Mr Trump goes on to discuss a number of other foreign policy stances on Venezuela and the Middle East.

Mr Trump says: “We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom – and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair.”

To loud applause from the Republicans, he adds: “Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country.  America was founded on liberty and independence – not government coercion, domination, and control.  We are born free, and we will stay free.  Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.”

It was a pointed rebuke of the increasingly influential progressive wing of the Democratic party. Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and newly-elected congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are some of the party’s most well known self-described Democratic socialists.

Mr Trump goes on to double down on his push to withdraw American troops from Syria – a decision his own  Defence Secretary resigned over, saying “great nations do not fight endless wars”.

Mr Trump says: “It is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home. I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. My Administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban.  We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement – but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace.”

Mr Trump added his administration will not “avert our eyes” from Iran.