President Donald Trump shattered a quarter-century-old record Tuesday night, delivering a sprawling 1-hour and 48-minute State of the Union address that prioritised economic populism and aggressive border security measures. The speech, the longest spoken State of the Union in U.S. history, surpassed the previous 89-minute benchmark set by Bill Clinton in 2000.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Trump declared the arrival of a "Golden Age of America", claiming his second-term policies had sparked a "turnaround for the ages". The President utilised the marathon session to defend his administration's high-tariff trade strategy, even as he acknowledged a recent Supreme Court setback that challenged the legality of certain global trade levies.
"Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before," Trump told the chamber, according to transcripts provided by the White House. He argued that his signature tariffs would eventually "substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax", a pivot that drew thunderous applause from the Republican side of the aisle while leaving many economists sceptical.
On immigration, Trump touted a 56% drop in fentanyl seizures as evidence of a "secure border". He also called on Congress to pass the "Delilah Law", which would prohibit states from granting commercial driver’s licences to undocumented immigrants, and the "Save America Act" to mandate proof of citizenship for voting.
The Democratic response, delivered from Colonial Williamsburg by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, offered a sharp rebuke. Spanberger, a former CIA officer, accused the President of using the historic length of the speech to mask a lack of substantive solutions for the "affordability crisis" facing American families.
"He lied, he scapegoated, and he distracted," Spanberger said in her televised rebuttal. She specifically criticised the President's deployment of federal agents into U.S. cities, describing the operations as "terrorising communities" rather than solving crime.
The address comes as the United States prepares for its 250th anniversary this July. While Trump framed the milestone as a "triumph of freedom", Spanberger questioned whether the average citizen felt the prosperity the President described, asking, "Is the President working for you? We all know the answer is no."