President Trump Declares 'Golden Age' in Record-Long State of the Union Address

"...A defiant Trump has declared that the things have never been better for the United States and the best is yet to come, using his record-breaking State of the Union address to highlight his able stewardship of the country...."

"...The triumphant tone from Trump is designed to counter his flagging popularity...."

"...Voters are even more downbeat on his handling of tariffs (64 per cent disapprove) and inflation (65 per cent disapprove)...."

"...Trump used his address to counter their sour mood, saying that the country was thriving...."

"...You can read our full wrap of Trump’s speech here...."

"...Now the President’s address is over, let’s look back at some key moments we might’ve missed in the chaos...."

"...The first thing that comes to mind is Trump’s tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, who was killed at a rally in September, 2025. Kirk was a close ally of the president...."

"...Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk was in the crowd as the US President turned to honour her late husband...."

"...Erika was tearful in the crowd as she thanked the president and those standing around her...."

"...Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger was giving the Democratic Party response following Trump’s speech...."

"...She offered a sharp contrast to Trump’s depiction of the nation as being in a “golden age” during his State of the Union, arguing that costs remain high for many Americans more than a year into his second term...."

"...Her message, that families are still struggling under Trump’s policies, is one Democrats plan to carry nationwide ahead of the midterm elections...."

"...Party leaders point to Spanberger’s double-digit victory in Virginia last November as validation of a disciplined, cost-focused campaign they now hope to replicate across the country...."

"...She had far less time than the Republican president to make her case...."

"...As viewership tends to drop the longer the speech runs, the response has become one of the more perilous assignments in politics...."

"...Now–Secretary of State Marco Rubio was widely mocked for reaching for a water bottle during the GOP response in 2013...."

"...Other rebuttals have quickly faded from memory...."

"...Even with the time disadvantage, Democrats argue the political winds are shifting in their favour...."

"...Spanberger’s win in Virginia was followed by other high-profile Democratic victories, including a special election earlier this month in Texas, where a Democrat flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district that Trump carried by 17 percentage points in 2024...."

"...Some Democrats chose to make their point by skipping Trump’s address...."

"...Counterprogramming events are planned, including a “State of the Swamp” featuring Democratic lawmakers alongside state and local leaders and celebrities...."

"...And to wrap up this mammoth speech, Trump is turning to the 250 years of America...."

"...In closing, Trump said:..."

"...His final words after a record-length address? A simple “thank you, God bless you, and God bless America”...."

"...On his way out, he’s told it was the best speech ever...."

"...He’s also asked for a dozen selfies...."

"...One man is heard telling the President he “should take the rest of the day off”...."

"...We’re talking wars now, and Trump is boasting of his achievements in ending them...."

"...He said the war between Ukraine and Russia would have never happened if he was president four years ago...."

"...He said:..."

"...Trump has used his speech to ask Congress to pass a new law, one he will call the Delilah Law, that will bar any state from granting a commercial driver’s licence to “illegal aliens”...."

"...This is a topic that is sure to divide the room, but sitting at the back is a guest with a harrowing story that Trump has used to push this legislation...."

"...He then pivoted to the Democratic side of the room, telling them they “not only allowed the border invasion to happen before I got involved, but indeed they would do it all over again if they ever had the chance”...."

"...“If they ever got elected, they would open up those borders to some of the worst criminals anywhere in the world,” he said...."

"...“The only thing standing between Americans and a wide open border right now is President Donald J Trump.”..."