Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
At the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term a marathon speech that doubled as a campaign rally, a policy defense and a warning shot ahead of a precarious midterm election cycle.
Clocking in at one hour and 47 minutes, the address set a new record for length, surpassing even Trump’s own previous speeches to Congress. It came at a politically delicate moment: days after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down his signature global tariffs, amid internal debate over potential new military strikes on Iran, and with public approval ratings hovering near the lowest points of his presidency.
What unfolded was a characteristically combative performance heavy on applause lines for Republicans, sharp provocations aimed at Democrats, and sweeping claims about an American “golden age” that critics say bears little resemblance to current economic and political realities.
Immigration as political center stage
As he looks toward the 2026 midterms, Trump leaned heavily on one of his longest-standing political themes: immigration. Gesturing toward invited guests described as “angel moms” whose children were victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, he warned that electing Democrats would amount to reopening the nation’s borders.
In a familiar tactic, Trump challenged Democrats to visibly demonstrate support for the proposition that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Republicans rose in applause. Democrats remained seated. The president rebuked them from the podium, declaring they “should be ashamed.”
The exchange underscored how deeply polarized immigration remains, even as the political terrain has shifted. While polling continues to show voters often trust Republicans more than Democrats on border enforcement, recent federal immigration actions including controversial enforcement operations in Minneapolis, have drawn criticism and complicated Trump’s standing on the issue.
The theatrical tension escalated when Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar shouted objections despite party leaders’ prior appeals for decorum. Rep. Al Green was escorted from the chamber after displaying a protest sign referencing a racist video Trump had previously shared and deleted. The disruptions echoed past confrontations, including Green’s censure following a similar outburst during a prior address.
Tariffs, taxes and constitutional tensions
If immigration provided the emotional core of the speech, trade policy offered its most consequential subtext.
Last week’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, raising constitutional questions about executive authority. Rather than reprise his recent public attacks on the justices, Trump struck a more measured tone. He insisted that congressional action to codify the tariffs would not be necessary, a notable statement given that the Constitution grants Congress the power to levy tariffs.
The remark hinted at both political and legal constraints. Many Republicans remain uneasy about expansive tariffs, particularly as businesses warn of higher costs and retaliatory measures abroad.
Yet Trump went further, predicting that tariff revenue could eventually replace much of the modern income tax system. The claim harked back to the 19th century, when tariffs were indeed the federal government’s primary revenue source before the ratification of the 16th Amendment. Economists across the ideological spectrum, however, have questioned the feasibility of generating sufficient revenue in today’s far larger and more complex economy without triggering major price increases for American consumers.
An economy in dispute
Trump repeatedly described the United States as entering a “golden age” and touted what he called a roaring economy. He claimed to have inherited record inflation and a “wide-open border” from former President Joe Biden, framing his administration as the corrective force.
Available data complicates that narrative. Inflation peaked in 2022 before declining substantially during the latter half of Biden’s term. While the unemployment rate remains relatively low by historical standards, it has ticked upward in recent months, and job growth in 2025 has slowed markedly. Trump’s assertion that more Americans are working than ever before is technically accurate in raw numbers, though largely attributable to population growth.
He also cited investment commitments totaling more than $18 trillion a figure economists say is vastly overstated and claimed gasoline prices had fallen below $2.30 per gallon in some states, a figure not reflected in nationwide averages tracked by the American Automobile Association.
Such exaggerations are not new to Trump’s rhetorical style. Fact-checkers have repeatedly documented false or misleading claims throughout both of his terms. Still, the volume and scale of assertions during this address stood out even by his own standards.
Stagecraft and symbolism
As in past speeches, Trump blended politics with spectacle. He devoted extended time to honoring the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, inviting players to the gallery and announcing that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The president also awarded a Legion of Merit and two Medals of Honor, including one to 100-year-old Korean War veteran Royce Williams. In another emotional moment, Enrique Márquez described as a former political prisoner under Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was reunited with family members.
Throughout, Trump repeatedly called attention to whether Democrats were standing or applauding, turning ordinary gestures into partisan scorecards.
Iran and the prospect of renewed conflict
Perhaps the most consequential policy section concerned Iran. Eight months after ordering strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump suggested that further military action remains on the table if Tehran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions.
He accused Iran of killing and maiming thousands of American service members through proxy forces and roadside bombs and of brutally suppressing domestic protesters. He also sought to reconcile his past claim that Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated” with his new warning that Tehran is attempting to rebuild it.
“I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, while maintaining that he still prefers a negotiated deal.
The comments come as regional tensions simmer and as U.S. allies weigh the risks of escalation. Trump’s remarks appeared designed to lay preliminary political groundwork for possible future action.
Election alarms and voter fraud rhetoric
Beyond foreign policy and economics, Trump devoted significant attention to election integrity. He urged passage of strict voter identification legislation known as the “Save America Act” and repeated unsubstantiated claims that Democrats “have cheated” and will cheat again.
The language echoed his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and his subsequent efforts to overturn them, actions that culminated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in recent U.S. elections, according to numerous court rulings and state-level investigations.
Still, the rhetoric suggests that election legitimacy could again become a flashpoint if Republicans face substantial losses in 2026.
A presidency defined by confrontation
In tone and substance, the address encapsulated Trump’s political identity: combative, theatrical and resistant to institutional constraints. He avoided extended discussion of politically sensitive topics, including controversies surrounding immigration enforcement agencies and renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Instead, he offered a sweeping portrait of national revival under his leadership, a vision at odds with both critics’ assessments and key economic indicators, but one that continues to resonate deeply with his political base.
As lawmakers filed out of the chamber, the contours of the coming election cycle were already clear. Immigration, trade, Iran and election rules will dominate the debate. Whether Trump’s blend of defiance and spectacle can reverse his party
