President Donald Trump’s annual State of Union address to the U.S. Congress has officially become the longest in history. His speech lasted between 1 hour 47 minutes and 1 hour 48 minutes, including applause and pauses. The previous records were held by Bill Clinton, set in 2000 at 1 hour 28 minutes, and Trump himself during a March 2025 congressional session, when his speech lasted approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
During the address, Donald Trump defended his administration’s policies and painted an optimistic picture of the future, stating:
«Today, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved such transformations as no one has ever seen, and a turnaround for the ages.»
State of Union: Defending Tariffs and Attacking Democrats
A significant portion of the speech was dedicated to hardline immigration measures and the defense of trade tariffs that were recently overturned by the Supreme Court. When the President described the court’s decision as “regrettable,” Democrats in the chamber erupted in applause.
Trump vowed to continue his economic policy by bypassing the legislature, utilizing “alternative” laws to impose import taxes. “Congressional action will not be required,” he declared, adding that in the future, tariffs would “largely replace” the income tax system. The President continued to insist that foreign nations pay for these tariffs, despite economic evidence showing that the financial burden falls on American consumers.
The rhetoric sharpened significantly mid-speech as Trump launched a scathing critique of his opponents. “You should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said. Pointing toward the Democrats, he proclaimed, “These people are crazy. Democrats are destroying our country.” The President’s sharp reaction followed a protest by Democratic Representative Al Green, who was escorted from the hall after unfurling a sign that read, “Black people are not monkeys!” This was a direct reference to a recent scandal involving a racist video shared by the President, which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as primates.
Foreign Policy: Iran, Venezuela, and Special Guests
To appeal to bipartisan patriotic sentiments, Trump invited several unexpected guests to the chamber. They included:
- The U.S. men’s Olympic gold-medal hockey team (the team’s goaltender was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom).
- A political prisoner released following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S.-backed forces.
- A helicopter pilot wounded during a January operation in Venezuela and a 100-year-old Korean War veteran (both received Medals of Honor).
Regarding national security, the President issued a stern warning to Iran, accusing Tehran of developing missiles capable of reaching the U.S. and reviving its nuclear ambitions. “I prefer to solve this problem diplomatically. But one thing I know for sure: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to possess a nuclear weapon,” he emphasized, referencing successful U.S. airstrikes on Iranian facilities last summer.
The President also took credit for the fall of the Maduro regime and for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. However, the speech carefully avoided uncomfortable topics, such as the strain on the NATO alliance following the U.S. attempt to buy Greenland from Denmark and criticism regarding his stance on Russia amid efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
