Trump delivers State of the Union highlighting major economy wins
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As President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday evening, he celebrated America making “a comeback for the ages.”
“Just one year later, I can say with honor and pride that we have achieved a transformation that no one has ever seen before,” Trump said from the podium Tuesday evening. he said.
Trump gave a lengthy speech that broke the record as the longest speech in recent history, as he celebrated dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion policies, securing the borders, unleashing US energy and, most importantly, boosting the economy and helping ordinary Americans.
Trump’s speech focused on how his administration is turning the page on a stagnant economy under the Biden administration, where inflation has skyrocketed to 40-year highs, and pointed to savings in a “big, beautiful bill” such as no tip or overtime tax for working families.
President Donald Trump walks past Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Brent Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett as they arrive in Washington for the State of the Union on February 24, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump pointed out the speech’s invited guests, a homeschooling mother and a waitress whose family benefited from Trump’s tax plans.
“I met Megan Hemhauser, a devoted mother who homeschools her children,” Trump said during his speech. “She waits tables at night because her husband works overtime working with very heavy equipment. Megan is here tonight and she’s happy to tell you that she’s much, much richer because there’s no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and thanks to our expanded child tax credit, also implemented by Republicans, Megan and her husband will take home more than $5,000 extra for this year alone, cutting their tax bill by more than half.”
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While the focus of the speech was on the economy and savings, Trump celebrated that his administration began implementing lower prices for Americans after the Biden administration.
“The Biden administration and its allies in Congress have given us the worst inflation in our country’s history,” he said. “But within 12 months, my administration has brought core inflation down to the lowest level in more than five years. And in the last three months of 2025, that rate has fallen to 1.7%. Under my predecessor, gasoline peaked at over $6 per gallon in some states. It’s been a disaster, to be honest, now under $2.30 per gallon in most states and below $1.99 per gallon in some places. And just a few weeks ago when I visited the great state of Iowa, gasoline was at over $6 per gallon.” “It was already $1.85.”
Tariffs played a key role in Trump’s economic plan for the nation; The Supreme Court dealt a blow to Trump’s tariff policies on Friday, invalidating his use of emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs on most U.S. trading partners. Four of the nine justices who ruled against Trump in the decision attended, including John Roberts, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett.
Trump called the decision “unfortunate” during his speech, before looking to the future and pursuing separate legal action to initiate tariffs.
The speech also included several outbursts from Democrats; The most significant of which was the removal of Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green from the chamber once again, as he did during Trump’s first speech of 2025. Green said, “Black people are not monkeys!” He was seen holding a sign that read:
Representative Ilhan OmerD-Minn., also yelled at Trump after he spoke out in Minnesota about alleged Somalia-related fraud, calling him a “liar” and a “murderer.”
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The speech also included a few outbursts from Democrats, most notably a speech from Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
Trump invited numerous guests to speak; they include ordinary Americans, Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, the U.S. men’s hockey team that just won the gold medal, military members acting heroically in a time of crisis, and families suffering tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants.
Trump took shots at Democrats throughout the speech; this includes lawmakers who refuse to affirm that they believe “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
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“Isn’t that a shame?” Trump said as Democrats remained seated. “You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up.”
The president’s speech highlighted the illegal immigration crisis under the Biden administration, including inviting guests who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants.
One of the guests, Dalilah Coleman, was just five years old when she was seriously injured following a multi-car crash in California in 2024. The crash involved an illegal immigrant driving a truck.
Trump delivered the first official State of the Union statement of his second term. (Getty Images)
“The driver was an illegal alien, taken in by Joe Biden and issued a commercial driver’s license through open borders, politicians and California doctors said Dalilah would never be able to walk or talk,” Trump said. he said. “He’ll never even eat again. But despite everything, he’s in first grade right now, learning to walk. And he’s here tonight with his father, Marcus, who is a wonderful man.”
The speech also featured a handful of breaking news stories, most notably with the president awarding a handful of high-profile tributes for heroism. Trump honored 100-year-old airman and World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veteran Royce Williams with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
“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.”
Trump also honored Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover with the Medal of Honor on Tuesday. Slover flew an Army Chinook helicopter during the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January and was injured by enemy fire during the mission.
Gold medal-winning hockey player Jack Hughes poses for a photo with members of Team USA on February 24, 2026. (Matt Rourke/Associated Press)
Trump announced that U.S. men’s Olympic hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after the U.S. team beat Canada in the Olympics.
U.S. Air Force honored Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was brutally attacked with a Purple Heart on the streets of Washington DC ahead of Thanksgiving 2025.
Late Army Spc. 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom was also fatally wounded during the same attack and was posthumously honored with a Purple Heart. Beckstrom’s parents were invited to the speech in his honor.
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It also honored Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 people during the deadly Texas floods of July 2025, with the Order of Merit for extraordinary heroism.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan was honored by President Donald Trump along with Milly Cate McClymond, the camper he rescued during the Texas floods. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump’s speech comes as the GOP prepares to maintain its majorities in the House and Senate as the November midterm elections approach and also prepares to celebrate 250 years of the nation’s independence.
“This is the 250th anniversary of our glorious American independence,” Trump said. “This Fourth of July, we will celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom and victory, progress and freedom for the most incredible and exceptional nation to ever exist on earth. And you haven’t seen anything yet. We will do better, better and better. This is the golden age of America.”
Trump concluded his speech by saluting the founding of the country 250 years ago and looking to the future with hope.
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“The revolution that started in 1776 is not over yet,” Trump said. “This is still going on because the fire of freedom and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot, and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder and more glorious than ever before. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.”
Fox News Digital’s Charlie Creitz and Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
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