Feb 6, 2019 - Technology

Trump points to tech in State of the Union

The president, with the Vice President and the Speaker of the House behind him

Photo: Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

President Trump used part of his State of the Union address Tuesday to call for Congress to pass infrastructure legislation that supports "investments in the cutting edge industries of the future."

The bigger picture: The brief reference — in a speech dominated by both nods to bipartisanship and deeply conservative immigration rhetoric — reflects a White House interest in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and 5G wireless.

What he said:

  • Trump said that "I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment, including investments in the cutting edge industries of the future."
  • He also said that China had spent years "stealing our intellectual property," a perennial tech concern.

But, but, but: It was a nod, not an agenda.

Go deeper: Full Axios State of the Union coverage

Go deeper