President Donald Trump shared his unwavering vision for the country during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, using his record-breaking speech to project confidence in his administration while repeatedly shaming Democrats.
Trump did not provide Democrats, who are hoping to flip the House or Senate in November, with a proverbial olive branch during his 148-minute address, instead underscoring his administration’s successes regarding the southern border and the economy.
In a stand-out moment, Trump dared Democrats to stand up if they agreed that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up,” he said in the House of Representatives chamber. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
But Trump also used his address, which championed his particular brand of populism, to emphasize symbols of American strength before the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom on July 4. He welcomed the U.S. men’s ice hockey Olympic team into the chamber; acknowledged Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk; and recognized members of the military and veterans, including presenting Navy fighter pilot and World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veteran Royce Williams with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
“This July 4, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty, triumph, progress, and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth,” he said. “You’ve seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better. and better. and better. This is the golden age of America.”
As the president struggles to convince voters about the success of his economy, Trump apportioned responsibility for affordability concerns to both former President Joe Biden and “crazy” Democrats for their poor decisions, “from trade to healthcare, from energy to immigration,” including regarding Obamacare.
“The same people in this chamber who voted for those disasters suddenly used the word ‘affordability,’” he said. “Somebody gave it to them, knowing full well that they caused and created the increased prices that all of our citizens had to endure. You caused that problem. You caused that problem.”
Democrats protested Trump throughout his address, with Rep. Al Green (D-TX) being escorted out of the chamber, for the second year in a row, and multiple members shouting at the president during his remarks, causing several White House officials to issue statements rebuking Democrats for their behavior.
“Democrats didn’t sit on their hands the entire night,” White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller posted on social media. “They very consciously chose exactly what/who to stand for, clap for and honor and what/who to insult, denigrate and dishonor. Democrats all CHOSE to dishonor grieving parents and sanctify criminal invaders.”
But the president did share restraint regarding Friday’s Supreme Court decision, in which a majority of the justices ruled that the tariffs he imposed using his emergency economic powers, including his “Liberation Day” and fentanyl-related duties, were unconstitutional, despite his earlier condemnations of the ruling.
“I used these tariffs to take in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country, both economically and on a national security basis,” he said. “Then, just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court. It just came down … but the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made.”
Aaron Kall, co-author of Mr. Speaker, The President of the United States: Addresses to a Joint Session of Congress, described Trump’s State of the Union as “even more partisan and confrontational than I expected.”
Kall, the University of Michigan director of debate, compared the address to a “political convention or rally speech,” and not “more aspirational and forward-looking” State of the Union remarks.
“This situation reminds me a bit of President Biden’s performance during their final debate in the summer of 2024,” he told the Washington Examiner. “It [seemed] like President Trump [went] out of his way to provoke Democrats and garner an audible response. The address will no doubt be received very positively by President Trump’s political base, but a lack of empathy towards lingering affordability concerns is unlikely to be persuasive to independent voters who will decide the midterm elections in November.”
Although Trump’s State of the Union was more partisan than anticipated, there were chants of “U-S-A” for the U.S. men’s hockey team, particularly after the president announced that he would award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump also announced that the U.S. women’s Olympic team would be coming to the White House “soon” after being criticized last weekend for appearing to scrutinize them.
Trump’s other special guests similarly punctuated his theme, “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected,” celebrating the country’s 250th birthday, including World War II veteran Buddy Taggart, who will mark his 100th birthday on July 4.
While Trump cited border security, crime rates, the economy, and perceived prestige abroad for contributing to “a turnaround for the ages,” the president, too, pointed to the future, calling on Congress to pass more tax cuts, a lawmaker stock trading ban, “most-favored nation” drug pricing legislation, the SAVE Act, and Delilah’s Law, among other proposals.
Trump additionally announced a new energy ratepayer protection pledge, an initiative proposal in which major technology companies will be compelled to cover their own electricity needs.
Although Trump was predicted to downplay foreign policy, he commemorated the January capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro by awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, who was injured during Operation Absolute Resolve, and saluted Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“As president, I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,” he said. “That’s why, in a breakthrough operation last June, the United States military obliterated Iran’s nuclear weapons program with an attack on Iranian soil known as Operation Midnight Hammer.”
Noting his negotiation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas amid talks between Russia and Ukraine, Trump spoke of the military buildup around Iran as the president tries to pressure Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei into a new nuclear nonproliferation agreement.
“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “Can’t let that happen.”
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Though State of the Union addresses rarely move presidential polling, Tuesday’s speech will likely be the last time Trump has the opportunity to speak to an audience of 37 million, the number of people who watched his address to a joint session of Congress last year and the last presidential address of his first term, before the November midterm elections.
Trump is expected to take his sales pitch on the road, with his trip to Texas planned for Friday before next week’s competitive Senate primary races.
