Trump Delivers 2026 State of the Union Address to Joint Session of Congress
President Donald Trump stood before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, delivering his first official State of the Union Address of his second term. The speech, delivered at 9:00 p.m. ET from the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol, came at a pivotal and politically charged moment in his presidency.
Trump Opens the State of the Union Address With Bold Claims
Trump opened his State of the Union Address with a sweeping declaration, telling lawmakers that after just one year, his administration had achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages. He told the chamber that the nation is back — bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before, setting an aggressive tone from the very first minutes of the address.
Economy and Cost of Living Dominate the State of the Union
The economy remained the centerpiece of the State of the Union Address, with voters signaling in pre-speech polls that they most wanted to hear about affordability and cost of living. Trump pointed to executive actions from his first year back in office and called on Congress to make his ban on major investors purchasing single-family homes permanent, a proposal with rare bipartisan support in both chambers.
DEI, Housing, and the 250th Anniversary Highlighted
Trump used the State of the Union Address to tout the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, declaring that his administration ended DEI in America. He also pointed to the coming milestone of July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, framing it as a moment of national renewal and ambition for the future of the country.
Disruptions and Democratic Response at the State of the Union
The night was not without drama. Texas Representative Al Green was escorted from the chamber after holding up a sign protesting racially charged content posted to the White House's social media. Roughly fifty Democratic lawmakers boycotted the State of the Union Address entirely, while a counter-event dubbed the "People's State of the Union" ran simultaneously from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic response to Trump's address.
Special Guests and Supreme Court Attendance at the Address
Trump invited the U.S. Men's Olympic Ice Hockey team to the State of the Union Address following the team's gold medal victory over Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett attended the address. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson were absent from the chamber.
What the State of the Union Address Signals Heading Into Midterms
The State of the Union Address arrives as Trump's Republican Party braces for the 2026 midterm elections. The speech served as a launch pad for the GOP's legislative agenda, with themes of economic strength, border security, and national pride running throughout. The backdrop of a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security added urgency and political tension to an already high-stakes evening on Capitol Hill.
