Summary of the 2026 State of the Union address… Trump praises economic gains and his roles in international hotbeds of tension
Booksology US President Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union address on Monday, February 24, in which he focused partly on the economy, promoting his policies and their internal and external effects.
The speech came less than a week after Trump’s major defeat at the Supreme Court over the tariff policy that formed the cornerstone of his second term. It also came at a time when the US President is facing voter dissatisfaction with his management of the economy, according to the latest opinion polls.
Here are live updates from CNBC Arabia, of the highlights of the speech:
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âRelease the files.â Epsteinâs case is present in the âState of the Unionâ address.
California Democrat and former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, attends the State of the Union address wearing a pin that says âRelease the Filesâ and includes a black line before the word âFiles,â indicating a redacted or redacted word.
The same pin is worn by a number of other Democrats.
In recent weeks, Democrats and some Republicans have been vocal in demanding that the Justice Department release more of the Epstein files.
A number of House Democrats also brought survivors of Epstein’s assaults as their guests for tonight’s speech.
Trump breaks the record
Trump just broke the record for longest presidential address to Congress
In 2025, Trump spoke for 1 hour and 40 minutes, beating the previous record of 1 hour and 29 minutes set by Clinton in 2000.
Trump: Iran is working on building missiles that âwill soon reach Americaâ
The US President said during his State of the Union address that Iran’s missiles pose a threat to Europe and to US bases abroad.
Trump claims that Tehran is working to “build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”
The decisive word that Trump is waiting for from Iran.. What is it?
Trump says he prefers to reach an agreement with Iran, but “its leaders have not responded to American demands.”
The US President added, during his State of the Union address: âWe are negotiating with them. They want to conclude a deal, but we have not heard those decisive words: We will never have a nuclear weapon.â
He adds: I prefer to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: âI will never allow the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world to possess a nuclear weapon.â
What did Trump say about âUkraineâ in his State of the Union address?
The US President says that his administration is “working hard” to end what he described as “murder and massacre between Russia and Ukraine, where 25,000 soldiers die every month.”
Trump describes the war – which has begun its fifth year – as “a war that would not have happened if I were president.”
Trump praises “ending eight wars in his first ten months in office,” and says: “As president, I will seek peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront the threats facing America wherever necessary.”
Trump: Fraud is widespread in our elections
The US President calls on Congress to pass an election-related bill known as SAVE America, and Democrats widely oppose the project, warning that it could deprive millions of eligible voters of their right to vote.
The legislation requires Americans to show proof of their citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections, in addition to implementing requirements to show a photo ID when casting a vote.
Trump claimed that âfraud is rampant in our elections,â adding that the bill was âvery simple,â requiring voters to show identification and prove citizenship.
Previous versions of the project passed the House of Representatives, but its passage in the Senate – where most legislation requires 60 votes to advance – seems unlikely, according to NBC News.
The president made an appeal to the Senate Majority Leader during his speech, claiming that Democrats don’t want to pass the legislation because they want to cheat in the election. “We’ve got to stop it, John,” Trump said.
Details of the moment of escalation of tensions in the House of Representatives hall
Tensions rose on the House floor during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address over immigration and the “war on fraud.”
The most tense moment was when Trump spoke about his ongoing campaign to remove undocumented immigrants and his âwar on fraud,â two statements that angered a number of Democratic representatives.
When he mentioned the ongoing deportations, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California held up a double-sided sign bearing pictures of Renee Judd and Alex Peretti, with their names with the phrase: âMurder.â
Judd and Pretty were killed by federal immigration agents during operations in Minneapolis earlier this year, sparking widespread protests and anger in the community.
Trump to Democrats: You should be ashamed of yourselves
âYou should be ashamed of yourselves for not standing up.â This is what the US President said to the Democrats on the floor of the House of Representatives.
This came after he asked representatives to “stand up and show your support” for the idea that the US government’s first duty is to “protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Republicans stood and applauded loudly at Trump’s call, while some looked at their dead-faced colleagues on the Democratic side of the room!
State of the Union addresses typically involve one side of the room standing and applauding when the president of their party is in office, while the other side sits without applauding.
âAs we speak, Democrats in this room are cutting all funding to the Department of Homeland Security,â Trump said.
He later added: “These people are crazy. They are crazy. The Democrats are ruining the country, but we stopped it at the last minute.”
Trump received a rare bipartisan applause when he launched this initiative
Trump calls for a stock trading ban on members of Congress, leading to a rare moment of bipartisan applause.
âWhile we ensure that all Americans can benefit from a rising stock market, let us also ensure that members of Congress do not profit corruptly through the use of inside information,â Trump said.
In January, a House committee approved a bill banning MPs from purchasing new shares. Many Democrats described the bill as too weak, as it would still allow representatives to benefit from inside information.
The US President reveals a pledge to technology companies.. What is it?
Trump says he has secured a pledge from technology companies that they will supply their own power to their artificial intelligence data centers.
The American President adds: They can build their own generating stations as part of their factories so that electricity prices do not rise for anyone…and in many cases, electricity prices for society will decrease, very significantly.
Data centers are facing political backlash in various communities in the United States, as people hold these facilities responsible for rising electricity prices due to massive energy demand.
Trump adds: âI told them that they can build their own plants, and they will produce electricity themselves.â
Trump: Customs duties will replace income tax
The US President says he believes his tariffs will replace income taxes, just days after the Supreme Court eliminated much of his authority to impose tariffs.
âOver time, I believe that, as in the past, tariffs paid by foreign countries will largely replace the modern income tax system, relieving a significant financial burden on the people I love,â Trump added during his State of the Union address.
Trump has previously stated that he believes he can replace the income tax with his tariffs. However, economic policy experts doubt the possibility of such a move, according to CNBC. Customs duties are paid by importers of goods into the United States.
An American representative was led out of the House of Representatives hall during Trumpâs speech. Here is the reason
US Representative from the Democratic Party, Al Green, was led out of the House of Representatives hall at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, after he raised a protest banner.
As Trump entered the House chamber, Greene held up a white banner that read, “Blacks â Aren’t Monkeys.”
This came in reference to a video clip that Trump posted earlier this month on social media, which included a clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in the form of monkeys.
The White House later deleted the video, while Trump said it was posted by a staff member.
Green was the representative who shouted at Trump during his speech to Congress last year.
Trumpâs first message in his âState of the Unionâ address: The economy is at the forefront
US President Donald Trump opened his State of the Union address stressing that the economy is booming in an unprecedented way, and that inflation is declining sharply.
Trump said: “Our borders are secure… our morale is high… incomes are rising rapidly… the economy is thriving… our enemies are afraid… our army and police are at the height of their power… and America is respected again, perhaps more than ever before.”
Trump: Inflation is at its lowest level in more than five years
US President Donald Trump says, during his State of the Union address, that the Biden administration and its allies in Congress have caused the worst inflation rate in the history of our country.
He adds: Inflation is now in sharp decline… Within 12 months, my administration led core inflation to its lowest level in more than five years.
Inflation is a measure of how quickly prices rise for consumers. The Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation, rose 2.4% in January from a year earlier, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was below 2.7% in December and below expectations.
When excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core price index rose by 2.5%, its lowest level since April 2021. The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, targets an annual inflation rate of about 2% in the long term. In another context, the US President says: âMore Americans are working today than ever before in the history of our country.â
Trump boasts of the anti-immigration campaign and âother accomplishmentsâ in his first year
The US President praised his work during his first year after returning to office, and said: âOur borders are secure, our morale has recovered, inflation is falling, incomes are rising rapidly, the booming economy is roaring like never before, and our enemies are afraid.â
The US President then highlighted his tough crackdown on immigration, praising âthe safest border in American history to date.â He also praised efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States and reduce the homicide rate.
In a related context, Trump praised the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, saying: âWe have ended diversity, equity, and inclusion in America.â
Trump: Low interest rates will solve the problem of house prices
The US President insists – during his State of the Union address – that lowering interest rates for homebuyers will help reduce the cost of housing.
Trump adds: âLow interest rates will solve the housing problem that Biden created, and at the same time they will protect the value of the homes of those who already own them, and who feel rich for the first time in their lives… We want to protect these values, we want to keep them high. We will do both.â
Trump comments on Wall Streetâs gains
During his State of the Union address, the US President praised the gains made by the US stock market since his re-election in 2024.
Trump says: âThe stock market has set three new highs since the election. Imagine that. Only one year will see a rise in the pensions, retirement plans, and retirement accounts of millions of Americans.â
Trump: We received more than 80 million barrels of Venezuelan oil
US President Donald Trump says in his speech that the United States has received more than 80 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.
Trump begins his State of the Union address
US President Donald Trump began the State of the Union address, which is a constitutional obligation and an opportunity for the president to present his political program to Congress and the public.
The speech is typically attended by members of both chambers of Congress, Supreme Court justices, military commanders and Cabinet members, though some Democrats are boycotting the speech and holding an alternative event outside the Capitol.
