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America has made “a transformation for many years,” President Donald Trump celebrated at the Congress of the Americans on Tuesday evening when he delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term.
“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved unprecedented change,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday evening.
Trump delivered a long speech that broke records as the longest in recent history, as the president celebrated ending diversity, equality and inclusion policies, protecting the border, freeing US power, and most notably, strengthening the economy and helping Americans every day.
Trump’s speech focused on how his administration has turned a new page in the sluggish economy under the Biden administration that has seen inflation rise to 40-year highs, pointing to “big, beautiful” savings for working families, such as not paying taxes on tips or overtime.
President Donald Trump walks past Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Brent Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett as he arrives at the State of the Union Feb. 24, 2026, Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump singled out one guest at the speech, a homeschooling mother and waitress whose family benefited from Trump’s tax plans.
“I met Megan Hemhauser, a dedicated mother who homeschools her children,” Trump said during his speech. “Waiting tables late at night while her husband works overtime working heavy machinery. Megan is here tonight, and she’s happy to tell you she’s rich, very rich because, except for the tip tax, no overtime tax, and our expanded child tax credit that was also done by the Republicans, Megan and her husband will take home more than $5,000 a year, reducing her tax bill.”
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The economy and savings took center stage in the speech, with Trump celebrating that his administration is bringing in lower prices for Americans following the Biden administration.
“The Biden administration and their allies in Congress have given us the worst inflation in our country’s history,” he said. “But in 12 months, my administration has driven the core inflation to the lowest level in more than five years. And in the last three months of 2025, it has decreased to 1.7%. Gasoline, which reached a high price of more than $ 6 a liter in some states under my predecessor. It was really a disaster, now it is less than $ 2.9 in many places of $ 90 in many places of $ 90. And when I visited the great state of Iowa A few weeks ago, I even saw $1.85 a liter of gas.”
Tariffs have played a major role in Trump’s economic plan for the nation, with the Supreme Court striking down his tax policies on Friday when it overturned his use of emergency legislation to impose shock tariffs on many of America’s trading partners. Four of the nine justices present at the hearing, including John Roberts, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, ruled against Trump in the decision.
Trump called the decision “unfortunate” during his speech, before looking to the future and looking at different legal options to bring in tariffs.
The speech included a few outbursts from Democrats, especially when Al Green of Texas Democratic Rep. was again excluded from the room, as he was in Trump’s first speech of 2025. Green was seen holding a sign that read, “Black people are not monkeys!”
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The speech included a few outbursts from Democrats, especially when Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
Trump invited a number of guests to the speech, including everyday Americans, Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, the US men’s hockey team that just won a gold medal, members of the military who have served bravely in times of crisis and families who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants.
Trump took shots at Democrats throughout the address, including when lawmakers refused to confirm that they believe “the first job of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
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“Isn’t that a shame?” Trump said as Democrats remained seated.
The president’s speech highlighted the problem of illegal immigration under the Biden administration, including inviting guests who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants.
Another visitor, Dalilah Coleman, was just five years old when she was left with serious injuries after a car accident in California in 2024. The accident involved an illegal immigrant who was driving a truck.
Trump delivers the first official State of the Union of his second term. (Getty Images)
“The driver was an illegal immigrant, who was approved by Joe Biden and given a driver’s license with open borders, politicians and doctors in California say Dalilah will not be able to walk or talk,” Trump said. “He wouldn’t even be able to eat again. But no matter what, he’s now in first grade, learning to walk. And he’s here tonight with his dad, Marcus, a smart man.”
The speech included a number of headlines, especially when the president awarded a number of high-level honors for bravery. Trump honored 100-year-old pilot and veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, Royce Williams, with a Congressional Medal of Honor.
“In 1952, Royce was on the legendary dogfight of a lifetime flying in hurricane-force weather when his squadron was attacked by seven Soviet fighter jets,” Trump said. “It was his first aerial combat of the war, and despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the downing of four enemy planes and nearly destroyed others, defeating his enemies while taking 263 bullets from his plane and being seriously wounded. His story was a secret for more than 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife the legend, but the legend grew and grew.”
Trump also honored Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover with a medal of honor on Tuesday. Slover operated an Army Chinook helicopter during the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January and was wounded by heavy fire during the operation.
Gold medalist hockey player Jack Hughes poses for a photo with members of Team USA, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Trump announced that American men’s hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after the American team’s victory over Canada in the Olympics.
He honored US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was brutally attacked on the streets of Washington, DC, before Thanksgiving 2025, with a Purple Heart.
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He also honored Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 people during the devastating Texas floods in July 2025, with the Legion of Merit for extraordinary heroism.
US Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, and Milly Cate McClymond whom he saved during the Texas floods, are being honored by President Donald Trump. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump’s speech comes as the GOP prepares to defend its majority in the House and Senate as the November term approaches, and as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence.
“It’s the 250th anniversary of our glorious American independence. On July 4th, we’ll mark two and a half centuries of freedom and victory, progress and freedom in the most amazing and unique nation that ever walked the face of the earth. And you ain’t seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better and better and better. This is America’s golden age.
Trump delivered a forward-looking speech when he acknowledged the founding of the nation 250 years ago.
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“The revolution that began in 1776 is not over,” Trumps said. “It continues because the flame of freedom and independence is still burning in the hearts of every American patriot, and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, brighter than before. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.”
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