During what was one of the best speeches of his career in politics, President Donald J. Trump alternately baited the Democrats, honored American heroes and achievers, and documented the stunning turnaround in America’s fortunes he wrought in the first year of his second term as President.
The overarching theme of the speech was this early paragraph:
…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. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages. And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We’re not going back today.
And, while the Democrats and their media allies often accuse the President of exaggerating, there’s no denying his accomplishments.
One of President Trump’s objectives going into the SOTU, was to paint the picture that Democrats are un-American and don’t represent the interests of the American People.
It’s safe to say that objective was achieved. So, let’s start with how the President skillfully baited congressional Democrats, who are consumed by delusional hatred and obstruction, into refusing to join in celebrating his victories for the American people.
Last night, Democrats refused to applaud:
But President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address was also full of facts and accomplishments to celebrate, and for Republicans to run on in the midterm election.
On the key issue of border security there’s no arguing with these facts:
Historic Reductions in Illegal Immigration: Illegal border crossings have plummeted to their lowest level since the 1970s, with migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border dropping dramatically in 2025. The U.S. achieved negative net migration in 2025 — the first time in over 50 years — reversing decades of unchecked migration and restoring control over our sovereignty.
Zero Releases and Strong Deterrence: No illegal aliens have been released into the interior for nine straight months — finally ending catch-and-release policies nationwide and achieving a 99.9% reduction in interior releases compared to the prior Administration.
Enhanced Interior Security and Resource Protection: The Trump Administration doubled ICE’s workforce, expanded detention capacity — including the largest migrant facility in U.S. history, conducted over 206 million benefits eligibility checks to preserve programs for Americans, terminated benefits for at least 1.4 million ineligible illegal aliens, and located over 132,000 unaccompanied children lost under the prior Administration.
And on the economy and jobs Trump’s record is equally impressive:
Gas prices are dropping sharply, hitting new multi-year lows — with forecasts showing 2026 averages below $3 per gallon nationally for the first time since 2020 — thanks to American energy dominance.
Prescription drugs are becoming more affordable thanks to President Trump’s Most Favored Nation reforms and direct savings delivered to patients through TrumpRx.gov — putting money back in Americans’ wallets.
Private sector workers have seen strong real wage gains, growing nearly $1,400 in just one year — decisively beating inflation.
Trump tax relief has yielded total tax savings exceeding $2,400 for many taxpayers through game-changing provisions like No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, auto loan interest deductions for American-made vehicles, and much more.
Likewise, on the election-winning issue of law and order, the President could cite equally positive results.
Law-and-order also gave President Trump an opportunity to troll the Democrats, pointing out the success of his law-and-order policies in Democrat-run jurisdictions.
Every state of the union address ultimately about the next election. Through last night’s State of the Union speech, President Trump showed America who the Democrats are, and documented the case for maintaining Republican control of Congress, now it is up to Republican candidates for the House and Senate to hit the campaign trail with last night’s message.
To watch President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address go to https://www.c-span.org/classroom/document/?25659
The overarching theme of the speech was this early paragraph:
…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. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages. And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We’re not going back today.
And, while the Democrats and their media allies often accuse the President of exaggerating, there’s no denying his accomplishments.
One of President Trump’s objectives going into the SOTU, was to paint the picture that Democrats are un-American and don’t represent the interests of the American People.
It’s safe to say that objective was achieved. So, let’s start with how the President skillfully baited congressional Democrats, who are consumed by delusional hatred and obstruction, into refusing to join in celebrating his victories for the American people.
Last night, Democrats refused to applaud:
- Reaffirming “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
- The grieving families of innocent American women and children murdered by criminal illegal aliens — including the mother of Iryna Zarutska, a North Carolina woman savagely killed on public transit by an illegal alien monster.
- Securing our homeland and finally ending the invasion of savage criminal illegal aliens — killers, rapists, gang members, and traffickers — with the strongest, most secure border in American history.
- Prioritizing American citizens over illegal aliens.
- Unifying against political violence.
- Inflation finally subsiding after years of Democrat-driven price shocks that crushed working families.
- Keeping violent criminals locked up.
- Lower prescription drug prices for millions of Americans.
- The decisive military action that brought indicted narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro to justice, crippling drug cartels and liberating our hemisphere from vicious narcotrafficking terrorists.
- Protecting minor children from the horrors of irreversible sex changes.
- Gas prices dropping to multi-year lows, putting money back in Americans’ pockets.
- Law enforcement officers being respected once again after years of vilification.
- The financial futures of millions of American newborns through Trump Accounts.
- Protecting the integrity of our elections by preventing illegal aliens from undermining our democracy.
- Banning large corporations from scooping up single-family homes, ensuring they remain available for working Americans.
- Ending widespread fraud schemes — like the $19 billion Somali fraud scandal that burdened Minnesota taxpayers.
- Warrior Dividends for our great military heroes.
- Reducing the flow of deadly fentanyl across our border by a record 56% in one year.
- The single largest drop in the murder rate in 125 years, making our streets safer.
- Explosive growth in retirement accounts and 401(k)s for millions of hardworking Americans.
- Landmark tax relief through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act: No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, and more historic savings.
- A World War II hero who helped liberate the largest internment camp in the Philippines.
- Ending eight wars and delivering peace through unmatched American strength.
- America’s military might restoring respect and fear among our adversaries.
- Massive economic growth.
- Total victory over terrorists abroad.
But President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address was also full of facts and accomplishments to celebrate, and for Republicans to run on in the midterm election.
On the key issue of border security there’s no arguing with these facts:
Historic Reductions in Illegal Immigration: Illegal border crossings have plummeted to their lowest level since the 1970s, with migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border dropping dramatically in 2025. The U.S. achieved negative net migration in 2025 — the first time in over 50 years — reversing decades of unchecked migration and restoring control over our sovereignty.
Zero Releases and Strong Deterrence: No illegal aliens have been released into the interior for nine straight months — finally ending catch-and-release policies nationwide and achieving a 99.9% reduction in interior releases compared to the prior Administration.
Enhanced Interior Security and Resource Protection: The Trump Administration doubled ICE’s workforce, expanded detention capacity — including the largest migrant facility in U.S. history, conducted over 206 million benefits eligibility checks to preserve programs for Americans, terminated benefits for at least 1.4 million ineligible illegal aliens, and located over 132,000 unaccompanied children lost under the prior Administration.
And on the economy and jobs Trump’s record is equally impressive:
Gas prices are dropping sharply, hitting new multi-year lows — with forecasts showing 2026 averages below $3 per gallon nationally for the first time since 2020 — thanks to American energy dominance.
Prescription drugs are becoming more affordable thanks to President Trump’s Most Favored Nation reforms and direct savings delivered to patients through TrumpRx.gov — putting money back in Americans’ wallets.
Private sector workers have seen strong real wage gains, growing nearly $1,400 in just one year — decisively beating inflation.
- Blue-collar workers are winning biggest: mining workers up $2,400, construction workers up $2,100, and manufacturing workers up ~$1,700 in real terms.
- President Trump has delivered over 615,000 net private sector jobs in his second term, with federal employment falling to its lowest level since 1966 — the lowest level in recorded history as a share of the total workforce.
- All job growth is going to American workers in the private sector — not government expansion or illegal aliens.
Trump tax relief has yielded total tax savings exceeding $2,400 for many taxpayers through game-changing provisions like No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security, auto loan interest deductions for American-made vehicles, and much more.
Likewise, on the election-winning issue of law and order, the President could cite equally positive results.
- The murder rate in the nation’s biggest cities has fallen to its lowest level in at least 125 years — marking the largest single-year drop in recorded history.
- In 2025, the nation saw steep declines across every major violent crime category compared to the prior year, with overall murders down 19%, robberies down 20%, and aggravated assaults down nearly 10%.
- Axios: “Violent crime dropped sharply across America’s biggest cities in 2025.”
- Axios: “Violent crime dropped sharply across America’s biggest cities in 2025.”
- The nation also saw dramatic reductions in rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, shooting deaths (fewest since 2015), on-duty law enforcement officer deaths (80-year low), traffic fatalities, and overdose deaths.
- The Trump Administration captured a record number of criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted List — outpacing the number captured under Biden in just one year.
Law-and-order also gave President Trump an opportunity to troll the Democrats, pointing out the success of his law-and-order policies in Democrat-run jurisdictions.
- Washington, D.C.: Since President Trump’s crackdown began, murders declined 66%, carjackings dropped 82%, and overall crime fell by nearly a third compared to the prior year.
- Chicago: Last year, the city recorded the fewest murders since 1965, with shootings down by more than one-third.
- Memphis: The city recorded fewer than 200 murders last year for the first time since 2019, with shootings dropping nearly 40% from the previous year.
- New Orleans: Last year, the homicide rate fell to its lowest level in nearly 50 years.
- Ending Wars and Fostering Peace: As the “President of Peace,” President Trump has successfully ended eight long-standing conflicts, including those between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, Pakistan and India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Kosovo and Serbia, and Cambodia and Thailand. Meanwhile, President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan secured the release of all remaining hostages, established a Board of Peace for regional security and prosperity, and paved the way for lasting stability in the Middle East.
- Neutralizing Global Threats: Through Operation Midnight Hammer, President Trump decisively eliminated Iran’s nuclear weapons capability via targeted military strikes, escalated sanctions, and intelligence operations. Operation Absolute Resolve led to the capture of Venezuelan dictator and indicted narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro and his wife, while Operation Southern Spear eliminated 150 narcoterrorists in strikes against fentanyl-trafficking vessels, stemming the deadly flow of drugs into America.
- Strengthening Military Might: President Trump signed into law the largest-ever military budget, unveiled the “Golden Dome” for total orbital supremacy in homeland defense, and mobilized partnerships to rebuild America’s defense industrial base, restore shipbuilding, and reshore critical industries in aggressive pursuit of our own national interests.
- Reforming Foreign Aid and Diplomacy: President Trump banned funding to UNRWA due to its ties to Hamas, imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for overreach, reinstated the Mexico City Policy to prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting foreign abortions, and ordered U.S. embassies to fly only the American flag. He directed the State Department to always put America First, ensuring diplomats align with U.S. interests.
- Revitalizing the U.S. Military: The armed forces have achieved their best recruiting numbers in 15 years, with President Trump reinstating discharged service members from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, barring transgender enlistments, and restoring traditional names to military bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.
Every state of the union address ultimately about the next election. Through last night’s State of the Union speech, President Trump showed America who the Democrats are, and documented the case for maintaining Republican control of Congress, now it is up to Republican candidates for the House and Senate to hit the campaign trail with last night’s message.
To watch President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address go to https://www.c-span.org/classroom/document/?25659
