State of the Union Address

President Donald Trump gave his State of the Union address on February 24 inside the U.S. Capitol Building. The 108 minute speech broke his previous record for the longest presidential address to Congress.

The State of the Union is a speech given by the President to Congress each year. In this speech the president reports on the nation’s conditions, where major issues or proposed agendas may be outlined."Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before,” Trump declared at the beginning of his speech.

In his 2026 State of the Union, President Trump addressed many topics within the United States, including recent economics, including gas prices and inflation. He also brought up topics such as a decline in crime rates and an increase in border security.

“Today our border is secure. Today our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast, the roaring economy is roaring like never before, our enemies are scared, our military and police are stacked, and America is respected again, perhaps like never before,” Trump said.

Throughout the speech, President Trump brought up the topics of immigration and border security multiple times. The Delilah Law, a law that would prohibit states from issuing commercial driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, was proposed by President Trump to Congress.

“That's why tonight I'm calling on Congress to pass what we will call the Dalilah law—barring any state from granting commercial driver's licenses to illegal aliens,” Trump said to Congress.

Similarly to this, President Trump called on Congress to pass the Save America Act, a bill that would require individuals to present an eligible photo ID before voting.

President Trump also criticized the previous administration many times during his speech. 

“The Biden administration… gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country,” President Trump said.

Throughout the speech, a number of politicians in attendance either left the room or made a statement criticizing the president. The first statement came from Texas Representative Al Green, who, as Trump initially entered the chamber, held a sign that read, “Black people are not apes!” This was a reference to a previously shared video by President Trump that depicted the Obamas as apes.

Similarly to this, Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib made many statements throughout the speech, including shouting, "Alex wasn’t a criminal” in regard to the recent death of Alex Pretti. Tlaib also proclaimed, “Release the Epstein files,” many times during the speech.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, the head of the House Democrats' campaign arm's candidate recruitment efforts, also notably left the room mid-speech.

A large idea that was also included in the speech many times was that of crime and safety. Within the speech, President Trump spoke about a decrease in murder rates, as well as how the crime rates in Washington are “at the lowest level ever recorded.” As well as speaking on the crime rates, President Trump continuously highlighted America’s identity, mentioning the fact that this July 4th will mark the 250th year of independence.

 “This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth,” Trump said.

President Trump also notably honored many individuals during his speech, including Charlie Kirk, as well as the U.S. Men’s Hockey team, following their win at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Members of the team walked out, and they were greeted by a standing ovation.

 “There is no challenge Americans cannot overcome, no frontier too vast for us to conquer, no dream too bold for us to chase, and no horizon too distant for us to claim,” President Trump said before ending his speech by saying, “Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.”