The longest State of the Union in history: Trump’s headline statements

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second administration to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, using the marathon speech to foreground what he cast as extraordinary successes in his first year back in the White House.

Trump’s sell: “Bigger, richer, stronger”

Trump opened by asserting that “our nation is back — bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” linking that claim to broad themes about the U.S. economy and national standing. Throughout the address, he repeatedly emphasized that “we’re winning so much,” striving to convey sustained momentum on jobs, markets and broader indicators. He also asserted that “millions and millions of Americans are all gaining,” while addressing inflation, gas prices and financial markets.

The speech came amid a political backdrop of low approval ratings for the administration and a recent setback for his trade agenda, including a Supreme Court ruling overturning parts of his tariff policy. Nonetheless, Trump framed the address as evidence that his policies were producing tangible results and rebutting critics.

In a section devoted to domestic criticism of the opposition, Trump used pointed language that carried through into his broader narrative. As reported, he dismissed detractors with the line “they knew their statements were a dirty, rotten lie” in pushing back against Democratic rebuttals.

How long was Trump’s SOTU speech?

Trump also honored military personnel and special guests, acknowledged economic gains in markets and stock performance, and defended his positions on tariffs, immigration and energy policy. The speech, which set a new record for length at nearly 1 hour and 48 minutes, blended ceremony with policy advocacy as Trump positioned his agenda ahead of the November midterm elections.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.