The top 5 moments from Trump’s State of the Union speech

President Donald Trump’s lengthy State of the Union address Tuesday evening featured several notable moments as the president touted a national “turnaround” in a speech that focused heavily on the economy.

Trump’s speech broke records, becoming the longest SOTU speech in modern history at nearly one hour and 48 minutes. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to lower taxes, ease housing costs and close the border as he touted a new chapter for the country.

Fox News Digital has compiled five of the speech’s biggest moments, from Democrats’ outbursts to moments of heightened emotion as Trump touted American heroism.

1. Al Green ejected again

Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green said, “Black people are not monkeys!” He was once again kicked out of the common address after carrying a banner that read:

Green held the banner as Trump walked to the podium on Tuesday evening and continued to stand with it even after Trump began speaking.

Green was seen in a heated exchange with two House Republicans, Reps. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, and Pat Fallon, R-Texas, before she was removed from the speech shortly after it began.

Longtime left-wing congressman from Texas removed by security During Trump’s joint address to Congress in 2025, the president repeatedly interrupted him by shouting and waving his cane. The outburst led the House to censure Green, including 10 Democrats who joined the GOP in the March 2025 elections.

2. ‘USA’ chants are chanted as the men’s hockey team is honored

Trump invited the U.S. men’s hockey team to speak just days after its gold medal win over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The body chanted “USA” as lawmakers from both parties stood to honor the Olympians.

The team filled the hall’s hallways as Trump welcomed them during his speech as examples of American victory.

Hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, in particular, received a hero’s welcome when Trump announced he would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the USA’s game against Canada on Sunday, which helped keep the score tied at 1-1, forcing overtime.

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“Soon I will present Connor with the highest civilian honor we have bestowed, and which has been bestowed upon many athletes over the years,” Trump said. “But when I say many, I mean not many, like 12. It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country. The Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

3. Trump scolded Democrats: ‘You should be ashamed’

Trump’s speech also included claims that Democrats voted against tax cuts under the “big, beautiful bill,” unleashing high inflation woes under the Biden administration and worsening the housing crisis.

At one point, Trump took direct aim at Democrats’ lax immigration policies, urging lawmakers to stand up and reaffirm their belief that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

“One of the great things about the State of the Union is that it gives Americans a chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe,” Trump said. “So tonight, I invite all legislators to join my administration and reaffirm a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Republicans were seen standing and applauding, while Democrats remained seated; This led Trump to warn left-wing lawmakers.

“Isn’t it a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself, not of standing up,” Trump said. “So I also ask you to put an end to deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminals and impose severe penalties on public officials who prevent the removal of criminal aliens.”

“There are drug lords, murderers in many cases all over our country,” he said. “They are preventing these people from being removed from our country. You should be ashamed of yourself too.”

The speech prompted Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar to yell at Trump, including claiming he was “killing Americans.”

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Trump spoke out against the widespread fraud scandal linked to Minnesota’s Somali community and how Democrats “cut off all funding to the Department of Homeland Security,” prompting Omar to yell at Trump.

“They started another shutdown for the Democrats; the first one cost us two points in GDP, we lost two points in GDP, which actually made them pretty happy,” Trump said. “They have now shut down the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers.”

“You killed Americans,” Omar shouted. And he was heard saying “you are a murderer”.

4. Trump honors military heroism

Trump honored many members of the military dating back to World War II on Tuesday, delivering a number of emotional moments throughout the evening.

In addition to announcing Hellebuyck’s upcoming Presidential Medal of Freedom, Trump awarded military honors to two military pilots, a Coast Guard petty officer and two National Guard members on Tuesday evening.

Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to 100-year-old naval aviator Royce Williams, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

“In 1952, Royce was in the legendary dogfight of a lifetime, flying in blizzard conditions, when his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes,” Trump recounted. “This was the first air combat of the war, and despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the shooting down of four enemy jets and nearly destroyed the others, firing 263 rounds into his own aircraft while defeating his enemies and sustaining serious injuries. His story had been secret for over 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew.”

He also presented the Medal of Honor to Army Chief Petty Officer Eric Slover, who piloted an Army Chinook helicopter during the mission that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January and was injured by enemy fire.

Trump also recognized U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe received a Purple Heart after Wolfe was attacked on the streets of Washington, D.C., ahead of Thanksgiving 2025. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was also fatally wounded in the same attack and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan received the Medal of Merit for extraordinary heroism after rescuing 165 people during the deadly Texas floods of July 2025. Trump reunited Ruskan with the 11-year-old girl he saved, Milly Cate McClymond, in July 2025.

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President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address featured several key moments, including honors for veterans and outbursts from Democrats. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

“This was Scott’s first rescue mission,” the president said, describing him as young but very brave. “He lifted not only Milly Cate but also 164 people to safety. People watched Scott from afar and couldn’t believe what they saw.”

Trump continued: “The winds were blowing, the rain was falling, everything was going well. And that fast water, no one had ever seen anything like it.” “Tonight Scott and Milly Cate are here together, their first reunion.”

5. Teen girl nearly killed in truck crash involving illegal immigrants honored

Trump invited a wide variety of guests to his speech, from ordinary mothers to war veterans to seven-year-old Dalilah Coleman.

In 2024, Coleman nearly lost his life in a multi-car crash in California involving a tractor-trailer driven by an illegal immigrant.

“Dalilah Coleman was only five years old in June 2024 when an 18-wheel tractor trailer crashed into her stopped car at 60 miles per hour or more,” Trump said. “The driver was an illegal alien who was let in by Joe Biden and given a commercial driver’s license by open borders, politicians, and California.”

Dalilah Coleman nearly lost her life in a multi-car crash involving a tractor-trailer driven by an illegal immigrant in California in 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Trump administration cracked down on noncitizen truck drivers by tightening eligibility requirements for nonresident commercial learner permits (CLPs) and commercial driver licenses (CDLs) in September 2025, and Trump signed an executive order in April requiring truck drivers to pass English literacy tests.

The crackdown aims to improve road safety.

Trump detailed the young girl’s medical victories since the horrific crash, calling her a “huge inspiration” and calling her father, Marcus Coleman, a “great man.”

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While GOP lawmakers applauded the young girl, Trump said, “Doctors said Dalilah would never be able to walk or talk or have a good life. She would never even be able to eat again. But despite everything, she is now in first grade, learning to walk. And she is here tonight with her father, Marcus.”

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.

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