Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in US history, speaking for one hour and 47 minutes in a closely watched appearance before Congress.
The president used the marathon speech to hail what he called a ‘golden age of America’ touting his economic record and claiming major victories on inflation, tax cuts, stock market gains and prescription drug prices.
Trump said the stock market had hit 53 record highs since his second term victory, arguing that Americans’ retirement savings were ‘way up’He also pledged that the federal government would match up to $1,000 in 401(k) contributions for certain workers without employer backed retirement plans, though he offered few details.
The address came at a politically delicate moment. Recent polls show public frustration over rising costs, while his signature tariff policy has faltered after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of his import taxes.
Despite market jitters, Trump offered little clarity on the future of his global trade strategy.
Foreign policy took a back seat for much of the speech. Though the administration has overseen a major military buildup in the Middle East, Trump mentioned Iran only after more than an hour, repeating his position that Tehran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. Russia and Ukraine were barely referenced, and Venezuela received only a passing mention.
On immigration, Trump renewed claims that undocumented migrants are driving violent crime, assertions that studies have repeatedly challenged. As he praised his enforcement policies, Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar shouted, “You have killed Americans!” from the chamber floor.
The evening was marked by other flashes of protest. Democratic Representative Al Green, ejected during a Trump speech for the second consecutive year, later said he brought a sign reading “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!” to condemn a social media post that had shared and deleted imagery depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response, painting a starkly different picture of the economy. She argued that Americans are struggling under the weight of tariffs and high costs, and accused the administration of favoring corporations over working families.
Labor leaders were also critical. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL CIO, dismissed the address as a “fever dream,” saying it ignored the economic pressures facing workers.
Trump used the platform to make a forceful political appeal, calling Democrats “crazy” for opposing his proposals and accusing them of wanting to “cheat” in elections, referencing Republican-backed legislation requiring proof of citizenship for federal voting.
Despite the charged atmosphere, the president largely stuck to prepared remarks a disciplined performance by his own standards. He even shook hands with Supreme Court justices days after publicly criticizing the court over its tariff ruling.
By the end of the night, Trump had set a new record for the longest presidential address to Congress, surpassing his own previous mark. Supporters hailed the speech as a confident defense of his agenda. Critics saw it as long on rhetoric but short on answers to voters’ everyday concerns.
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