The president of the USA, Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union speech this Tuesday in the first year of his second termin a joint session of Congress marked by political polarization, tensions following the Supreme Court’s ruling on its tariffs and the backdrop of the 2026 midterm elections.
According to cnnthe message came at a complex moment for the president, shortly after the Supreme Court annulled a good part of his tariff agenda and while he is evaluating possible new military action against Iran.
Despite the context, Trump defended that the country is experiencing a period of strength. “The state of our union is strong,” he said.
According to EFEthe speech lasted 107 minutes, making it the longest before a joint session of Congress in the country’s history.
In the speech, Trump made no reference to Cuba nor to the recent measures adopted by his administration against the island.
Immigration: central axis and direct clash with the Democrats
Immigration once again occupied a central place in the presidential intervention. Trump assured that in the last nine months “zero illegal aliens” have been admitted to the country, and He defended his border policy as one of the greatest achievements of his administration.
Quoted by cnnthe president challenged Democratic lawmakers to stand up if they agreed that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Democrats remained seated, while Republicans gave a standing ovation.
The atmosphere became especially tense when Trump alluded to Minnesota. According to BBCclaimed that members of the Somali community had “looted” billions of taxpayer dollars, referring to a fraud case linked to food aid during the pandemic.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar shouted “liar” at him from her seat.
Likewise, Democratic congressmen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar shouted: “You are killing Americans!”, while legislator Al Green was expelled after carrying a protest sign, he said. France 24.
Economy, inflation and prices: promises and questions
Trump dedicated a good part of his speech to the domestic economy. He assured that inflation is “the lowest in the last five years.” and that the price of eggs has dropped by 60%, according to EFE and BBC.
However, cnn pointed out that The president made multiple false statements.
For example, when he said he had inherited inflation “at record levels”, despite the fact that recent data show figures well below the peak reached in 2022.
He also assured that gasoline was below $2.30 per gallon in some states, something that, according to the chain, is not supported by reality.
According to BBC Verifyalthough some prices have fallen (such as eggs), others Products such as coffee and certain foods are still more expensive than a year ago.
Trump also called on Congress to make permanent the ban on large investment firms buying single-family homes, a move he noted. BBCpresented as part of its effort to lower the cost of living.
The US begins to apply a 10% global tariff while Trump plans to raise it to 15%
Tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling
The speech came days after the Supreme Court struck down much of the tariffs imposed by Trump under a 1977 legal authority.
According to cnnthe president adopted a more moderate tone than in previous days and described the ruling as “an unfortunate ruling.”
He also stated that “congressional action will not be necessary” to maintain his tariff policy, despite the fact that the Constitution grants the Legislature the power to impose taxes.
Trump warned that any country that tries to take advantage of the court decision could face “much higher” tariffs, he said. AP.
The president also maintained that his power to negotiate new agreements could be “much worse” for other countries than the pacts already reached.
According to BBCthe law on which you seek to rely would allow you unilaterally impose tariffs for 150 daysafter which it would need support from Congress, a factor that could be complicated by the mid-term elections.
Foreign policy: Iran, Ukraine and Venezuela
In international matters, the speech was focused on justifying its foreign strategy to an increasingly skeptical public.
He 61% of adults disapprove of his handling of foreign policyaccording to surveys cited by the agency AP.
Iran
Trump explained that he is evaluating new actions against Tehran. “We erased it and they want to start over,” he said of previously attacked Iranian nuclear facilities.
He stated that is in negotiations with Iranalthough he has not yet heard the key phrase: that they will never develop a nuclear weapon.
Ukraine
The president briefly mentioned the war in ukrainereiterating that it works to end the conflict.
According to APRussian and Ukrainian officials hold talks mediated by the United States, although differences persist on central issues such as territory and the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere
As for Venezuela, Trump once again celebrated the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the military operation on January 3, calling it “an absolutely colossal victory for the security of the United States.”
He also stated that the country received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.
The president framed his regional policy within what he called restoring “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” in line with a more aggressive stance against drug trafficking and migration.
He also said that cross-border trafficking of fentanyl in the country has been reduced by 56% since he returned to power.
Polarization and reactions to Trump’s speech
In that scenario, the atmosphere in the Capitol reflected a deep partisan division. France 24 He described how Republicans repeatedly cheered the president while Democrats sat or booed him.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger offered the Democratic response, accusing the president of not presenting real solutions to the country’s urgent problems, according to reports from BBC and France 24.
A long and electoral speech
The speech, the longest before Congress, was aimed at the midterm elections, according to several media outlets.
According to cnn and France 24the president’s close team, including advisers such as Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, worked on a message aimed at projecting strength at a time of fluctuating approval.
Trump reiterated his “America First” narrativedefended his immigration and economic policy, and sought to reaffirm his leadership in foreign policy, on a night that confirmed both the centrality of his figure in American politics and the deep polarization that the country is going through.
