Highlights from President Trump's Record-Breaking 2026 State of the Union Address
- Lynn Matthews
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Washington, D.C. – February 24, 2026 — President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history Tuesday night, clocking in at 1 hour and 48 minutes. Speaking to a sharply divided joint session of Congress on the eve of America's 250th anniversary, Trump painted a picture of a nation in its "golden age" after what he called a "turnaround for the ages" in his first year back in office.
Trump opened with optimism: “Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before… This is the golden age of America.” He touted a booming economy — inflation down to 1.7%, gas prices as low as $1.85 in some states, record stock market highs (Dow above 50,000), and the creation of “Trump Accounts” — tax-free savings seeded by the government and private donors for every child.
Key policy wins he highlighted included the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” delivering no taxes on tips, overtime, or Social Security benefits, plus new tax incentives for American-made cars. He announced a push for universal 401(k)-style matching for workers without employer plans, a permanent ban on large investment firms buying single-family homes, and a “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” requiring big tech data centers to build their own power plants.
On immigration and border security, Trump declared victory: “We now have the strongest and most secure border in American history by far. In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted.” He spotlighted a 56% drop in fentanyl flows, record deportations of criminal aliens, and introduced young Dalilah Coleman, a survivor of a crash caused by an undocumented driver, to applause. He proposed the “Dalilah Law” to bar states from issuing commercial licenses to undocumented immigrants and launched a “war on fraud” led by Vice President JD Vance, citing $19 billion allegedly lost in Minnesota welfare schemes.
Foreign policy took a triumphant tone. Trump claimed to have ended eight wars (including Gaza and conflicts involving Pakistan-India and others), returned all hostages from Gaza, and “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program in “Operation Midnight Hammer.” He warned Iran against developing missiles that could reach the U.S. but said he prefers diplomacy. He also noted the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the release of political prisoners.
The speech featured plenty of pageantry: Trump honored the gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team (promising goalie Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom), a Coast Guard hero from the 2025 Texas floods, Medal of Honor recipients, and 100-year-old WWII pilot Royce Williams.
Partisan sparks flew early and often. Trump repeatedly called out Democrats for remaining seated during applause lines — most notably when he asked the chamber to affirm that government’s first duty is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens. “They should be ashamed,” he said, labeling some responses “crazy.” Roughly 50 Democrats boycotted; Rep. Al Green was removed after displaying a protest sign, and Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib heckled during the Minnesota fraud remarks.
In the Democratic response from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger pushed back hard on affordability, asking three questions: “Is the president making life more affordable? Is he keeping Americans safe? Is he working for you?” She answered “no” to each, accusing Trump of lying, scapegoating, and offering no real solutions while enriching himself and his allies. “We all know the answer is no,” she said.
Trump closed on a high note of patriotism: “The Golden Age of America is upon us… You’re going to win big; you’re going to win bigger than ever. God bless you, and God bless America.”
The address sets the stage for a contentious midterm year, with both sides already framing the narrative around the economy, borders, and who’s really “working for you.”
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