Takeaways from Trump’s record-long State of the Union address

President Donald Trump set a record for the longest presidential address to Congress on Tuesday, delivering his first State of the Union of his second term.

His one-hour-and-47-minute speech centered on immigration, highlighting crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and daring Democrats to stand if they agreed that the government’s first duty is to protect citizens.  

He proposed a government-backed 401(k)-style retirement plan for workers without employer matches. The plan would provide up to $1,000 annually through the “Savers Match” tax credit created under the 2022 Secure 2.0 law, starting in 2027.

He also urged Congress to permanently ban large investors from buying single-family homes.

On trade, Trump said Congress should not codify his tariffs, despite the Constitution granting tariff authority to lawmakers. He predicted tariffs could eventually replace income taxes, a claim economists question.

He avoided discussing deportation controversies and the Epstein files, and warned Iran he would never allow it to obtain a nuclear weapon, while leaving open the possibility of new strikes.

Trump awarded Medals of Honor and praised the US men’s Olympic hockey team.

During the address, Democrats stayed seated while Republicans applauded, underscoring sharp partisan divides. Several Democrats protested, and one lawmaker was escorted out.