US State of the Union address LIVE: 'Scale of corruption unprecedented,' says Spanberger in response to Trump's speech

Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s Democratic governor, while delivering her party's response to Trump’s State of the Union address, said that the POTUS was using his time in the White House to ‘enrich himself’.

'Scale of corruption unprecedented,' she said, adding that Trump was courting foreign governments and princes for favours, listing the Qatari gifted Air Force One and the “donations” received for Trump's White House ballroom revamp.

Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s Democratic governor, has begun delivering the party’s response to Trump’s State of the Union address. “Let me ask you, the American people watching at home, three questions,” she said. “Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the president working to keep Americans safe, both at home and abroad? Is the president working for you?”

Trump also smashed his own 1-hour and 40-minute record for a presidential speech to Congress, which he set last March in an annual address that was not technically a State of the Union.

On Tuesday (Feb 24) US President Donald Trump beat former president Bill Clinton's record for the longest State of the Union speech. Clinton's final SOTU, delivered on January 27, 2000, lasted 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds (often rounded to about 1 hour and 29 minutes).

This is held as the longest spoken (in-person delivered) State of the Union address in modern recorded history (since at least 1964, per The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara), and it was widely noted as the longest overall for televised/in-person deliveries at the time.
 

“These people are crazy. I’m telling you, they’re crazy,” said Trump, slamming Democrats, while introducing Sage Blair, a Virginia teenager whom he claimed school officials “socially transition[ed] … to a new agenda, treating her as a boy and hiding it from her parents”.

The president said that Sage is now living as “a proud and wonderful young woman with a full-ride scholarship to Liberty University”.

US President Donald Trump formally introduced what he called a renewed “Peace Through Strength” doctrine during his State of the Union address.

Framing it as the guiding principle of his foreign policy, Trump said the United States would deter adversaries by maintaining unmatched military power while pushing for negotiated outcomes from a position of leverage.

Trump slams Iran, says nation has killed 32,000 people during protests. The POTUS touted ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ which targeted Iranian nuclear sites and said that Tehran continues to pursue ‘sinister ambitions’.

President Trump, during his State of the Union address, once again claimed he has claimed eight wars, including the one between India and Pakistan. The POTUS claimed that the “Prime Minister of Pakistan would've died if not for me”.

A Democratic congressman was removed from the House chamber on Tuesday (Feb 24) night after staging a protest during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Representative Al Green of Texas stood up as Trump entered to address the joint session of Congress, holding a sign that read, “Black people aren’t apes!” The message referred to a racist video that had briefly appeared earlier this month on Trump’s Truth Social account. The clip, which was later deleted, depicted former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.

Read more here

Trump administration here to ‘protect Americans, not aliens,’ says President Donald Trump. The remark triggered thunderous applause from Republican lawmakers, while many Democrats remained seated.

Trump asks Congress to pass 'Delilah law', a proposal he said would tighten standards for issuing commercial driver licences. He claimed that immigrants can't even read signboards and should not be given commercial licenses.

US President Donald Trump claimed during his State of the Union address that the “typical 401K is up by $30,000” since he returned to office.

A 401K is a retirement savings plan in the United States. It lets workers put part of their salary into an investment account before taxes are taken out.

US President Donald Trump made a brief reference to a possible “third term” during his State of the Union address. The comment appeared to be delivered in a light or teasing tone, but it quickly caught attention, given that the US Constitution bars presidents from serving more than two terms.

US President Donald Trump said Americans who have long paid the highest prices for prescription drugs will soon pay the least.

“Americans who've historically paid the most for prescription drugs will now pay the least,” Trump claimed during his State of the Union address.

Trump slams ‘Obamacare’, claiming that it was ‘meant for insurance companies’. He touted his ‘The Great Healthcare Plan’ as the solution to health problems of America.

US President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address to defend his tariff policy, days after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down key elements of his global trade measures.

Calling the ruling “unfortunate,” Trump, in front of justices, argued that the tariffs were designed to protect American workers and ‘save’ the country.

Trump slams opposition, saying, “All Democrats, every single one of them, voted against very necessary massive tax cuts. They wanted large-scale tax increases to hurt people instead.” He also touted "One Big Beautiful Bill" as the solution.

US President Donald Trump honoured Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan for his heroism during the devastating 2025 Texas floods.

The 26 year old rescue swimmer was praised as an “American hero” after saving 165 people during his very first rescue mission.

US President Donald Trump announced that Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, calling it a major moment for the United States. “LA will be safe for the Olympics, just like Washington DC is now,” he added.

The Games, officially awarded years ago by the International Olympic Committee, are set to return to Los Angeles for the third time, after previously being staged there in 1932 and 1984.

US President Donald Trump announced he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to US men’s hockey captain Connor Hellebuyck.

Trump claims that the Biden administration in four years got “much less than one trillion” in investments, while he, in his one year back in power, has brought in “much more than” 18 trillion in investments.

Trump claims that the mortgage rates have gone down significantly under him.

Trump, slamming his predecessor Joe Biden, says America witnessed the worst inflation under the Democrat. 

Trump claims that in his 13 months in office, the cross-border flow of deadly drug Fentanyl has gone down by 56 per cent.

"America is respected again, perhaps like never before," Donald Trump stated, linking this sentiment to his focus on border security.

US President Trump says he ‘inherited a nation in crisis’ and in just one year, he executed a ‘turnaround for the ages’

Trump touts ‘Golden age of America’

"President Donald J. Trump has arrived to the Capitol for his 2026 State of the Union address," announced the White House on X. 

US President Donald Trump will boast that his administration has delivered a "turnaround for the ages" as he addresses Congress, according to speech excerpts released by the White House.

"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 is expected to say in his State of the Union speech, where he will defend his accomplishments and lay out future priorities.

President Donald Trump will tell Congress he will "confront threats" to the nation, according to excerpts from his State of the Union speech, as the United States expands its military presence near Iran.

"As president, I will make peace wherever I can -- but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must," Trump will say in his first State of the Union address since he began his second presidential term 13 months ago.

Members of US President Donald Trump’s Cabinet have begun arriving in the House chamber ahead of the State of the Union address.

US First Lady Melania Trump has arrived in the House chamber ahead of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Melania was seen greeting lawmakers and guests as she made her way to her seat in the gallery, where family members, guests and senior officials traditionally watch the president’s annual address to Congress.

America’s top Roman Catholic leaders have issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies as “detrimental to human rights.”

The statement was released Tuesday, just hours before US President Donald Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address, where immigration is expected to feature prominently.

In their joint message, the clergy said they were “concerned” about what they described as “recent and ongoing immigration enforcement activities against individuals and families who are without legal status in our country.”

The signatories include bishops from states along the US borders with Mexico and Canada, as well as Rhode Island and Kentucky.

Trump fought for months against the release of the Epstein files before signing legislation passed by Congress requiring their publication.

His name appears multiple times in the documents, but he has not been charged with any wrongdoing and has denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.

Speaking at the press conference, Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips urged governments around the world to open "independent investigations into every single person of power" named in files released by the US Justice Department.

She said every person connected to wrongdoing must be investigated and, if appropriate, held accountable. "Some may have committed no crimes. Some may have. But every person connected to wrongdoing and Epstein's world in any nation must be investigated, and, if appropriate, held accountable," she said.

So far, only one person has been convicted in connection with Epstein's crimes in the US.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 of recruiting and grooming minor girls for him.

Epstein himself died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Several survivors of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein will attend US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Democrat lawmakers said, turning the spotlight back on the long-running scandal.

"Today the world will see Donald Trump have to face these survivors right there in the House gallery," Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington state, said at a press conference.

"Ambassadors and princes have been arrested in other countries," Jayapal said. "But here in America, not a single investigation has been announced into the paedophiles and predators of Epstein's horrific sex trafficking ring."

The survivors are expected to sit in the House gallery as Trump delivers his speech to Congress.
 

The guest lists for the State of the Union address are also drawing attention. Trump has invited the US men’s ice hockey team following their Olympic gold win, though the women’s team, as per US media reports, has declined.

He has also invited Erika Kirk, the widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk, and a transgender teen whose mother sued a high school over claims officials hid the fact that the child was transitioning.

Meanwhile, two Democratic lawmakers are bringing relatives of a victim of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, keeping that controversy in the spotlight.

Democrats have announced plans for boycotts and silent protests during the constitutionally mandated address.
 

The speech comes at a delicate political moment.

A recent Washington Post ABC News Ipsos poll showed Trump’s approval rating at 39 per cent. Support for his handling of the economy stood at 41 per cent, and just 32 per cent approved of his performance on inflation.

Foreign policy is likely to feature prominently in Trump's State of the Union address. Global attention is on whether Trump will signal possible military action against Iran, amid a significant US military buildup in the region.

Reports suggest he will promote what his administration calls a "peace through strength" approach, following recent interventions, including in Venezuela.

President Donald Trump willdeliver his State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday (Feb 24) night, marking his second major speech to Congress this term and the last before the 2026 midterm elections.

The speech is scheduled to begin at 9 pm Eastern Time (7:30 am IST) at the US Capitol. Major US television networks are expected to broadcast the speech live. 

WION will also provide live coverage of the State of the Union, including key updates and expert analysis. Track WION website, social media for all LIVE updates.

Ahead of his first State of the Union address of this term, Trump himself warned that it was "going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about."

Despite the turbulence, the White House says Trump will project confidence.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the press that the president will tell Congress that America is "strong, prosperous and respected" as it approaches its 250th anniversary.

Trump is also expected to "proudly tout his administration's many record-breaking accomplishments" and lay out what aides describe as an "ambitious agenda to continue bringing the American Dream back for working people."

This address comes on the heels of a major blow to Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down Trump's global tariffs, a key pillar of his economic strategy.

The ruling marked a major setback. Trump had framed the levies as central to boosting American manufacturing and protecting domestic jobs. He is expected to use his State of the Union address to once again defend those policies.

US President Donald Trump is set to use his State of the Union address to make a forceful pitch on the economy, even as he faces political headwinds ahead of crucial midterm elections. After a tumultuous first year back in office, Trump is grappling with low approval ratings and fresh criticism over his economic policies.