Trump shuns Pelosi handshake and pivots to re-election campaign in State of the Union

President refuses to shake speaker's hand amid impeachment trial as GOP politicians chant 'four more years!'

Donald Trump faced his House Democratic accusers on Tuesday night with no intention of bringing up the impeachment charges they levied against him, instead focusing his annual State of the Union address on his accomplishments as he pivoted to his re-election campaign.

In an early remarkable moment, Speaker Nancy Pelosi extended her hand to the president after he handed her a bound copy of his remarks but he refused to shake it. GOP politicians responded with a "four more years" chant. Throughout the speech, the Californian Democrat did not hide when she disagreed with the president - at one point holding her hands up with her palms pointed skyward while shaking her head when Mr Trump said the elected officials gathered in the chamber had one fundamental job: "To put America first."

Mr Trump told the country he had delivered economic growth and done more than his predecessors to secure the southern border and keep the country safe. But he also sounded several campaign-trail themes as he seeks a second term.

"We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare," he said. "Socialism destroys nations, and always remember, freedom safeguards the soul," he said. He immediately pivoted to boasting about his US defence budgets - a sector completely dependent on taxpayer funds, not appearing to acknowledge the irony.

Democrats, however, had their doubts.

"Mike Bloomberg believes that no one should suffer because they can't afford health insurance, and no one should face financial hardships because of medical bills. Health care is a right. As president, Mike will deliver affordable, reliable health care to all Americans," the former New York City mayor's presidential campaign said in a statement.

Mr Trump sought to isolate Democratic candidates like Bloomberg by touting his economic resume.

"Three years ago, we launched the 'great American comeback'. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results," Mr Trump said. "In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny. We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never going back."

In a rare call for both parties to work together, the president told the Republicans and Democrats seated before him to work out legislation to reduce prescription drug prices. "Get a bill on my desk, and I will sign it immediately," Mr Trump vowed even though he told them the same about immigration reform and other issues - only to sink efforts to pass such legislation.

Donald Trump hands a copy of his speech to Nancy Pelosi ahead of his State of the Union address – but he turned away as she reached out to shake his hand (AP)

Democrats, however, reject his contention of an historically "inclusive" economy, saying he has failed to help average Americans.

As one staffer previewed earlier on Tuesday, the address did not feature the word impeachment. Aides signalled the president did not intend to bring it up directly – even as he faced his House Democratic accusers for the first time since they launched their Ukraine investigation last October.

"He understands where these fit into history," said one White House observer, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "He's just not going to risk very much tonight."

Mr Trump instead sold himself as an economic guru who deserves a second term despite the country's ongoing political divisions – and its deep chasm in how voters in both parties feel about him. He remains wildly popular with Republicans and deeply unpopular among Democrats.

His aides acknowledge healthcare will be a major issue for voters in November. Mr Trump warned of a "socialist takeover" of America's private-based health system, if a Democrat replaces him in the Oval Office.

"To those watching at home tonight, I want you to know that we will never let socialism destroy American healthcare," he said as House Democrats booed. "A good life for American families also requires the most affordable, innovative, and high-quality healthcare system on earth. ... We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions." He also vowed to protect entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are important to older voters among whom his poll numbers have slipped. Trump slipped into campaign mode when he railed against the "radical left" and warned about federal health benefits for "illegal aliens."

That amounted to a transition into the immigration portion of the speech, with Mr Trump claiming a "long, tall and powerful wall" is being built along the US-Mexico border; Democrats say what is being constructed is replacement barrier requested first by the Obama administration to replace structures that have been in place for years. Pelosi, again, shook her head slowly at the president she decided to impeach.

Mr Trump veered back to immigration at several points, making claims about border-crossing rates and other "historic gains" while pushing his idea of a merit-based immigration system that Democrats say they will never pass.

"From the instant I took office, I moved rapidly to revive the US economy, slashing a record number of job killing-regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts, and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements," he said. "Many politicians came and went, pledging to change or replace NAFTA -- only to do absolutely nothing. But unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises. Six days ago, I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law." Ms Pelosi shook her head slowly as he panned other presidents.

Congress approved that pact with bipartisan vote tallies in both chambers after Mr Trump's top trade officials and Ms Pelosi negotiated how it would be implemented.

House Democratic women sat mostly motionless as he claimed the unemployment rate among women had reached an all time low.

The president ticked off a list of unemployment figures contested by Democrats and economists alike.

The early moments of his speech featured plenty of awkward moments, with House Democrats sitting stoically as he made a series of boasts and claims about what he views as his achievements.

Ms Pelosi sat a few feet off his left shoulder on the dais, looking mostly at her own members as GOP politicians offered the president loud applause as he talked up the level of US stock markets and said "consumer confidence has just reached historic highs".

In a clear nod to his political base, the president not only announced he would award conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he had First Lady Melania Trump pin it around his neck just one day after he announced he has advanced lung cancer. A bearded Limbaugh, seated beside the first lady appeared shocked, holding his hands over his mouth, his eyes reddening. As Republican lawmakers loudly applauded and cheered, he gave Mr Trump an enthusiastic thumbs up.

He also called for Congress to send him a bill to overhaul the country's roads, bridges, airports, tunnels and sea ports - even though his own plan was rejected by members of both parties and he used the speech to endorse a Senate GOP proposal that has been rejected by Democrats in both chambers.

The president hailed a bipartisan criminal justice bill, with Democrats standing and applauding – though a few seconds after Republicans.

When the president stepped foot inside the Capitol, he did so at the height of his popularity – despite a remarkably turbulent term and having been just the third sitting chief executive to be impeached. The address was the capper on a day that saw Mr Trump and White House aides take a victory lap after his big Iowa caucuses win and the state Democratic Party's inability to get their votes counted, with the Gallup organisation releasing a poll that put his approval rating at 49 percent, the highest of his presidency.

As Trump peacocked down the chamber's centre aisle, his political rivals were settling for moral victories.

"I think that we have pulled back a veil of behaviour totally unacceptable to our founders, and that the public will see this with a clearer eye, an unblurred eye," Ms Pelosi told the New York Times on Monday. "Whatever happens, he has been impeached forever. And now these senators, though they don't have the courage to assign the appropriate penalty, at least are recognising that he did something wrong."

Mr Trump's top aides had previewed a mostly upbeat address by the up-for-reelection president in which he would spend ample time talking about his accomplishments since taking office – especially the state of the US economy.

Hours before the president boarded his heavily armoured SUV then walked inside the House chamber a few minutes later, senior Democrats were discounting his record since taking office.

"Time and again, President Trump and congressional Republicans have pursued policies that stack the deck against hard-working American families in favour of big corporations and the wealthiest few – among the most significant of these is the Trump-GOP Tax Scam that was signed into law in December 2017," Ms Pelosi's office said in a blast email around lunchtime, contending that 2017 law has not made increased median household incomes.

"Over the past three years, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have made every effort to further enrich the wealthy few but they have gone out of their way to stand in the way of progress and economic justice for hard-working middle-class Americans," the speaker's office added