Trump's record-long State of the Union mixed patriotic imagery, slaps at Democrats

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech mixed red meat for his loyal base with repeated jabs at Democrats, tributes to the country’s 250th anniversary and defenses of his hard-line immigration policies.

For an hour and 48 minutes, the longest such speech on record, Trump ticked off policy highlights from his first year back in office — ramped up immigration enforcement, a massive new tax plan, "ending" pro-diversity programs. But he offered few details about new policy proposals heading into a midterm election season where he will seek to broaden his base to boost Republicans.

"We're winning so much that we really don't know what to do about it," Trump told lawmakers, his cabinet and other guests invited to the Tuesday night address.

Trump’s broad new pledges in his speech included a plan to reduce utility costs by forcing tech companies to bear more responsibility for utility-draining data centers and plans for a "great health care plan" to replace the Obama-era Affordable Care Act that would give money "directly to the people so they can buy their own health care."

Lawrence Levy, executive dean of Hofstra University’s National Center for Suburban Studies, said Trump missed an opportunity to talk more about his economic plans in the coming year, with polls continuing to show the state of the economy as the top concern among voters.

"It’s hard to see, regardless of how you feel about the president and his policies, that he said much to make people feel differently," about the state of the economy, Levy said, noting polls show Trump’s approval rating on the economy has been in decline over the past year.

"He especially didn’t help himself by spending as much time airing grievances that people have heard and, according to polls, are getting tired of hearing, and by spending the bulk of his time, not on the economy and affordability, but on other issues that a majority of Americans see as distractions."

Republican leaders, however, praised the speech’s economic messaging.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) said in a post on X: "President Donald Trump made it clear: the economy is moving in the right direction."

Here are five takeaways from Trump’s speech:

Midterm sales pitch

In a midterm election year in which Democrats have seized on the message of "affordability," Trump sought to lay out his plans to address rising costs, while asserting that his "drill baby drill" policies are driving down gas prices.

The president announced that he has struck a deal with tech companies that would require them to "provide for their own power needs" and ease the burden on strained utility systems that are driving up electric costs.

Trump offered few details about the program, which he called the "rate payer protection pledge," including how many companies have agreed and when the program will be rolled out.

"We are telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs — so that no one’s prices will go up," Trump said.

Trump argued that the tax cuts adopted under last year’s "big, beautiful" tax and spending megabill would also bring relief to taxpayers this tax season.

Despite the Supreme Court's decision last week striking down his global tariff plan, the president insisted that he would find an alternative path to continue levying taxes on imported products — a cost retailers contend is ultimately paid by consumers.

"And as time goes by, I believe the tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love," Trump said.

Foreign policy focus

Entering the speech, Trump faced questions about his threats to enter into conflict with Iran, the future role of the U.S. in Venezuela after he greenlit the ouster of its leader and the country’s support for Ukraine.

Days after threatening that "bad things" would happen to Iran if it does not reach a nuclear peace deal with the U.S. soon, he said in Tuesday’s speech that "my preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy," before adding that he will never "allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon."

Trump praised the military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuela’s former president, saying the U.S. will reap rewards from the oil-rich nation.

"We just received from our new friend and partner, Venezuela, more than 80 million barrels of oil," Trump said.

On Ukraine, the President insisted his administration is "working hard" to end the four-year war with Russia.

Sparring with Democrats

Dozens of Democrats — more than 70 — boycotted Trump’s speech, opting to attend competing events. But that did not defuse the tension between Trump and those Democrats who were in the chamber on Tuesday.

Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) shouted at Trump "You’ve killed Americans," mentioning Alex Pretti, a nurse who was shot to death by immigration agents in Minnesota last month and "Epstein files."

The outbursts came as Trump took aim at Minnesota’s Somali American community. Trump said Somalis had "pillaged" funds from the federal government, referring to reports that nonprofits serving the Somali community bilked the federal government of funds meant to provide meals and educational programs to people during the pandemic.

Earlier in the night, as Trump entered the chamber, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) held up a sign that read "Black people aren’t apes" — taking aim at Trump for posting a video clip earlier this month that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.

Trump has said he believed he was posting a video on election fraud and "didn’t see" the final seconds of the clip that included the racist image.

Green, who last year was censured after shouting to Trump that he did not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, was ushered out of the chamber by House sergeant-at-arms staffers.

Trump also used the speech to try to corner Democrats, in an age when viral video clips often outlast the content of a speech. He asked them to stand if they believed their "first duty" was to protect American citizens, not immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status.

When Democrats remained seated, Trump said they should be "ashamed."

Spotlight on Epstein survivors

Victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to make their presence known on Capitol Hill as several were invited to attend the speech as guests of congressional Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Epstein’s accusers have displayed a united front over the past year, appearing at news conferences in front of the Capitol and at congressional hearings, demanding accountability for the financier’s alleged years of sexually abusing minors.

They were part of a pressure campaign that led Congress last November to pass legislation mandating the release of the Department of Justice’s trove of documents tied to the Epstein investigation.

While the department has been releasing the files in waves, the alleged victims have decried instances where victim identities were revealed, while some of the powerful men in Epstein’s orbit have been concealed.

Dani Bensky, a New Yorker who attended the speech as Schumer’s guest, said her identifying information was left unredacted when a tranche of documents was released.

"Trump and the [Department of Justice] need to release all of the files, every single file," Bensky said at a news conference with Schumer earlier in the day. "We want the men who caused serious harm to so many victims to be investigated and held accountable."

Some members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus wore white and tags stating Stand With Survivors: Release The Files.

"It is crucial to join forces, lead by example, and continue lighting the way for generations to come," said Teresa Helm, an alleged Epstein victim who was invited to attend Tuesday’s speech by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).

Made for TV moments

Trump used the occasion to pay tribute to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary — invoking themes of patriotism and honoring American service members.

"The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the hearts of every American Patriot," Trump said.

Minutes into his speech, Trump invited members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team to stand in the gallery with their recently won gold medals.

He also doled out medals — awarding the Purple Heart to two U.S. National Guard troops shot last November while patrolling the nation’s capital, and the Legion of Merit award to a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who helped rescue 165 campers and staff from a flooded Texas campsite for kids. He presented three Medal of Honor awards to two service members involved in the Venezuela operation and a 100-year-old Navy fighter pilot.

Newsday's Billy House contributed to this story.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.