Inside the House chamber, President Donald Trump held the longest State of the Union Address in at least 60 years, lasting one hour and forty-eight minutes. The State of the Union is a speech made by the U.S. president to Congress, meant to discuss the nation’s condition and propose a legislative agenda for the upcoming year.
Trump’s speech covered a range of topics from the economy, new policy decisions to immigration and foreign affairs.
The president remained optimistic about the economy throughout the speech, boasting that “inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast. Our economy is roaring like never before.”
Trump cited record low inflation at “the lowest level in five years. In the last three months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%.” Trump stated that the U.S. has had massive job growth, especially in construction, with “nearly 70,000 jobs,” and claimed “more Americans are working today than ever in the history of our country.”
Inflation has fallen to 2.4%, compared to the 3% during the end of former President Joe Biden’s administration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only certain costs have decreased. Gasoline prices fell 7.5%; however, electricity costs increased by 6.3% and groceries by 2.1%. Regarding job growth, 33,000 construction jobs were added in January, and the unemployment rate stood at 4.3%.
Announcing new legislation, Trump explained that his administration plans are pending to pass. Trump proposed the Dalilah Law, which would bar “any state from granting commercial drivers licenses to illegal aliens.” The speech also advocated for the proposed SAVE America Act, which would require all voters to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, in addition to an ID when registering to vote and would ban the use of “crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military or travel.”
Trump brought up the proposed Rate Payer Pledge, which would force artificial intelligence data centers to “provide for their own power needs,” by constructing power plants rather than using the local electricity grid. Trump did not explain any plan to ensure tech companies comply.
The State of the Union heavily discussed illegal immigration — one of the Trump administration’s main platforms. He claimed that “in the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted into the United States.” These numbers cannot be proven as undocumented immigrants can go unreported.
Trump claimed to have stopped eight wars, specifically between Cambodia and Thailand, Pakistan and India, Kosovo and Serbia, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and the ongoing war between Gaza and Israel, which, according to the president, “proceeds at a very low level.”
As of this past weekend, the U.S. signaled a joint attack with Israel to Iran.
Although the American government mediated each of these conflicts to multiple agreements and ceasefires, the DR Congo and Rwanda still experience violence from rebel groups despite the agreements; Egypt and Ethiopia have not reached a formal deal to resolve tensions over the disputed Nile River dam, and military strikes continue between Iran and Israel.
The State of the Union did not proceed without conflict. At the beginning of the speech, Rep. Al Green was ejected after brandishing a sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes,” likely in response to a video posted by Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Near the middle of the address, the president asked Congress members, who believed, “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” to rise. Almost no Democrats rose or applauded, leading the president to state, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Several audience members shouted in response.
