In his State of the Union address, Trump made no mention of the Jeffrey Epstein scandals that are consuming politics in Washington and far beyond. He has not clarified his Iran policy even though he is building up air and naval forces in the Middle East region. And these issues are not only causing headaches for Republicans, but also creating doubts among his voters.
In his speech, Donald Trump also did not present any new ideas on housing or health care – two key issues of the midterm election campaign. What Trump avoided in the State of the Union address could come back to haunt him in November. Republicans are increasingly concerned about the possibility of a “tsunami” in the midterm elections.
The president's State of the Union address was notable for something largely missing in Trump's second term: restraint. The president did not attack the Supreme Court. He did not attack members of his own party who criticized him. He avoided chaotic, angry digressions.
For some leaders of the president's party, aware of his capacity for political self-harm, this may be a cause for relief.
“In some ways, it was Trump's best speech,” GOP strategist Matthew Bartlett, who served in Trump's first administration, told POLITICO. “It was an ambitious and emotional speech. However, politically, it did not contain any clues that would lead Republicans to the by-elections.”
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Another Republican activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the president's performance, expressed concern that the speech was not forward-thinking enough. “I wish we knew more specific steps we can take to direct Congress to do more for people who are hurting.”
For some, Trump did exactly what he was supposed to do — give a lot of meat to his supporters who wanted the president to call out Democrats for hypocrisy on inflation, blame former President Joe Biden and talk tough on illegal immigration.
The speech was full of typical Trump flourishes — boasts, hyperbole, unplanned digressions and anecdotes. He talked about the wars he stopped, the prices he helped lower, and the “hundreds of billions of dollars” in foreign investment he gained through tariffs and negotiations.
“You killed Americans”
Claiming that consumer prices are falling, Trump attacked Democrats as hypocrites. “You caused this problem,” Trump told the Democratic side of the room. “It is your policies that have caused high prices. Our policies are quickly eliminating them.”
His aggressive comments, especially when he raised the issue of immigration, sparked a response from several Democratic lawmakers who were unable to remain silent.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Trump told Democrats over their refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are demanding changes in the way federal agents operate in connection with roundups of migrants.
Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar — both frequent targets of the president's attacks — shouted back.
“You killed Americans,” Omar shouted, referring to Alex Pretti, the nurse killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month. “Alex was not a criminal,” she said.
Democrat Norma Torres holds a photo of Alex Pretti during Trump's speech, February 24, 2026.Win McNamee/Staff/Getty Images
Trump sought to portray his return to the Oval Office — the turmoil caused by his predatory foreign policy, tariffs and the violence sparked by his immigration enforcement actions — as a modern-day consequence of the American Revolution, peppering his speech with references to 1776 and the 250th anniversary of the U.S., which the country will celebrate in July.
“These first 250 years are just the beginning,” Trump said as he concluded his speech. “America's golden age is just ahead of us. The revolution that began in 1776 is not over. It continues because the flame of freedom and independence still burns in the hearts of all American patriots. And our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder and more glorious than ever before.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
