President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in recent history Tuesday night, speaking for approximately one hour and 48 minutes as he defended his first year back in office and outlined an ambitious second-term agenda.
According to data compiled by the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, the speech was the longest such address since at least 1964. It surpassed Trump’s own previous modern record of one hour and 40 minutes during his 2025 joint address to Congress.
“Golden Age of America”
Speaking before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Trump declared that the country is entering a “golden age,” touting what he described as a sweeping turnaround on immigration, the economy, trade and national security.
“In just one year, we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump said. “This is the golden age of America.”
Republicans repeatedly rose in applause throughout the address, while most Democrats remained seated. Tensions flared at several points, particularly during discussions of immigration enforcement and alleged fraud.
Early in the speech, Rep. Al Green of Texas was escorted from the chamber after holding up a sign reading, “Black people aren’t apes!” The protest followed controversy over a previously shared video from Trump’s social media account.
Medals of Honor Awarded
In a historic first for a State of the Union, Trump awarded the Medal of Honor during the address. He presented the nation’s highest military honor to 100-year-old Korean War veteran E. Royce Williams, recognizing his role in a 1952 aerial battle in which he shot down four Soviet MiG fighter jets.
The president also awarded the Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, a helicopter pilot wounded during a raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Both honorees received extended standing ovations.
Emotional Moments and Special Guests
Trump recognized several guests in the House gallery, including the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team. He announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In an emotional moment, Trump reunited a woman in attendance with her uncle, who had been detained under the Maduro regime. The reunion drew bipartisan applause.
The president also honored National Guard members who were shot while serving in Washington, D.C., and recognized their families.
Immigration, Iran and Ukraine
Immigration dominated large portions of the speech. Trump highlighted what he called the “most secure border in American history” and demanded that Congress restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security amid a partial shutdown.
Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, vocally objected during portions of the address, prompting rebukes from Republicans and visible frustration from the president.
On foreign policy, Trump reiterated that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and said the U.S. had “obliterated” key Iranian nuclear facilities. He added that he prefers diplomacy but would not rule out military action.
He also said his administration is “working hard” to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which marked four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24.
Economy, Tariffs and Health Care
Trump credited tariffs for what he called a “stunning economic turnaround,” despite a recent Supreme Court ruling striking down many of his global tariffs. He pledged to pursue alternative legal avenues to maintain trade measures and suggested tariffs could eventually replace income taxes.
The president called on Congress to:
- Pass the SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Ban corporations from purchasing single-family homes.
- Codify lower prescription drug prices under a “most-favored nation” model.
- Pass legislation limiting congressional stock trading.
- Expand retirement plan access to private-sector workers.
He also announced agreements with tech companies to require them to generate their own power for artificial intelligence data centers to prevent electricity rate hikes for consumers.
Democratic Response
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response, focusing heavily on affordability and criticizing what she described as chaos under the Trump administration.
“We did not hear the truth from our president,” Spanberger said, arguing that families are still struggling with rising costs.
Divided Chamber, Historic Length
The address unfolded in a sharply divided chamber, with Republicans offering enthusiastic support and Democrats largely silent, though some staged symbolic protests.
At one hour and 48 minutes, the speech cemented Trump’s place in the record books for the longest State of the Union address in modern history — a marathon address reflecting both the scale of his agenda and the intensity of the nation’s political divide.
