North Dakota leaders responded to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress Tuesday, with praise coming from the state’s major office holders.

“Tonight President Trump said it all when proclaiming, “AMERICA IS BACK!” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, said in a prepared statement. “From there he delivered the evidence of accomplishments like securing our southern border, facilitating peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, bringing violent immigrants to justice, relieving us of woke insanity and so much more, all in a few weeks time. Then he cast a vision for a stronger, freer, more prosperous and respected nation.

“It was inspiring and believable, because it is true,” Cramer added. “He spoke to the hearts and minds of everyday Americans, and highlighted heroes and grieving families in the audience. All the while Democrats in the Chamber sneered, heckled and booed. They were unable to even stand for parents who lost children and loved ones to violent illegal aliens, a small boy with cancer who wants to be a police officer, a citizen unjustly imprisoned in Russia whose freedom President Trump helped secure, or even a fireman who saved his family from an assassin’s bullet at the Trump Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by shielding them with his body, sacrificing his own life. You don’t have to hate America because you hate President Trump, and you don’t have to love Trump because you love America. As for me and my family, we love both.”

“President Trump is hard at work to get our country back on track,” said Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, in a statement. “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. 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.”

In her remarks, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-ND, offered strong support for the president’s message, applauding his commitment to restoring the American Dream.

“As North Dakota’s voice in Congress, 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 roadmap to a stronger America and peace around the world,” Fedorchak said.

“America’s energy dominance is key to our economic and national security, and President Trump understands that better than anyone. The future of AI, agriculture, and manufacturing depends on affordable, reliable power — and that means expanding traditional energy production and leading the way in nuclear and next-generation technology. North Dakota is ready to lead, and my focus is to get Washington out of the way” she said.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong released a statement saying, “President Trump outlined the significant progress our nation has made during his six short weeks in office to secure our borders, unleash U.S. energy and manufacturing, project strength on the international stage and bring common sense back to America.

“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 added.

Sanda Sanford, chairwoman of the ND GOP, recalled Trump’s 2024 pledge to “Make America Great Again” in a statement following his address, calling him a man of his word.

“Trump has made the security of our country his top priority, securing the border,” she said. “Addressing the economy, he’s fighting daily, committed to the American family to bring balance and affordability to their bank account. In North Dakota, we are aware of the ‘gold under our feet’ as Trump is campaigning to ‘drill baby drill’ with efforts to increase American energy production. Trump has restored American strength on the world stage and has brought back common sense. Tonight President Trump left us encouraged and hopeful with stories that inspired us all.

“Whether Republican or Democrat, every citizen will benefit from the work of the Trump administration and Republican values. The future is bright,” she said.

On behalf of the state Democratic-NPL, Communications Director Laura Dronen issued a statement saying, “Over and over Trump subjected Americans to lies. Costs are skyrocketing. The economy is plummeting. Planes are falling out of the sky as they gut the FAA. We are less safe and worse off since Trump handed over the keys to our country to Elon Musk and his teeny-bobber minions.

“As they destroy Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, where will our seniors turn? As they erode the Affordable Care Act, how will North Dakotans with preexisting conditions afford to see a doctor? As they obliterate consumer protections, who will safeguard us from real waste, fraud, and abuse?” she said. “When everything that makes the United States of America the leader of the free world has been hacked and slashed to death, what will be left of us?”