Trump promises 'renewal of American spirit' in speech to Congress

Media captionDonald Trump called for unity, but Democrats were less than impressed

President Donald Trump has said the US is witnessing a "renewal of the American spirit", as he delivered his first speech to Congress. 

Adopting a measured, upbeat tone, the Republican president spoke of a "new chapter of American greatness". Mr Trump condemned recent vandalism of Jewish cemeteries and a shooting in Kansas that left an Indian man dead.

His primetime address sought to bolster his low approval ratings after a bumpy start to his fledgling presidency.

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At the outset of Tuesday night's hour-long speech, Mr Trump tackled recent suspected hate crimes, saying "we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its very ugly forms".

On immigration, he dangled the intriguing possibility of a major policy shift towards a goal that eluded his two predecessors, insisting that "real and positive" reform was possible.

That line came hours after he told news anchors off the record at a White House lunch that he might be open to granting legal status to undocumented immigrants.

In his remarks on Capitol Hill, the president also talked tough on the issue, pledging to make US communities safer "by finally enforcing our immigration laws".

He defended his early actions in office, touting his moves to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and order work to start on a US-Mexico border wall.