After returning to the White House, Donald Trump defended his actions and priorities in his State of the Union address before Congress on Tuesday. The American president painted a very positive picture of the country’s situation, highlighting his economic achievements, migration policy, and international choices, while calling for new legislative measures and criticizing some institutions. 20 Minutes summarizes the main points of this presidential intervention, the longest in history at 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Donald Trump began his speech by stating that his administration had fundamentally changed the country’s trajectory. “After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved an unprecedented transformation and historical recovery,” declared the American president, asserting that “our country is back,” and even evoking “America’s golden age.”
Addressing a Congress visually dominated by his Republican allies, the President of the United States described a significantly improved economy. He assured, “Inflation is falling, incomes are rising rapidly, the economy is thriving like never before.” He also claimed that gasoline and food prices were decreasing, salaries were increasing, and his tax cuts were directly supporting workers, all of which were met with enthusiastic applause and chants of “USA, USA, USA” from his party members.
On the immigration and electoral reform front, Trump devoted a significant part of his speech to border security and immigration, a central theme of his policy. He stated that the measures taken had yielded tangible results, emphasizing that the American border had never been “safer.” He also urged lawmakers to adopt his electoral reform, titled the “Save America Act,” to prevent foreigners or undocumented individuals from voting in U.S. elections, emphasizing the need for mandatory ID presentation to vote.
The speech also highlighted tensions between the executive branch and the Supreme Court. Trump criticized the recent decision by judges to invalidate a significant portion of customs duties imposed on several U.S. trading partners as “regrettable.” This decision limits the president’s ability to maintain certain customs tariffs, a key element of his trade strategy.
Internationally, Trump praised what he portrayed as a major success in Latin America. He noted that the U.S. had received over 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, which he called “our new friend and partner.” The president also claimed a decisive role in the fall of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and emphasized his administration’s efforts to combat drug trafficking towards the U.S. and secure the release of political prisoners.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Trump directly addressed Iran and its military capabilities, accusing Tehran of pursuing dangerous arms programs aimed at reaching the U.S. with missiles. While advocating for a diplomatic solution to conflicts, the president firmly warned that he would not hesitate to act to protect the country against any threats.
The speech unfolded in a solemn atmosphere, punctuated by several symbolic moments. Trump paid tribute to the American men’s ice hockey team, recently crowned Olympic champions, who were present in the chamber and warmly applauded.
Erika Kirk, widow of pro-Trump influencer Charlie Kirk who was assassinated in September, was also invited by the president and presented as a “martyr” by the White House. First Lady Melania Trump was also in attendance. These moments marked a speech largely focused on defending the president’s record and presenting his political priorities one year after returning to power.
