WASHINGTON–U.S. President Donald Trump gave the State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday. With another record-breaking speech in length, at 1 hour and 48 minutes, President Trump declared that the state of the union is strong, while boasting of a series of claimed successes in his first year of administration.
At the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, President Trump claimed to have achieved “a turnaround for the ages,” after “saving a nation in crisis” in one year. Trump claimed to have the most secure border in American history, with 0 illegal aliens admitted into the U.S. in 9 months. And according to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been no releases of any immigrants into the country, meaning they are quickly rejected or detained at the border.
The economy is also soaring, according to Trump’s speech, quoting the plummeting inflation (1.7%), the stock market at an all-time high, and “more Americans are working today than at any time in history.” Trump also claimed to attract 18 trillion dollars in investments in his first year, compared to Biden’s less than 1 trillion in his four years. The administration has declared to lift 2.4 million Americans out of food stamps, ended DEI in America, and tariffs across the world have stopped other countries from “ripping us off.” When in reality, poll numbers and public opinion say otherwise. Gasoline prices are not averaging below $2.30 per gallon in most states, as Trump claimed; the $18 trillion in investments do not add up; and 2.4 million Americans are being forced off food stamps instead of receiving financial incentives. The unsatisfactory state of the economy was also echoed and highlighted by the Democrats’ response, led by newly elected Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger.
During his speech, President Trump also pushed a few agendas through to Congress, while remembering to press the democrats for some of the immigration policies. The “Stop Insider Trading Act” aims to ban Wall Street firms from buying single-family homes and to add preventive measures against insider trading by politicians and legislators. The president made sure to mention fraud crimes damaging American interests in Minnesota, but not a word on the killings of American citizens in Minneapolis.
Trump also called for support for the “Delilah Law” that would ban commercial driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, and the SAVE America Act, which would require all voters to show voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote. One of the reasons behind the SAVE America Act is to prevent voting fraud that the President claimed to have run rampant: “The only way they (democrats) can win is to cheat, and we have to stop them.” He also pressured the Democrats to restore funding to the DHS, end sanctuary cities, and allow the removal of criminals from the country. “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Trump said towards the democrat aisle on blocking said bills, with the chant of “USA” on the opposite side of the House Chamber.
