President Donald Trump broke the record for the longest-ever State of the Union address Tuesday evening as he boasted about delivering a new age of prosperity that most polls suggest the American public is simply not feeling.
Making familiar remarks about the United States being “the hottest country” in the world right now, Trump hailed his achievements since replacing Joe Biden as “a turnaround for the ages.”
But he did not mention the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal at any point, despite the scandal dogging his first year back in power.
During his marathon one hour and 48-minute speech, Trump pointed at Democratic lawmakers and told them they should be “ashamed” of themselves for not supporting his crackdown on undocumented immigrants, which most surveys show the public has soured on since the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month.
The president also railed against the Supreme Court justices, who, on Friday, made what Trump called the “very unfortunate” decision to strike down his signature tariff policy.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who provided the Democratic rebuttal, accused him of “unprecedented corruption” and asked voters: “Is this president working for you?”
Key Points
- Donald Trump offers Americans thin gruel as he turns State of the Union into awards show
- President breaks record for longest-ever SOTU speech
- Virginia governor accuses Trump of 'unprecedented corruption' in Democratic rebuttal
- ‘Didn’t mention Epstein once:’ Americans react to Trump’s record-breaking address
- Supreme Court justices sit stone-faced as Trump rails against their tariff ruling
Democratic senator explains why he walked out
14:00 , Joe SommerladWriting on BlueSky, Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner explained why he stormed out of the chamber last night:
“Walked out of the State of the Union because I couldn’t sit through hours of Trump’s lies. Americans know the truth: he’s spiking prices and wrecking our economy. We’re a better country than this.”
Watch: Republican lawmaker begs Trump to autograph his tie
13:30 , Joe SommerladThe Huffington Post is calling this the most cringeworthy moment of the night from Texas Rep. Troy Nehls and it is very hard to disagree.
Republican congressman begs Trump to sign his Trump themed tie:
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) February 25, 2026
"An initial. Just an initial." pic.twitter.com/cVy3RXiXZq
Supreme Court justices stone-faced in front row as Trump calls their tariff ruling ‘unfortunate’
13:00 , Joe SommerladHere’s Andrew Feinberg on the moment the judges representing the highest court in the land were rebuked by the president (again) for ruling last week that the emergency declaration behind his reciprocal tariffs program was unlawful.
Supreme Court justices stone-faced as Trump calls their tariff ruling ‘unfortunate’
Watch: Trump address branded ‘high-octane awards show’
12:45 , Joe SommerladThis was ABC correspondent Jonathan Karl’s take on last night’s speech:
@jonkarl weighs in on President Trump’s SOTU address and the key takeaways on his speech. pic.twitter.com/ypUkZynQF0
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 25, 2026
Rachel Maddow calls out Trump for ‘violent pornographic riffing’ in speech
12:30 , Joe SommerladThe MS NOW host reacted to the State of the Union by accusing the president of “luxuriating” in the gory details of some of the atrocities he alluded to, also saying that, in her opinion, his demeanour had been “wound up and weird” throughout.
Maddow argued that Trump had been less invested in the economic “lies” he was offering than in peddling a “sort of violence porn.”
She continued:
“He talked about people being covered in blood, gushing blood, blood pouring out of things. He talked about people being on the edge of death. He went into graphic detail on a number of different people’s injuries of a various kind. And in those moments he slowed down, ad libbed a lot, and tried to give seemingly as much sort of gory detail as he could, talking about very bloody scenes.
“He also, I should mention, in talking in very stark detail about a terrible attack on a Ukrainian woman in North Carolina, ad libbed that the woman that the person who had attacked her had gotten into this country because of open borders, which was not at all true. That woman was not attacked by somebody who had come from outside this country.
“But that was the sort of, again, sort of violently pornographic riffing that the president did very slowly throughout the back half of his speech, which made it go on for the longest period any state of the union address has ever gone on before. There were very few actual proposals that were announced.”
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Watch: Spanberger accuses Trump of ‘unprecedented corruption’ in Democratic rebuttal
12:33 , Joe SommerladThe Virginia governor offered some scorching criticism of the president in her official response, accusing him of being more interested in personal enrichment than leadership.
The scale of this President's corruption is unprecedented.
— Governor Abigail Spanberger (@GovernorVA) February 25, 2026
The cover-up of the Epstein files. Crypto scams. Cozying up to billionaires for ballrooms.
It's crystal clear: the President is working for himself — not the American people. pic.twitter.com/lW0oF57fd0
Trump pays tribute to ‘wonderful’ Erika Kirk during speech
12:00 , Joe SommerladThe president called for an end to political violence during last night’s address as he remembered Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder who was shot dead on a Utah university campus last September.
He called on the late activist’s widow Erika Kirk to stand for a rare round of bipartisan applause and said:
“Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred, really, martyred for his beliefs.
“In Charlie’s memory, we must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God and we must totally reject political violence of any kind.
“There’s been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity and belief in God. This is especially true among young people, and a big part of that had to do with my great friend Charlie Kirk. Great guy.
“We love religion and we love bringing it back and it’s coming back at levels nobody thought possible. Really beautiful thing to see.”
Erika Kirk was visibly moved by the gesture, which came at the end of a day in which far-right conspiracy theorist Candace Owens had announced she had produced a new “investigative” web series discussing claims that the widow had played a part in her husband’s assassination.
Watch: Trump tells US men’s hockey goalie he’s receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom
11:30 , Kevin E G PerryPresident Donald Trump used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to announce that he will present Connor Hellebuyck, goaltender for the Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Speaker Johnson hits out at Democrats over ‘antics’ in chamber
11:00 , Joe SommerladThe House speaker told reporters after the address that he believed Trump had handled the adverse reaction he received from opposition lawmakers “very well” and said the censuring of Texas Rep. Al Green, who was removed for holding up a placard accusing the president of racism, was appropriate.
He stopped short of calling for further disciplinary action, however, saying censure was “shame” enough.
Trump allies criticize Democrats for not standing up during immigration rant
10:30 , Ariana BaioVice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials criticized Democrats for not standing up during the president’s State of the Union address when he asked for lawmakers to show their support in protecting U.S. citizens.
“One of the most profound moments of a truly historic speech. While some in Washington prioritize the needs of illegal immigrants, President Trump and this administration will always put American citizens first,” Vance said.
Democrats refused to stand during the moment when Trump was railing and boasting about his administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, who the president has often blamed for violent crimes.
“You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up,” Trump told Democrats.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung even accused Democrats of “co-signing” murder.
Democrats are co-signing this cold-blooded murder. https://t.co/s9d264ScTo
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) February 25, 2026
Republican lawmaker admits Trump’s speech was ‘divisive at times’
10:00 , Ariana BaioRepublican Rep. Don Bacon, who has broken from Trump on certain policies, said he wished the president had given a more “unifying” address Tuesday evening.
“I think it was a little bit divisive at times,” Bacon told CNN after the State of the Union address.
“Bottom line is, I wish it was more unifying. I wish – we are the best country in the world we live in, hate to see this polarization. And it was there tonight, in parts of the speech, like in the middle, it was there.”
Bacon said he largely approved of Trump’s speech, praising the president’s commitment to affordability, but did not want Trump to engage in a fight.
“He looks for a fight. I just wish we could get above that. Our country needs to have some, you know, go back to decency and just a little bit of tolerance,” Bacon added.
The President highlighted several real accomplishments that are strengthening our economy and improving the lives of the American people. The border is secure, violent crime is declining, fentanyl deaths are falling, gas prices are down, and wages are rising faster than inflation…
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) February 25, 2026
Analysis: Trump offers Americans thin gruel as he turns longest-ever State of the Union into awards show
09:40 , Ariana BaioOpening what became the longest-ever address to Congress by a president by claiming that the country is “bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before” after his first year back in the White House, Trump bragged of having achieved “a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages” as he claimed to have solved all of the problems that led voters to return him to power.
Here’s Andrew Feinberg’s take on the State of the Union.
Trump offers Americans thin gruel as he turns longest-ever SOTU into awards show
‘Didn’t mention Epstein once:’ Americans react to Trump’s record-breaking State of the Union
09:20 , Joe SommerladHere’s Brendan Rascius on the sharply divided response from lawmakers in the House chamber and the broader public to the president’s big speech.
‘Didn’t mention Epstein once’: Americans react to Trump’s State of the Union
Trump quips this ‘should be my third term’ during State of the Union
09:00 , Brendan RasciusDuring his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, Trump quipped that he should be in the midst of his third term.
“First year of the second term... it should be my third term,” the 79-year-old Republican president told the lawmakers, Cabinet officials and Supreme Court justices gathered in the House chamber.
“But, strange things happen,” he added, eliciting some applause from the audience.
It’s just the latest incidence of Trump insinuating, without evidence, that the 2020 election – which he lost to former President Joe Biden – was “stolen” from him.
Since returning to office last year, the president has also repeatedly toyed with the idea of running for a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution barring presidents from serving more than two terms.
Analysis: Trump leaves both Democrats and Republicans feeling short-changed by address: ‘More low IQ than in term one’
08:40 , Joe SommerladThe president played the showman at his State of the Union but gave average Americans little reason to back the GOP brand as some Republicans believe his foreign-heavy focus still leaves “America First” behind, writes John Bowden.
Trump leaves Democrats and Republicans feeling short-changed by State of the Union
Watch: Top 10 most notable moments from Trump’s State of the Union
08:20 , Joe SommerladWho was the 'designated survivor' for the State of the Union?
08:00 , Brendan RasciusThe term designated survivor refers to a person in the presidential line of succession who is chosen to stay away from the State of the Union address or other similar gatherings typically attended by all Cabinet officials.
Read more here:
‘Designated survivor’ is revealed as Trump set to deliver State of the Union address
Chuck Schumer calls speech 'State of Delusion'
06:30 , Ariana BaioIt was Trump’s State of Delusion.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 25, 2026
CNN instant poll finds majority approve of Trump’s proposed policies
06:00 , Ariana BaioA snap survey, conducted by CNN, found that 64 percent of viewers thought Trump’s policies would move the United States forward.
Pre-speech, just 54 percent of respondents said they believed Trump’s policies were moving in the right direction.
But after an hour and 48 minutes, that number rose 10 percentage points.
'Ramblings of a wannabe dictator,’ Illinois governor says of SOTU
05:30 , Ariana BaioIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat who clashed with Trump over his deployment of federal agents in his state, called Trump’s State of the Union address “two hours of baseless claims, shameless propaganda, and the ramblings of a wannabe dictator
“After spending the last year wreaking havoc on American communities, Donald Trump once again spewed lies and attempted to gaslight the American people,” Pritzker said in a statement.
The Democratic governor criticized Trump for boasting about his “illegal” tariffs while providing “no concrete plans” to lower everyday costs for Americans.
“He did, however, find time to promise more tax breaks for the wealthy – another embarrassing display of how deeply out of touch this administration is with the needs of working families,” Pritzker said.
Alex Padilla invokes Bad Bunny in urging Americans to vote
05:10 , Ariana BaioCalifornia Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, who was handcuffed last year after approaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with questions, delivered a rebuttal of Trump’s State of the Union speech in Spanish, urging people to register to vote.
"If you are eligible, register to vote. Make sure your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your coworkers do the same,” Padilla said in Spanish.
Padilla said Trump had caused damage to communities, like those in Los Angeles, with his sweeping anti-immigration agenda, but that voting could help prevent him from going further.
The senator referenced Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime performance to emphasize the message.
“As Bad Bunny reminded us a few weeks ago: ‘Together, we are America.’”
Hay que recordar: Donald Trump no será presidente para siempre.
— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) February 25, 2026
Yo sigo aquí de pie. Sigo luchando como me enseñaron mis padres — y se que ustedes también siguen de pie y siguen luchando. pic.twitter.com/OTNXSEIflQ
Watch: Trump jokes about changing law to award himself the Medal of Honor
05:00 , Independent VideoGavin Newsom trolls Trump's 'State of the Snooze'
04:50 , Ariana BaioDemocratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California mocked Trump’s State of the Union address by insinuating the hour and 48-minute speech was boring.
“WHAT AN AMAZING STATE OF THE SNOOZE!” Newsom’s press office wrote on X.
The governor’s press office followed the post up with an AI-generated image of Trump on the cover of the children’s book “Goodnight Moon.”
😴😴😴 pic.twitter.com/39HN7S3Alt
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 25, 2026
Spanberger asks voters: 'Is this president working for you?'
04:47 , Ariana BaioIn a concise 12-minute rebuttal, the Virginia governor argued that Trump’s policies are not making Americans safer, not making life more affordable and not working for the country.
The Democratic governor emphasized voters’ disastisfaction of Trump’s economic policies by pointing to her recent election win, along with other Democrats who won in November.
She urged voters to cast their ballots for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Those who are stepping up now to run will win in November because Americans know you can demand more, and that we are working to lower costs, we are working to keep our communities and country safe, and we are working for you,” Spanberger said.
US Trade Representative brushes off negative polling on tariffs
04:35 , Eric Garcia, Ariana BaioJamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, brushed off concerns about Americans feeling negatively about tariffs, telling The Independent that voters cast their ballot for the president because of his policy.
“I’ve seen some of these polls. Some of them are opt-in polls where people who hate the president anyway want to go in and make their point,” Greer said after the State of the Union.
Greer argued that Trump has had a long-standing policy on tariffs and that union members and voters in Midwestern states who were “victims of hyperglobalization” wanted Trump’s economic policies.
Spanberger argues Trump is changing US reputation abroad
04:23 , Ariana Baio“Over the last year through DOGE, mass firings and the appointment of deeply unserious people to our nation’s most serious positions, our president has endangered our long, storied history of the United States of America being a force for good,” Spanberger said.
Spanberger drills on affordability under Trump
04:15 , Ariana BaioAs expected, Spanberger is disputing Trump’s claims that Republicans are making the country more affordable – claiming his One Big Beautiful Bill and tariffs are hurting everyday Americans.
Spanberger pointed to rising consumer costs under the tariffs, which she warned Trump would re-implement despite the recent Supreme Court ruling. She also pointed to the lack of healthcare access in rural communities.
“They’re making your life harder. They’re making your life more expensive,” Spanberger said of Republicans.
Watch Live: Democrats respond to Trump’s State of the Union address
04:14 , Independent VideoAbigail Spanberger begins rebuttal
04:10 , Ariana BaioDemocratic Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger has begun her rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union address.
Trump gave out six awards at State of the Union
04:09 , Ariana BaioCaptain Royce Williams, a World War II Navy pilot, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
U.S. Army helicopter pilot Eric Slover, who was wounded during the capture of Nicolas Maduro, received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, a West Virginia National Guard member who was shot in DC, received the Purple Heart.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member who was fatally shot in DC, received the Purple Heart.
Scott Ruskin, a U.S. Coast Guard swimmer who saved lives during the Texas floods, received the Legion of Merit.
U.S. men’s hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who helped the U.S. win gold against Canada, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Trump ends State of the Union speech
04:00 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump wrapped up his State of the Union speech just before 11 p.m. ET – setting the record for the longest speech at one hour and 48 minutes.
Trump breaks record for longest State of the Union speech
03:50 , Ariana BaioAfter passing the 90-minute mark, President Donald Trump has set the record for the longest State of the Union speech.
Although Trump’s speech last year at the joint session of Congress was the longest - it was not considered a formal State of the Union.
Watch: Trump quips this 'should have been my third term' during State of the Union
03:45 , Independent VideoTrump claims he solved eight war. Is that true?
03:44 , Ariana Baio, Associated PressAs he often does during speeches, Trump said Tuesday evening that he had ended eight global wars – however, many of the conflicts are continuing to rage on.
Renewed conflict has been observed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and along the border between Cambodia and Thailand.
Although Trump says he helped broker a deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a formal peace deal has yet to be signed. Rather, a draft peace agreement text was settled in March 2024.
Under pressure from Trump, Rwanda and Congo signed a US-brokered peace agreement on 27 June. But that hasn't been implemented.
Midwest ‘Squad’ members shout down Trump during GOP’s biggest State of the Union applause lines
03:38 , Brendan RasciusDemocratic Congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan began heckling the Republican president when he spoke of his immigration crackdown.
Read more from Brendan Rascius:
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Midwest ‘Squad’ members shout down Trump address: ‘You’re killing Americans’
Trump graphically recounts deaths to highlight crime
03:34 , Ariana BaioThe president has repeatedly used graphic descriptions of violent crimes to highlight his administration’s work to crack down on crime – specifically crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
While graphically recounting the murder of Iryna Zarutska, a woman who was stabbed to death on a train last year in North Carolina, Trump claimed she “died instantly.”
As he described her death in detail, Zarutska’s mother wept.
He similarly used details to describe the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a National Guard member who was fatally shot in D.C.
Trump attempts to divide chamber calling Democrats ‘crazy’
03:29 , Ariana BaioTrump has sought to vilify Democrats throughout his nearly hour-and-a-half speech, often blaming the party for rising costs, weakening the U.S. economy and increasing crime rates because they do not support his policies.
“These people are crazy,” Trump said at one point, directing his attention toward the Democrats. “I’m telling you, they’re crazy.”
When several Democrats heckled Trump, he called them “sick people.”
President asks Congress to pass SAVE Act
03:25 , Alex Woodward, Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump used his State of the Union speech to ask Congress, once again, to pass the SAVE Act – which would impact millions of Americans’ ability to vote.
One of the things the SAVE America Act does is require voter ID for federal elections, but registering or updating registration would require all voters to present passports or birth certificates in person to register to vote or to update their registration information.
Anyone who moves to a different state or becomes newly eligible to vote would have to provide proof of citizenship, and newly married voters who changed their last names would have to register with several documents — including proof as to why their current name doesn’t match their birth certificate.
That would virtually eliminate automatic, same-day and online and mail-in registration
Democrats heckle Trump as he boasts immigration agenda
03:14 , Ariana Baio, Eric GarciaRepresentatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib heckled Trump as he railed against Democrats for not supporting his sweeping immigration agenda.
Trump pointed at the Democrats and said, “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“You have killed Americans!” Omar yelled back at Trump.
At one point, Tlaib yelled: "Release the Epstein files."
Bipartisan support on mention of ban on stock trading for Congress
03:05 , Eric Garcia, Ariana BaioEven some Democrats got to their feet to support the ban on stock trading for members of Congress.
Some yelled about Trump being corrupt before Trump asked, "Did Nancy Pelosi stand up?"
Trump blames Democrats for healthcare costs
03:00 , Ariana BaioThe president is trying to revoke the Democrats’ affordability messaging by blaming the party for rising healthcare costs – though Democrats have largely said Republicans are to blame.
Last year, Democrats initiated a government shutdown in an effort to get Republicans to rethink legislation that would raise healthcare costs for millions of Americans.
Trump brags about beef prices, despite cattle ranchers' opposition
02:52 , Eric GarciaTrump is bragging about the dropping price of beef, but as The Independent reported last year, many cattle ranchers, who are staunch supporters of Trump, have opposed Trump's plan to import Argentine beef to the United States since it would hurt cattle ranchers.
Republicans are mad about Trump importing Argentine beef–but don’t want to grill him
Supreme Court justices appear stone-faced as Trump rails against tariff ruling
02:48 , Ariana BaioThe four Supreme Court justices are keeping a neutral face and rigid body language as Trump criticizes their recent ruling that determined the president illegally used a 1977 law to implement his sweeping tariff policy.
The president is looking at the justices while calling the recent ruling “unfortunate” and “disappointing.”
Trump is praising his tariffs, claiming they’ve helped end wars, bring in revenue, and made the U.S. stronger.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, one of Trump’s nominees who ruled against him, stared straight ahead at the president.
Trump emphasizes tax cuts and ‘Trump accounts’
02:43 , Ariana BaioThe president is highlighting his efforts to give Americans more money through his tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill and his so-called Trump accounts.
Affordability has been a major issue for many Americans and Democrats used the messaging to win big in the November local and state elections. Trump has promised to reclaim affordability from Democrats.
During his speech, the president recommended that people go to the Trump accounts website.
Secretary Doug Collins is the designated survivor
02:40 , Ariana BaioSecretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins appears to be the designated survivor for the State of the Union.
The designated survivor is a person in the presidential line of succession, usually a Cabinet member, who does not attend large gatherings in which other administration members are present in the event of a disaster or attack.
Last year, at the presidential address to a joint session of Congress, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins was also the designated survivor.
Watch: Democrat Rep. Al Green holds 'Black People Aren't Apes' sign as he is booted from Trump State of the Union
02:38 , Independent VideoFox News hosts warn Trump what not to say during his State of the Union speech
02:30 , Rachel DobkinFox News’ Brian Kilmeade and Harold Ford Jr. urged the president to avoid harping on the conservative-leaning high court’s Friday ruling, which determined that his sweeping tariffs on both enemies and allies were unlawfully imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Read more from Rachel Dobkin:
Fox News hosts warn Trump what not to say during his State of the Union speech
US men’s hockey team arrives to thunderous applause
02:29 , Ariana BaioAs promised, Trump brought in members of the U.S. men’s hockey team who recently won gold against Canada in the Winter Olympics.
The group of men walked into the chambers to a standing ovation, cheers of “U.S.A” and whistling.
Trump’s invite was a last-minute addition to the guest list and a slight logistical problem, given the team was in Milan over the weekend and the regular NHL season picks up this week.
The president was criticized for not extending the same invitation to the U.S. women’s hockey team, which also won gold against Canada, but the team said they turned down his invitation. Trump said Tuesday evening the women’s team would visit the White House “soon.”
Trump also announced that he will award the goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump begins State of the Union with his usual remarks
02:23 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump opened up his State of the Union address with familiar statements about the United States being “back” and “the hottest country in the world.”
“A short time ago, we were a dead country. Now we are the hottest country in the world,” Trump said, repeating a phrase he often says in press conferences and interviews
Rep Al Green escorted out of chambers
02:16 , Ariana Baio, Eric GarciaMoments after holding up a “Black People Aren’t Apes” sign, Rep. Al Green is escorted out of the chambers.
Rep Al Green holds up 'Black People Aren't Apes' sign
02:15 , Eric Garcia, Ariana BaioRep. Al Green held up a sign saying "Black People Aren't Apes" in response to Trump posting a video on Truth Social depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. This comes a year after Green was ejected for interrupting Trump's joint address.
He held it up as Trump walked by. Majority Leader Steve Scalise then ripped it out of his hands.
