WASHINGTON, Feb 24 — President Donald Trump used Tuesday’s State of the Union to defend his hardline immigration operations, his cuts to the federal government, and his efforts to preserve broad tariffs that the Supreme Court recently struck down, while touting his ability to order rapid military actions abroad, including in Iran and Venezuela. Trump sought to persuade wary voters that his policies have strengthened the U.S. economy and improved Americans’ lives ahead of November elections and to argue that voters should return Republicans to power.
The speech balanced celebration of what the White House called a booming economy — marked by rising domestic manufacturing and new jobs — with a push to help Republican candidates in upcoming midterm races. Trump promised a heavy focus on the economy and warned the address would be long because “we have so much to talk about,” he said. But his tendency to stray from prepared remarks raised questions about messaging discipline during a high-stakes moment for the party.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president would argue that “three more years with him in the White House and with Republicans on Capitol Hill we can finally achieve the American dream in this country again,” and described the speech as a celebration of 250 years of American independence. The administration is expected to criticize the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs and outline efforts to work around the decision without relying on Congress or unsettling financial markets. Trump also urged lawmakers to boost military funding, tighten voter identification rules, and defended immigration actions that have drawn bipartisan criticism after the shooting deaths of two American citizens.
Economic affordability remained a central vulnerability for the White House. Democrats have credited concerns about high living costs with recent electoral gains, and the administration had pledged a national travel push to reassure voters. Trump, however, has often blamed Democrats for economic worries and highlighted market milestones — including the Dow Jones Industrial Average recently exceeding 50,000 — as evidence that inflation has been tamed. Critics say those gains are uneven and that tariffs may have driven higher prices; economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year.
Democrats tapped Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to deliver the party’s formal response, citing her affordability-focused message. Several House Democrats planned to skip the State of the Union in protest and attend an alternate “People’s State of the Union” rally on the National Mall.
On foreign policy, Trump spoke as two U.S. aircraft carriers were dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. He recounted U.S. airstrikes last summer against Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, praised a raid that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and highlighted his role in brokering a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. The address also underscored strains with NATO allies after earlier moves such as his Greenland proposal and criticism over his approach to Russia; Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. (AP)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/02/25/trumps-state-of-the-union-will-seek-to-calm-voters-ahead-of-midterm-polls/
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Publish Date: 2026-02-25 05:44:00
