State of the Union 2026: The address serves as a key primetime stage for Trump to promote his political agenda before the midterm elections, where he is likely to underline achievements in tackling crime, managing immigration, and strengthening the economy
US President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Kenny HOLSTON / POOL / AFP)
Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term before the United States Congress. The annual address gives the president a major national platform, and Trump is expected to use it to promote his administration’s priorities ahead of the November midterm elections, particularly pointing to progress on crime, immigration, and economic performance.
However, the speech is already drawing political pushback. Some lawmakers from the Democratic Party plan to skip the address and instead participate in an alternative gathering called the “People’s State of the Union” outside the United States Capitol. The address also comes at a time of economic unease, partly linked to Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, which have raised concerns about trade tensions and their broader impact on the economy.
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State of the Union speech to see Donald Trump lay out second-term priorities
State of the Union speech offers Donald Trump a major platform to reinforce his political agenda amid tariff concerns and global tensions
February 25, 2026, 09:34:17 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: ’35mn people would have died if not for me,’ Trump brings up India-Pak tensions in speech
During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump claimed credit for ending eight conflicts since taking office, including the longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan. Trump added a striking assertion, saying the “35mn people would have died if not for me,” bringing up India-Pak tensions in his speech.
February 25, 2026, 09:33:12 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: ‘I couldn’t sit through hours of Trump’s lies,’ says Mark Warner
Mark Warner revealed on X that he walked out of Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. In his post, Warner said, “I couldn’t sit through hours of Trump’s lies,” signaling strong disapproval of the president’s remarks and joining a number of Democrats expressing dissent during the speech.
February 25, 2026, 09:23:31 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Democrats hold ‘People’s State of the Union’ rally outside Capitol
A group of Democratic lawmakers and activists gathered at an outdoor event called “The People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall near the Capitol. Organisers said the rally is designed to draw attention to opposition against the Republican administration’s policies, providing a platform for dissenting voices while President Trump delivers his official address to Congress.
Images: Reuters
February 25, 2026, 09:10:47 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Democrats protest Trump’s border policies amid backlash over federal shootings
Several Democratic lawmakers loudly criticised Donald Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown during his address, framing it as harmful and politically motivated. Representatives such as Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar blasted Trump’s comments about immigrant communities and linked his policies to aggressive federal enforcement that has sparked controversy and protests, especially following fatal shootings of civilians by immigration agents in Minneapolis. Democrats have also questioned the use of fraud allegations in immigration sweeps, and rights groups say the crackdown has created fear in minority communities. Their pushback reflects broader outrage over enforcement tactics and calls for reform of immigration policy.
February 25, 2026, 09:04:51 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Fact check: Has Trump really ended eight wars?
Donald Trump claimed during his speech that he has ended eight wars since taking office.
Analysts say the record is more complicated.
In the Middle East, Trump helped broker a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, though violations have continued, with hundreds of Palestinians and several Israeli soldiers killed. A White House-backed agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan encouraged peaceful relations but lacked formal binding commitments. Trump also facilitated talks between Cambodia and Thailand, pressured India and Pakistan into a brief ceasefire, and brokered a Rwanda-DRC peace deal that has not been fully implemented. Other disputes—including Egypt-Ethiopia, Serbia-Kosovo, and North-South Korea—remain unresolved or lack concrete progress, making it unclear how many conflicts can truly be counted as “ended.”
February 25, 2026, 09:02:36 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump awards Purple Hearts to families of National Guards attacked near White House
Donald Trump awarded Purple Hearts to the parents of National Guard memberSarah Beckstrom who was killed near the White House by an illegal Afghan immigrant and taff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who was critically wounded and underwent treatment in hospital. Investigators say the shooting was carried out by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who allegedly opened fire on the patrol near the Farragut West Metro Station before being subdued.
February 25, 2026, 08:53:17 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump targets Somali Americans in Minnesota, links immigration to crime
Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Somali Americans in Minnesota during his State of the Union, framing it as part of a broader effort to crack down on fraud. He referred to “the Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota,” claiming that “importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA, and it is the American people who pay the price and higher medical bills, car insurance rates, rent, taxes and, perhaps most importantly, crime.”
February 25, 2026, 08:50:13 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump welcomes Erika Kirk, calls for unity against political violence
Donald Trump welcomed Erika Kirk to the State of the Union, honouring the memory of her late husband, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. He used the moment to stress the importance of unity in Congress and across the nation, saying, “In Charlie’s memory we should come together and reject political violence of any kind.”
February 25, 2026, 08:47:10 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump vows to ban separating children from parents and gender reassignment
Donald Trump pledged to prohibit policies that separate children from their parents and prevent reassignment of a child’s gender. He criticised Democratic leadership, claiming that “Democrats destroyed our country,” but added that his administration intervened “in the nick of time” to stop such measures.
February 25, 2026, 08:42:27 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Facts say inflation under Biden not highest ever in US history
Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that inflation reached its highest-ever level under former President Joe Biden, but this is inaccurate. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) peaked at just over 9% in 2022, marking the highest inflation in roughly four decades. Historical data shows CPI soared to nearly 15% in 1980 and even higher in the years following World War II, indicating that inflation under Biden, while significant, was far from a record.
February 25, 2026, 08:40:03 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump jokingly mentions possibility of ‘third term’ during speech
During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump made a fleeting reference to a possible “third term.” While the remark seemed lighthearted or joking, it quickly drew attention because the US Constitution prohibits presidents from serving more than two terms.
February 25, 2026, 08:37:40 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump vows no commercial licenses for ‘illegal aliens’
Donald Trump emphasised strict border enforcement, declaring that no commercial licenses will be issued to “illegal aliens.” He criticised previous administrations for opening US borders to dangerous individuals, calling it a policy that allowed some of the world’s worst criminals to enter the country.
February 25, 2026, 08:34:18 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump says “almost all” countries want to maintain existing trade deals
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on his tariffs, Donald Trump said that “almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made,” noting that the legal authority he holds as president could allow for stricter new agreements. The use of “almost” hinted that a few nations may not share that view. Trump’s announcement of a potential 15% tariff under an alternative statute has raised questions about the future of US trade policies and agreements with major partners, including the European Union, Japan, and South Korea.
February 25, 2026, 08:29:16 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump vows to protect Social Security and Medicare, backs new insider trading law
Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, promising they will always be protected for Americans. He also announced plans to push for the passage of a new Insider Trading Act aimed at cracking down on unfair trading practices and increasing accountability in financial markets.
February 25, 2026, 08:24:46 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump calls Supreme Court tariff ruling ‘unfortunate,’ vows to keep tariffs
Donald Trump described a recent Supreme Court decision striking down much of his international tariffs as “unfortunate,” but said he plans to maintain them using alternative legal statutes without seeking Congressional approval. “Just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, it just came down. Very unfortunate ruling,” Trump said, adding that his tariffs will continue under “fully-approved and tested alternative legal statutes.” He emphasized that “Congressional action will not be necessary.”
February 25, 2026, 08:22:25 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump vows to shift funds from big insurers to individuals for healthcare choice
Donald Trump outlined plans to stop payments to large insurance companies and instead provide Americans with direct funds to purchase their own healthcare. Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Trump said he has reduced prescription drug costs from some of the highest in the world to the lowest.
February 25, 2026, 08:18:18 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump says US is winning on trade after decades of losses under previous leaders
Donald Trump told Congress that his “America First” policies have reversed years of disadvantage in global trade. “Countries were ripping us off and tariffs have helped America,” he said, contrasting his approach with decades of prior policies. “For decades before I came along, things were the complete opposite. Under Biden and his “corrupt partners,” America was losing out,” Trump added, emphasising that his administration’s trade measures have strengthened the US economy and prioritised American workers.
February 25, 2026, 08:05:52 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump says US has received over 80 million barrels of Venezuelan oil
Donald Trump told Congress that the United States has now received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, a significant jump from the 50 million barrels he mentioned just last week in Georgia. “We have received more than 80 million barrels of oil from our new friend and partner Venezuela,” Trump said. He also outlined plans for US oil companies to invest up to $100 billion to revive Venezuela’s energy sector and share future profits among Venezuelans, Americans and industry partners.
February 25, 2026, 08:05:14 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump calls Washington DC ‘one of the safest cities’
Trump praised Washington, DC as “one of the safest cities in the country,” citing federal efforts to increase security and reduce crime.
February 25, 2026, 07:57:34 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Democrat Al Green ejected from chamber for protest sign
Al Green was escorted out of the chamber after displaying a sign reading “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!” The 78-year-old lawmaker previously made headlines for shouting at Donald Trump during last year’s address to Congress.
February 25, 2026, 07:55:56 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump hails Venezuela as ‘new friend,’ celebrates US victories and welcomes Olympic hockey team
During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump described Venezuela as a “new friend and partner,” boasted that the United States is “winning on all fronts,” and joked, “we are winning too much.” Trump also took time to honour the US men’s Olympic hockey team, welcoming them to the Capitol as special guests during his speech.
February 25, 2026, 07:49:56 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump blames Biden for ‘worst inflation’ in US
Donald Trump criticised former President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address, claiming that the country has suffered its “worst inflation” under Biden’s leadership. He added that Biden created housing problems for Americans.
February 25, 2026, 07:44:07 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump begins State of the Union address to Congress
Donald Trump has officially begun delivering his State of the Union address to Congress, marking the start of his first SOTU speech of the second term.
February 25, 2026, 07:35:39 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Four Supreme Court justices take seats at Capitol amid tariff ruling controversy
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Elena Kagan, have arrived at the Capitol for the State of the Union address. Their attendance follows a 6–3 decision overturning President Donald Trump’s broad tariff measures. In the days leading up to the speech, Trump criticized the court and its majority—including Barrett and Neil Gorsuch, whom he appointed—making their ceremonial presence politically charged. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent greeted Roberts upon arrival.
February 25, 2026, 07:33:48 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Lawmakers wear protest messages to Congress | Pics
Several Democratic lawmakers are using clothing and pins to make symbolic statements during the State of the Union. Jill Tokuda of Hawaii wore a white blazer adorned with words like “Affordability,” “Democracy,” and “Justice,” signaling her stance on key issues while attending the session.
Images: Reuters
February 25, 2026, 07:30:43 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump to promise ‘turnaround for the ages’ in marathon State of the Union
US President Donald Trump will deliver a high-stakes State of the Union, touting a “turnaround for the ages” and pledging to confront threats to America as tensions with Iran rise.
February 25, 2026, 07:23:36 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump to tell Congress he will face threats head-on as US-Iran tensions rise
President Donald Trump will use his State of the Union address Tuesday to assert that he will “confront threats” to the United States, as tensions with Iran escalate and the US expands its military presence in the region. Excerpts from the speech indicate Trump will stress both diplomacy and readiness for action, stating, “As president, I will make peace wherever I can — but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.” This marks his first SOTU since beginning his second term 13 months ago.
February 25, 2026, 07:16:04 (IST)
State of the Union 2026 LIVE: Trump may deliver extended address, past hour-and-a-half mark
There is no official time limit for the State of the Union address. Donald Trump has indicated that his speech could run for a long time, following the trend of last year when he spoke for around an hour and 40 minutes.
While last year’s speech was technically not a State of the Union, it surpassed former President Bill Clinton’s record 2000 address of about one hour and 29 minutes. Trump’s previous SOTU addresses were also lengthy: his 2018 speech lasted an hour and 20 minutes, 2019 went for an hour and 22 minutes, and 2020’s ran an hour and 18 minutes.
For context, the shortest recorded State of the Union spe