  
  DOGE will make mistakes. Musk says he open to make corrections as some errors are noted. Some legislators have applied for changes due to misunderstandings of the purpose of the department.
  
  I think that the secretaries of the various departments should be allowed input as to what is a practical elimination area before it reaches the President. I believe in paying bills. If a service was provided it must be paid for. Cancel the contract after payment. You have to admit that some of the USAID is ridiculous and an absolute waste of our money.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Lloyd Lofthouse says:

March 5, 2025 at 2:36 pm

Senator Elissa Slotkin hit every point I wanted to hear. She’s articulate and knows what she’s talking about.

Still, anyone who voted for the traitorous felon in the White House three times and is cheering him and Maniac Musk along as they dismantle the US government, ignoring the US Constitution every step of the way, does not have the attention span to listen to a video that long.

The convicted rapist’s loyalists have attention spans that are good for hearing MAGA or WOKE, triggering their programed rage, without knowing what those acronyms mean, without fact checking, and that is their willingly deplorable limit. On a real battlefield, thus fanatics would not survive long.

Slotkin’s audience is everyone else.

LikeLike

Reply
dienne77 says:

March 5, 2025 at 2:54 pm

Her response was to praise Reagan. As in, Ronald “Greed is Good; There Is No Society” Reagan. Reagan is how we got where we are – what is Trump but the logical end of “Greed is Good/There is No Society”? The fact that Reagan was “statesmanlike” about his moral vacuousness doesn’t make it any better (in fact, worse – at least Trump makes his barbarity crystal clear). The fact that Dems are worshipping the likes of Reagan, Bush and Cheney just cements my decision to DemExit.

LikeLike

Reply
- dianeravitch says:
  
  March 5, 2025 at 3:59 pm
  
  I often think of how Reagan would react when confronted with the utter spinelessness of today’s GOP. Trump was not afraid to stand up to the Kremlin. He would never be a Putin puppet, as Trump is.
  
  I don’t fault her for citing Reagan. It’s a great contrast. I have said on many occasions that Reagan would be spinning in his grave. So did she.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 4:02 pm
    
    You never got out of the Cold War, did you, Diane?
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 4:29 pm
    
    Putin just won the Cold War. He installed a puppet. It’s a shame you didn’t take a course on European history.
    I will never understand why a smart person could be so supportive of a brutal dictator.
    I like free elections. Is that a “Cold War” thing? I don’t like dictators whose political opponents fall out of windows, get a shot in the head, get into an airplane that explodes, get sent to jail in the Arctic and die mysteriously. That must be a “Cild War ” thing. And I’m not fond of dictators who are in office for 40 years. My “Cold War” bias in favor of democracy.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 4:31 pm
    
    So if you like free elections, maybe you could tell me when the next Ukrainian election will be?
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 10:45 pm
    
    In April 2019, Zelensky was elected with 73% of the vote.
    
    Because of the brutal Russian invasion, elections have been suspended. As you know, Russian missiles and drones are bombarding Ukraine daily.
    
    When was the last free election in Russia?
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 6:55 am
    
    Elections were held during the World Wars. There’s no reason Ukraine couldn’t have elections except that Elensky wouldn’t be re-elected as his approval ratings are in the toilet.
    
    Russia’s last election was one year ago. It was overseen by international election observers, something the U.S. doesn’t allow. You just can’t get your head around the possibility that Russians actually like Putin, even though U.S. supported polls have shown his approval rating is over 70%. As I’ve said before, Russians are grateful he rescued them from the western asset stripping misery imposed by the Yeltsin administration.
    
    BTW, if anyone ever does defeat Putin, they will be even more anti-west than he is. The main reason for what opposition he faces is that he’s been too soft on the West.
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 3:04 pm
    
    So you believe that Putin was re-elected in a free election?
    He won an amazing 87% of the vote. His nearest competitor got only 4%.
    
    Too bad he murdered the leader of the only opposition party.
    
    Dienne, it’s really boring to have to respond to your comments. You are stuffed to the gills with pro-Putin propaganda.
    
    Your admiration of Putin is frankly nauseating.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 3:10 pm
    
    When a candidate holds a 70%+ approval rating, no serious candidates bother to run against him.
    
    Still waiting for your timeframe.
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 7, 2025 at 12:41 pm
    
    Putin had no opposition because he killed his opponents.
    
    His most serious opponent was Nemtsov, murdered with four bullets to the back of his head.
    
    His other serious was Navalny, sent to a remote prison, where he mysteriously died a year ago of no discernible illness.
    
    No one believes Putin’s polls but you.
    
    https://search.app/SwVEpKH79jiecThd8
    
    LikeLike
- Joe Jersey says:
  
  March 5, 2025 at 8:39 pm
  
  Slotkin said: “”President Trump loves to say peace through strength. That’s actually a line he stole from Ronald Reagan. But let me tell you, after the spectacle that just took place in the Oval Office last week, Reagan must be rolling in his grave,” Slotkin said, implying Reagan would be more supportive of an adversary to Russia than Mr. Trump has been to Ukraine.”
  
  I don’t think Slotkin was praising Reagan but rather saying that Trump is so HORRIBLE that even Reagan would be spinning in his grave. Geezus, even Nixon is spinning in his grave and Bush the dumber is spinning on the golf course.
  
  Trump is obviously on Putin’s payroll, he spends all day bashing Zelensky and Ukraine but nothing, nada, zero, zilch against his god, Putin. Molto interessante ma stupido.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 8:54 pm
    
    Yes, Trump is clearly on Putin’s payroll. That’s why he was the first to arm Ukraine, something even Obama wasn’t willing to do. It’s why he unilaterally pulled out of the INF treaty. It’s why he imposed sanctions, escalated in Syria, and numerous other provocations.
    
    Ending Ukraine the Ukraine war has nothing to do with Trump. It was going to end soon anyway (which is one of the reasons Dems let Trump win). Ukraine simply can’t beat Russia without far more western help than the West is willing to commit. Ukraine is out of people to throw in the meat grinder. They’re currently debating a law to draft **14 to 16 year olds**. It was always going to come to this as I said from the beginning.
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 10:46 pm
    
    I await the comment where you disassociate yourself from admiration for Putin.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 6:59 am
    
    Failed logic, did you? Pointing out fact about how Trump has been hawkish against Putin is not admiring Putin. I don’t trust any world leader and, as I be said before, Putin is a billionaire capitalist. But he has taken care of his people, unlike any U.S. leader since FDR.
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 2:58 pm
    
    Your admiration for mass murderer Putin is touching.
    
    LikeLike
  - dianeravitch says:
    
    March 5, 2025 at 11:11 pm
    
    Maybe Dienne could find an example–just one–where Trump criticized Putin.
    
    In the Oval Office, Trump said that he and Putin had together suffered through the “Russia hoax.” I don’t know in what way Putin suffered.
    
    But I do know that a Republican-led Senate Committee concluded in 2020 that Russia interfered to help Trump in 2016
    
    LikeLike
  - dienne77 says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 7:01 am
    
    Why do you focus on what people say rather than what they do? I gave you a list of 25 times Trump went against Putin. What does it matter what he says?
    
    LikeLike
NYC public school parent says:

March 5, 2025 at 3:37 pm

She was good! It’s a tough job to give the response to a president’s speech — remember Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s laughable one last year? Britt was awful, but I do think women are under particular scrutiny and I’m sure the speech was designed to fend off any criticism about demeanor.

There is always some idea that I wish a politician would have hit on harder, but all in all, perfectly reasonable.

Of all the Dems, I like Pete Buttigieg for explaining things and making criticisms. And AOC. I actually think the two of them should go on a road show listening tour to make the negative points about Trump that the mainstream media is too scared to report.

LikeLike

Reply
- John Ogozalek says:
  
  March 5, 2025 at 6:29 pm
  
  Good points.
  
  Slotkin came across as competent and reliable.
  
  Hopefully, the pendulum will swing back in that direction. More of the public will hunger for integrity and stability. Of course, how do you right a ship after it’s been shot full of holes?
  
  ‘They had to destroy the nation in order to, well, destroy it.’
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Joe Jersey says:

March 5, 2025 at 11:42 pm

Actually, I wish they had picked Al Green to make the response to President Putin, er, I mean Trumputin, er Bozo the Putzheimer. The Democrats bring a butter knife to a machine gun fight, they need to get tougher and more proactive as was Al Green.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
- carolmalaysia says:
  
  March 6, 2025 at 6:55 am
  
  I agree with you.
  
  Rep. Green had repeated, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.” I just wish that had been a cue that all Democrats should get up and walk out.
  
  Hoo-rah! for Bernie who later did walk out.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
carolmalaysia says:

March 6, 2025 at 6:50 am

I have a complete IDIOT as my senator. Senator Todd Young [R-IN]sent out a response to a letter I had written to him.

I know that he does not consider it an honor to represent me in the U.S. Senate. Nothing that I write would support this type of thinking, and I write to him regularly.

Here is part of his reply:

…As a member of the Senate DOGE Caucus, I am committed to holding government agencies accountable, eliminating wasteful spending, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used efficiently. At the same time, we must foster opportunities for Hoosiers to succeed while maintaining strong fiscal responsibility. I joined this caucus to work with the Executive Branch and help bring greater transparency to federal spending while facilitating frequent information sharing about DOGE activities with Members of Congress. I believe smart, responsible budgeting and efficient administration of our government agencies are key to earning the public’s trust. I value your input on these issues and encourage you to contact me with any budgetary concerns that matter to you.

Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to represent you in the United States Senate….

LikeLike

Reply
- Catherine King says:
  
  March 6, 2025 at 8:35 am
  
  COMMENT IN MODERATION. CBK
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  - Catherine King says:
    
    March 6, 2025 at 8:39 am
    
    Date correction for my In Moderation note: The clip from CSPAN’s Word for Word is from 03-05-25. CBK
    
    LikeLike
carolmalaysia says:

March 6, 2025 at 6:59 am

I got this from a Canadian friend and have sent it to Senator Todd Young [R-IN], Senator Jim Banks [R-IN] and Governor Mike Braun [R-IN]. [All are staunch Trump supporters.]

An assistant to Donald Trump told him she had a fantastic dream last night. There was a huge parade down Pennsylvania Avenue celebrating Trump.

Millions lined the parade route, cheering when the President went past. Bands were playing; children were throwing confetti into the air; there were balloons everywhere. It was absolutely the BIGGEST CELEBRATION WASHINGTON HAD EVER SEEN!!!

Trump was very impressed and said, “That’s really great!

By the way, how did I look in your dream?

Was my hair okay?”

His assistant said,

… “I couldn’t tell, the casket was closed.”

LikeLike

Reply
Catherine King says:

March 6, 2025 at 8:34 am

The below is a clip from CSPAN’s Word for Word daily inbox news from 3/5/26 concerning Trudeau’s response to Trump’s tariffs and the discussion surround it. Trudeau is not fooled by Trump’s classic duplicity–putting for legitimate concerns to cover nefarious intent.

The legitimate concern is fentanyl and Trump’s nefarious intent is to become a dictator and to destroy democracy, in this case, y by tearing down U.S. relationships with our long-term allies. In this discussion, “Ms. Levitt” proves herself to be an absolute Barbie Doll dope. The only thing that is transparent about her response to the reporter is how bad her sham-logic is. “Sidestepped” indeed. CBK (all copied below)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is set to leave office once new parliamentary elections are held, reacted angrily to the tariffs and levied his own taxes on U.S. goods.
- “Canadians are reasonable and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight — not when our country and the wellbeing of everyone in it is at stake,” he said, calling fentanyl merely a “pretext” for the tariffs.
President Trump spoke Wednesday with the prime minister, whom he said was unable to convince him that Canada was doing enough to stem the flow of fentanyl.
- “He said that it’s gotten better, but I said, ‘That’s not good enough.’ The call ended in a ‘somewhat’ friendly manner!” the president wrote on social media.
Ms. Leavitt sidestepped questions about what Canada would need to do with respect to fentanyl, less that 1% of which comes in from the northern border.
- “You are asking me for what the president’s justification is for these tariffs. It is not up to you. You are not the president,” she said, calling the reporter’s question “disrespectful to the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of this deadly poison.”
Watch the press briefing.

LikeLike

Reply