In the longest State of the Union address on record, President Trump proclaimed victory on energy, immigration, taxes, and foreign policy — setting the stage for a battle heading into the midterms

WASHINGTON, D.C. — February 24, 2026

President Donald Trump took the House floor Tuesday night and delivered a sweeping, record-breaking State of the Union address, clocking in at over one hour and 45 minutes — the longest in modern history. In a speech brimming with confidence, Trump declared that America has entered its "Golden Age" and chalked up his first year back in the White House as a "turnaround for the ages."

The evening opened on a high note, with Trump welcoming the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic men's hockey team to the chamber — a moment that drew thunderous applause from Republicans in attendance.

Economy and Energy Dominance

Trump leaned heavily into his economic record, pointing to gasoline prices he said had fallen as low as $1.85 per gallon in Iowa, down from what he called a "disaster" under the Biden administration. He touted the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it the largest tax cut in American history, and took credit for bringing core inflation down to 1.7% in the final quarter of 2025.

On energy, Trump celebrated oil and gas lease sales that brought in $356.6 million in revenue in a single year — more than the entire four years of the Biden administration combined, according to the Department of the Interior. He doubled down on his tariff policy, and with the Supreme Court having recently challenged some of those tariffs, Trump told the chamber he had developed "alternative" legal justifications to keep them in place.

Immigration and Border Security

Trump declared the U.S. now has "the strongest and most secure border in American history," pointing to his sweeping crackdown on illegal crossings since returning to office. He called on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote — a measure he said was essential to preventing "rampant" election fraud.

Foreign Policy Wins

Late in his address, Trump turned to the world stage. He celebrated the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, crediting his administration's diplomatic pressure. He also addressed tensions with Iran, where a U.S. military buildup has drawn international attention, though he offered few specifics on next steps.

One of the night's most emotional moments came when Trump reunited a woman with her Venezuelan uncle who had been kidnapped by the Maduro government — a made-for-TV moment that drew a standing ovation from the Republican side of the aisle.

The Scene in the Chamber

Not everyone was celebrating. Several Democrats boycotted the address entirely, and others, including Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, shouted objections from the floor during the speech. Trump fired back at his critics, telling the chamber, "Democrats are destroying our country, but we've stopped it just in the nick of time."

Trump's approval ratings heading into the speech were at or near record lows, and polls show a majority of Americans believe the country is worse off than a year ago. Critics noted that the speech largely glossed over ongoing economic anxieties around housing, groceries, and the impact of tariffs on everyday consumers. Some fact-checkers also pushed back on several of Trump's economic claims.

But for the Republican base and the president himself, Tuesday night was a victory lap — loud, long, and unapologetically Trump.