WASHINGTON—Donald Trump on Feb. 24 delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term, outlining what he described as a historic economic turnaround and reaffirming his administration’s America First agenda as the nation approaches the November midterm elections.
Addressing a joint session of Congress, the president declared that his policies have driven sweeping change across the economy and national security landscape.
“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,” Trump said. “We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago.”
The president credited his administration with strengthening border security, reducing crime and inflation, lowering energy costs, attracting trillions of dollars in private investment, and ending federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Framing his first year as a decisive break from the previous administration, Trump contrasted his policies with those of Joe Biden, asserting that he inherited a nation facing economic and security challenges. He said core inflation has declined to 1.7 percent—its lowest level in more than five years—after peaking during the prior administration.
The address, which set a record as the longest State of the Union speech in modern history, positioned Trump’s second term as the beginning of what he called a new “golden age” for the country.
With Republicans defending narrow majorities in Congress, the president focused heavily on affordability and economic security for working families.
The speech took place months ahead of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. In recognition of the milestone, House Speaker Mike Johnson displayed the ceremonial gavel used by George Washington to lay the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in 1793.
Tariffs and the Supreme Court
Trump addressed last week’s Supreme Court ruling striking down tariffs imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, calling the decision “unfortunate.” In response, he signed a new executive order implementing a 10 percent global tariff under alternative statutory authorities.
“I used these tariffs to take in hundreds of billions of dollars, to make great deals for our country, both economically and on a national security basis,” Trump said, arguing that the policy strengthened U.S. leverage in trade negotiations.
Four Supreme Court justices attended the address and were acknowledged by the president as he entered the chamber. While Trump had previously criticized members of the court who supported the ruling, his remarks during the speech were measured in tone.
New Policy Initiatives
Trump used the national platform to unveil several domestic policy proposals focused on cost-of-living concerns.
Among them were “rate payer protection pledges,” voluntary agreements with major technology companies constructing artificial intelligence data centers to cover their own electricity costs in order to prevent consumer price increases.
He also called on Congress to pass legislation permanently barring large Wall Street investment firms from purchasing single-family homes in bulk.
“Homes are for people, not corporations,” Trump said.
The president urged lawmakers to restore full funding to the Department of Homeland Security amid an ongoing partial government shutdown and pressed for additional border security resources.
On taxes, Trump highlighted provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including eliminating taxes on the first $25,000 in tips. He cited guest Megan Hemhauser, a waitress who benefited from the measure, as an example of the legislation’s impact on working Americans.
Trump also pointed to executive actions aimed at reducing prescription drug costs and said the stock market has reached 53 record highs since his reelection, boosting retirement savings and pensions nationwide.
“Our nation is back—bigger, richer, and stronger than ever before,” he said.
He further announced a one-year federal matching contribution of up to $1,000 for Americans’ 401(k) accounts.
Border Security and Crime
Trump reported that illegal border crossings reached a 50-year low in 2025, with December encounters falling to fewer than 31,000—a 92 percent decline from a year earlier.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, no illegal immigrants have been released into the United States for at least eight consecutive months.
The president credited his administration’s enforcement policies for what he described as historic reductions in violent crime, including a 20 percent drop in robberies, a 19 percent decline in murders, and a 10 percent decrease in aggravated assaults compared to 2024 levels.
He also announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead a new federal initiative targeting fraud, including welfare fraud cases in Minnesota.
Economic Outlook
Trump emphasized that economic growth has outpaced forecasts and defied recession predictions, citing strong business investment—particularly in artificial intelligence—as a driver of momentum.
“Factories, jobs, investment, and trillions of dollars will continue pouring into the United States of America—because we finally have a president who puts America first,” Trump said. “I love America.”
With an audience expected to approach 30 million viewers, the president used the address to deliver an expansive economic message aimed at energizing his political base while appealing to independent and working-class voters ahead of the midterm elections.
