Trump gives State of the Union address — live - The Times

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[improvements to the economy], including from his One Big Beautiful Bill, in an attempt to ward off punishment from voters during November’s midterm elections

[golden age]”

[was in attendance]along with a waitress from Pennsylvania and survivor of

[Jeffrey Epstein].

[Virginia Giuffre’s brother]was also present

[boycotted the event]

Leavitt praises policy reveals

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, has praised the president for the “exciting policy announcements” made during Trump’s speech.

She said that the “great healthcare plan” mentioned in his State of the Union address will “stop all payments to big insurance companies, and instead give that money directly to the American people”.

The “ratepayer protection pledge” will force tech giants to “provide for their own power needs for AI data centres so that Americans’ prices will not go up”, Leavitt said.

She also mentioned promises made by Trump to ban “Wall Street investment firms from buying up single family homes” and to ensure “members of Congress cannot corruptly profit using inside information by passing the Stop Insider Trading Act”.

Address ‘delusional’, says top Democrat

Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, described Trump’s address as “delusional”, claiming that it failed to address the struggles of ordinary Americans.

“Americans have never seen a State of the Union so disconnected from reality. The president’s rhetoric and the country’s reality are worlds apart,” Schumer said. “Donald Trump painted a delusional portrait of America that hardly any working American would recognise.”

Spanberger criticises immigration enforcement

During the Democratic rebuttal, Abigail Spanberger posed a series of questions to Americans, asking if their lives had improved under Trump’s presidency.

“Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? We all know the answer is no,” she said.

The governor of Virginia went on to criticise “poorly trained” immigration officers, days after a whistleblower accused the Department of Homeland Security of dismantling the training programme for new deportation officers and lying about what they were doing.

“Our president has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities, where they have arrested and detained American citizens and people who aspire to be Americans,” Spanberger added.

Democrat response focuses on affordability

Abigail Spanberger, the governor of Virginia who gave the Democratic Party response to Trump’s State of the Union address, argued that, far from enjoying a “golden age”, Americans are struggling with the cost of living.

“Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America,” said Spanberger. “In the most innovative and exceptional nation in the history of the world, Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on addressing the problems that keep them up at night.”

Many Democrats claim that Spanberger’s double-digit victory in Virginia last November was a validation of a disciplined, cost-focused campaign they now hope to replicate across the country, in the run-up to this year’s midterm elections.

Speech breaks record at nearly two hours long

Trump has broken the record for the longest State of the Union speech, ending his address after nearly two hours.

He broke his previous record set in 2025 of 100 minutes, although that speech to Congress was not technically a State of the Union address.

Before Trump’s return to the White House last year, Bill Clinton held the record for the longest such speech, speaking for 89 minutes in 2000. In 1995, he spoke for 85 minutes.

Trump repeats record war-ending claims

President Trump said he ended “eight wars”, adding that the Palestine-Israel conflict was “just about there”.

The reality is more nuanced, and Trump’s role in some of those conflicts is disputed, while others were not full-scale wars. In some instances, such as in the Gaza Strip and the Congo-Rwanda conflict, violent attacks have continued despite a ceasefire.

• What eight wars did Trump end? His claims fact-checked

Pilot in Maduro operation given medal of honour

Trump has introduced a helicopter pilot who was seriously injured during the raid on Caracas that resulted in the capture of Maduro.

The president described how the chief warrant officer Eric Slover was hit by four “agonising” bullets as he approached Maduro’s compound, but fought through the “searing pain” to land the Chinook safely, saving the lives of commandos taking part in the raid.

Holding on to a walking frame, Slover was awarded a congressional medal of honour, the highest military decoration in the US, and received a standing ovation.

Half of Democrats skip address

Around half of House and Senate Democrats have boycotted Trump’s State of the Union address, an analysis of the crowd’s headcount has found.

Axios estimated that 20 Senate Democrats and just under 110 House Democrats were in the chamber during Trump’s address. Notable Democrats attending counter-events included the minority whip Katherine Clark and the Democratic Caucus vice-chairman Ted Lieu.

Some 30 Democratic members of Congress joined hundreds of protesters at a rally on the National Mall, called the “People’s State of the Union”. Attendees held signs that read “No Money for ICE” and “Healthcare Not Warfare”.

Trump takes swipe at ‘death and hate’ of Iran

Trump has accused Iran of building missiles that could soon reach the US and said he would “never hesitate to confront threats where we must”.

The president accused the Iranian regime of spreading “nothing but terrorism, death and hate”.

Watching in the audience is America’s top general, Dan “Raizin” Caine, who has reportedly informed Trump of his doubts about war with Iran after the largest military build-up in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“We have the most powerful military on earth,” Trump said. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon.”

Immigration claims, fact checked

Trump said that under Biden, criminals and murderers “poured in by the millions and millions from prisons, from mental institutions”.

An internal Department of Homeland Security document obtained by CBS News showed that less than 14 per cent of about 400,000 immigrants arrested by Trump’s ICE had violent criminal convictions.

Trump introduces tearful Erika Kirk

Trump has said Charlie Kirk, the right-wing polemicist assassinated last year in Utah, was “martyred”.

The president introduced Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, who is sitting in the audience, and paid tribute to “my great friend Charlie”.

Erika Kirk fought back tears as the crowd broke out in chants of “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie”.

Job-growth claims, fact checked

“More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country,” Trump said in his speech.

The president said that 100 per cent of all jobs created under his administration were in the private sector.

The US added just 181,000 jobs in 2025, most of them in healthcare — compared to 1.46 million jobs added to the economy in 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Last year was the weakest year for job growth since the pandemic.

Trump goads room to stand up against ‘illegal aliens’

Again casting his eye towards the midterms, Trump warned voters there would be uncontrolled immigration to the US without “great Republican patriots in Congress”.

Creating a stark visual image for US voters, Trump said everyone in the Capitol should stand up if they agreed he should “protect American citizens, not illegal aliens”.

All the Republicans stood up and applauded while Democrats remained seated.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” Trump said, to jeers from Democrats.

Congresswoman heckles over ‘Somali pirates’ barb

Ilhan Omar heckled Trump after he referred to “Somali pirates” who had “ransacked” the state of Minnesota.

The Democratic congressman, who was born in Mogadishu, shouted in response: “That’s a lie!”

Omar continued to heckle the president, shouting at Trump and repeatedly accusing him of having “killed Americans”. She was joined by Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic congresswoman and fellow progressive sat beside her.

Omar heckled again when Trump said Democrats “should be ashamed” after he asked members of the crowd to stand up if they believed the rights of Americans should be prioritised over those of illegal aliens. No Democrat appeared to stand up.

Trump announces a slew of price drops

President Trump claimed the price of gas was the cheapest that it had ever been, that the price of eggs had decreased by 60 per cent, that chicken had “come down by a lot” and even beef “which was very high, is starting to come down”.

Gasoline prices in late 2025 and so far in 2026 have reached their lowest level in several years. In December, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dipped below $3 a gallon for the first time in four years.

However the consumer price index for all urban consumers rose 2.4 per cent unadjusted in January, down from December’s 2.7 per cent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Supreme Court rebels take a battering

In a defiant message to the Supreme Court, Trump has vowed to continue his policy of sweeping tariffs as he criticised last week’s “disappointing” ruling.

Speaking just yards from where four Supreme Court justices, including three who voted against his tariffs — John Roberts, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett — were sitting, Trump criticised their “unfortunate involvement”.

He promised an “alternative” way of imposing tariffs that did not involve the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 and said his plan was “tested” although more “complex”.

“Congressional action will not be necessary,” he said, without elucidating.

Trump praises One Big Beautiful Bill

In an attempt to woo swing voters before November’s midterms, Trump has said that “Republican majorities” in the House delivered the “largest tax cut in American history”.

The Republicans face a challenging set of midterms and are expected to lose the House of Representatives. On a particularly poor night, they could even concede the Senate to the Democrats.

Celebrating the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump said: “We delivered the largest tax cut in American history and our Republican majorities delivered.

“Every single Democrat voted against the tax cuts. We eliminated taxes on tips, overtime and social security.”

Venezuela is ‘new friend’ of USA

Trump described Venezuela as “our new friend and partner”, claiming the country had just sent the US “more than 80 million barrels of oil”.

In January Trump oversaw the capture of Venezuela’s then-president Nicolás Maduro, who is now awaiting trial in custody in New York alongside his wife Cilia Flores.

Delcy Rodríguez, the vice-president under Maduro, was sworn in as interim president after the autocrat’s capture and has done little to pave the way for new elections. Meanwhile the regime’s biggest power players have remained in place, including the country’s interior and defence ministers.

Trump honours winning men’s hockey team

Trump has introduced the Winter Olympic gold-medal-winning men’s ice hockey team to the Capitol.

He claimed their victory in Italy was evidence that the US is “winning too much”.

“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime,” he said.

Addressing the women’s ice hockey team, which declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union, Trump added: “…as did the women who will soon be coming to the White House”.

He also announced that the goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would be given the presidential medal of freedom.

• Salena Zito: Don’t punish the US men’s hockey team for being patriotic

President begins with economic ‘wins’

Trump began his speech with a heavy emphasis on the economy.

He blamed President Biden for “the worst inflation in the history of our country” and the “disaster” of gas prices under his predecessor Joe Biden.

In an early section redolent of his recent campaign speech in Iowa, Trump touted falling inflation, deregulation and new private-sector jobs.

“Our country is winning again,” he added.

Trump declares ‘golden age’

President Trump has begun his address by declaring a “golden age” for the US.

The president said America was “bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before” and said he had inherited a “stagnant economy”.

“This is the golden age of America,” he added.

Trump to say ‘flame of liberty’ burns in US

President Trump will say “the flame of liberty” still burns in the US on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The White House has shared some excerpts from his state of the union speech.

“From 1776 to today, every generation of Americans has stepped forward to defend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the next. Now, it is our turn,” Trump is expected to say.

“The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the hearts of every American patriot.”

Al Green protests for second consecutive year

The Democratic congressman Al Green has protested Trump for the second year in a row, holding a sign in his face as he walked down the aisle which read “black people aren’t apes”.

The Democratic congressman, 78, was ejected from the chamber last year after shouting during Trump’s speech.

Green continued to hold the sign up as Trump began his speech. It was thought to be a reference to a recent row over an AI-generated video of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Trump to say he has ‘turned around’ economic woes

President Trump will say he has succeeded in “turning around” the US economy in his State of the Union address.

The White House has shared excerpts from his speech moments before he is due to take the stage.

“Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages,” he is expected to say.

“Moving forward, factories, jobs, investment and trillions of dollars will continue pouring into the United States of America — because we finally have a president who puts America first.”

Melania enters to cheers

The Trump cabinet has been announced and are being enthusiastically flanked by colleagues on their way down the aisle.

A loud cheer erupted in the chamber when first lady Melania Trump entered the gallery to sit beside her son Barron, joining Usha Vance, the second lady, who is sat behind her.

Democrat women wear white in protest

Female Democrats are donning white, the colour of suffrage, in what has become a long-standing political statement before the address.

They began the protest tradition during Trump’s first term in 2017, wearing black the next year in honour of the #MeToo movement and continuing to use suffragist white in the next years.

They broke the tradition last year, wearing pink to protest how Trump’s policies affect women and families. This year the Democrat women are protesting the Save America Act, which would block millions of Americans from voting.

“This year, there are specific attacks on women’s ability to vote,” Representative Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico told CBS. “The Democratic Women’s Caucus is wearing white both to honour that fight that women have always had and to signal we are still in the fight.”

Supreme Court justices arrive after tariff fallout

Four Supreme Court judges have arrived in the chamber just days after defying Trump to strike down his tariffs.

The chief justice John Roberts and justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are present tonight — the same four justices who attended Trump’s address last year.

Trump clan take their seats

The president’s family have just entered the gallery to watch the speech, joining the same area as Erika Kirk, the widow of activist Charlie Kirk.

Trump’s children Barron, Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump are now all sat in the front row.

Trump leaves for House chamber

Virginia Giuffre’s family watches on

Virginia Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts and his wife Amanda are in attendance tonight. Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, was one of the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s most outspoken victims.

Roberts attended a press conference with survivors of Epstein before the State of the Union address. Democrats who hosted the event called for the passage of Virginia’s Law, a bill named after Giuffre that would remove the statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking to file civil claims.

Speaking about the release of the Epstein files, the Justice Department’s heavy redactions and the alleged millions of missing documents, Amanda Roberts said: “[Trump] may say it’s time to move on from this Epstein thing … today we are saying we will not move on and the world is not moving on.”

Democrats urged not to protest during speech

It’s roughly half an hour before Trump is due to speak and politicians are now filling the chamber, taking pictures with one another, scrolling through their phones and placing bags and waving at familiar faces in the gallery.

On one seat, a cardboard sign reads “Al Green”, an apparent bid by the Democratic congressman to reserve his spot.

Last year Green, 78, was escorted from the House after heckling Trump during his speech. Senior Democrats have reportedly urged rank-and-file members to avoid protests during the address tonight, fearing it could become a distraction and divide the party, according to CNN.

In pictures: top Republicans enter Rotunda

Congressmen take their seats

Politicians began trickling into the chamber hours before Trump was due to speak.

Dozens have already taken their seats. Thomas Massie, the Republican congressman and longtime critic of the president, arrived more than two hours before the address was scheduled to begin.

Politicians typically sit with members of their own party during the State of the Union but tonight Massie is due to sit with Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman and fellow co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

A statement from Khanna said the pair would be beside each other “to show support for the brave survivors who will be there tonight and to send a message to the Epstein class”.

California Democrat among ‘designated survivors’

Representative Mike Thompson, a Democrat from California, identified himself as one of the designated survivors for tonight’s State of the Union.

“I’ve been selected as a designated survivor for tomorrow’s State of the Union, so I won’t be there in person, but I’ll be watching,” Thompson said on X.

Designated survivors are cabinet members taken to an undisclosed location during a big event that gathers the rest of the government, ensuring that someone in the presidential succession line remains alive “in case of a disaster, attack or an unforeseen event”, according to the National Constitution Center. That means the chosen designated survivor must be at least 35 years old and a US-born citizen.

The role is mostly a tradition and has never been fulfilled in the history of the United States, except in the ABC fiction thriller Designated Survivor.

‘State of the Swamp’ show held in protest

Democrats are hosting a “State of the Swamp” event as counter-programming to Trump’s State of the Union. Attendees will include politicians and celebrities such as Robert DeNiro, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Eugene Vindman, the Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, Mark Ruffalo and the former Georgia representative Stacey Abrams.

Epstein survivor in attendance

The Trump administration spent months resisting the release of the Epstein files held by the government. The Democrat Ro Khanna, a California congressman and co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act ordering publication, said he was bringing Haley Robson, who was trafficked by Epstein from the age of 16.

“Haley’s courageous fight is proof that this isn’t about politics, it’s about exposing America’s two-tiered system of justice and bringing accountability to the Epstein class involved in the horrific abuse of young girls,” he said.

“She and her fellow survivors’ bravery was the catalyst for changing a rotten system and finally standing up for humanity and American values.”

Erika Kirk among attendees

Trump invited Erika Kirk, widow of the assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to highlight a message rejecting political violence, Leavitt said.

A waitress and mother from Pennsylvania “directly benefiting from the president’s ‘no tax on tips’ and ‘no tax on overtime’ policies,” is expected to be highlighted during the speech, she said.

Trump also invited Sage Blair, who became separated from her family at 14 after school officials in Virginia allegedly withheld information that she was transitioning to become male. She is now reunited. Trump was expected to call on states to ban sex transitioning operations for children.

Hockey sexism furore overshadows event

Guests of the president, first lady and members of Congress are a traditional focus of attention in the build-up to the annual speech but Trump’s choices were overshadowed by a row about sexism.

He invited Team USA men’s ice hockey team that won gold at the Winter Olympics in a phone call shared on social media in which he joked he would now have to invite the women’s team, which also won gold.

“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that … I do believe I probably would be impeached [if I didn’t],” he said, to laughter from some of the players.

The women’s team issued a statement politely declining Trump’s invitation. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the games, the athletes are unable to participate,” a USA Hockey spokesman said.

Event is chance to refocus on home affairs

Amid Trump’s preoccupation with acting as a peacemaker for overseas conflicts, and having ordered the largest US military build-up for two decades in the waters off Iran, this is a chance for his advisers to steer him back to domestic messages in the run-up to the midterms in November.

“In one year, President Trump has turned our country around from the brink of disaster, and he will rightly declare the state of our union is strong, prosperous and respected,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on X.

“President Trump will proudly tout his administration’s many record-breaking accomplishments, and also lay out an ambitious agenda to continue bringing the American dream back for working people,” she added.

The address “will celebrate 250 glorious years of our nation’s independence and excellence, highlighting incredible stories of American heroes throughout the speech”.

President promises ‘long speech’

Trump has promised “a long speech because we have so much to talk about” as opinion polls continued to show his approval level in the doldrums at 42.5 per cent, according to the RealClearPolitics average, and just 35.9 per cent of Americans saying the country is on the right track.

He began his second term in January last year with an average approval rating of 47.9 per cent.

President Biden had an average approval of just under 41 per cent by the time he delivered his State of the Union after a year in office in 2022, according to RealClearPolitics. President Obama had an approval of 44 per cent in 2014 during the fifth year of his presidency before his primetime address, according to a CNN poll.

Address set against background of setbacks

President Trump is set to acclaim a “strong, prosperous and respected” America in his State of the Union address tonight while surrounded by reminders of setbacks that have dogged his first year back in office.

Trump’s priority in his annual address to Congress is to highlight his central claim to be improving the economy, backed up by the presence of ordinary Americans benefiting from policies such as “no tax on tips”.

A row of seats is reserved in the front for Supreme Court justices, however, days after Trump attacked them for striking down his core tariff policy, while a dozen House Democrats invited survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse to watch from the gallery.