President Donald Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is 'winning so much'

In what turned out to be the longest-ever State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump framed the moment as the beginning of what he called a “golden age of America,” tying his remarks to the upcoming 250th anniversary of US independence on July 4.

Trump surpassed the previous record set by Bill Clinton in 2000, which lasted one hour and 20 minutes. He also broke his own record for the longest presidential address to Congress — a one hour and 40 minute speech he delivered last March, which was not technically a State of the Union.

Also Read: Trump’s speech takeaways: Roaring economy, partisan tensions, and patriotic sales pitch


The president said that when he returned to office a year ago, he had inherited a nation in crisis, citing high inflation, a weak economy, an unsecured border, rising crime and global instability. He argued that in just 12 months his administration had delivered a historic turnaround.

‘Turnaround for the ages’

Declaring that the United States was now “winning again,” Trump said inflation had fallen, energy production had surged and markets had reached record highs. He described his first year back in office as a sweeping reset after what he characterised as years of decline.

The president struck a defiant tone despite political headwinds, including weak polling numbers and concerns within his party about losing control of Congress in November.

AI power demand and ‘ratepayer protection’

A major policy announcement during the speech focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Trump unveiled what he called a “ratepayer protection pledge,” aimed at preventing rising electricity costs linked to AI data centres.

“Many Americans are concerned that energy demand from AI data centers could unfairly drive up their electric bills,” he said, adding that large technology companies would be required to generate their own electricity instead of relying on local power grids.

Calling it a “unique strategy never used in this country before,” Trump argued that the ageing US grid could not handle the scale of demand created by AI expansion. Allowing companies to build dedicated power plants, he said, would ensure reliable supply while lowering electricity costs for surrounding communities.

Also Read: 'Pakistan Prime Minister would have died if it wasn't for me,' says Donald Trump

Immigration, crime and energy claims

Trump claimed the US now has “the strongest and most secure border in American history,” asserting that in the past nine months “zero illegal aliens” had been admitted into the country. At the same time, he said legal immigration would continue for those willing to “love our country and work hard.”

He also said the flow of fentanyl across the border had fallen by 56% in a year and described what he called the largest single-year drop in the murder rate in recorded history

On the economy, Trump blamed the previous administration for “the worst inflation in the history of our country” but said his government had brought core inflation down to 1.7% in the final three months of 2025 — the lowest level in more than five years.

He said gasoline prices, which he claimed had crossed $6 per gallon in some states under his predecessor, were now below $2.30 in most states.

Trump also said the annual cost of a typical new mortgage had fallen by nearly $5,000 over the past year and expressed confidence that lower interest rates would ease housing pressures while protecting home values.

Markets, jobs and investment

The president pointed to stock market performance as evidence of economic revival, saying markets had hit 53 all-time highs since the election, boosting retirement accounts and pensions.

He claimed that while the previous administration attracted “substantially less than $1 trillion” in new investment over four years, his administration had secured commitments exceeding $18 trillion in just one year.

Trump also said more Americans were working than at any time in US history and that all jobs created during his administration had been in the private sector. He highlighted an increase of over 600,000 barrels per day in US oil production and record natural gas output, repeating his campaign slogan: “Drill, baby, drill.”

Regulatory rollbacks and welfare cuts

Trump said his administration had eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal policy and rolled back what he described as “job-killing regulations.” He added that 2.4 million Americans had been lifted off food stamps in the past year.

Also Read: Trump administration sues New Jersey over restrictions on immigration arrests

Midterm stakes and legal setbacks

The address is widely viewed as a preview of the Republican Party’s message ahead of the November elections, which will determine control of the House and Senate.

Trump’s speech came days after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that he lacked the authority to impose several of his sweeping tariffs — a decision that undercut a key pillar of his economic and foreign policy agenda.

Despite the setback, Trump framed the moment as historic, telling lawmakers that “the state of our union is strong” and insisting that America was entering a new era of growth and confidence.