The State of the Union was last night and, boy, it was a good speech. Will this do anything with Trump’s dismal approval ratings.
It Was A Good Speech
According to Perplexity:
Opening and framing
- Opened by greeting Speaker Johnson, Vice President Vance, members of Congress, and “my fellow Americans,” and declaring that the nation is “thriving… wealthier, and more resilient than ever.”
- Framed the moment around the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, calling it the start of “America’s golden era.”
- Asserted that the United States is entering a “golden age of America,” promising that the country will “do better and better and better” and not go back to conditions “a very short time ago.”
Economy and “golden age” theme
- Claimed the economy is “booming,” with inflation “plummeting,” incomes “rising fast,” and the “roaring economy… roaring like never before.”
- Said America is “respected again perhaps like never before,” tying foreign respect to his economic and security policies.
- Highlighted record stock market levels and business confidence (as summarized by multiple takeaways), using these as proof of a broad economic turnaround in his first year back in office.
- Boasted of lifting “a record” number of Americans off food stamps, citing 2.4 million projected to lose eligibility under new work requirements in his “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Regulatory policy, DEI, and government
- Announced that his administration had “abolished D.E.I. in America,” tying this to a broader rollback of regulations he says “stifle job creation.”
- Claimed a “record number” of regulations had been eliminated, presenting deregulation as a key driver of job creation and wage growth.
- Argued that government should focus on “protecting its citizens, not illegal immigrants,” using that line to transition into immigration and security policy.
Immigration, border, and DHS funding
- Declared that, after “years of unchecked illegal immigration,” the U.S. now has “the most secure border in American history.”
- Claimed that in the past nine months “no undocumented individuals have entered the U.S.,” presenting this as proof of unprecedented border control.
- Touted an immigration crackdown: said the border is secure “by far,” that the flow of fentanyl is being stopped, and that the murder rate is falling.
- Accused Democrats of cutting off funding for the Department of Homeland Security, causing a government shutdown that he said cost “two points on GDP.”
- Demanded “complete and immediate restoration of all funding necessary for border security and homeland security.”
- Urged Congress to end “deadly sanctuary cities,” and to impose “serious penalties” on officials who obstruct removal of criminal non‑citizens, including drug lords and murderers.
Elections, voting, and the “Safe/SAVE America Act”
- Warned of “rampant cheating” in U.S. elections, claiming that electoral integrity is under threat.
- Called on Congress to pass the “Safe America Act” (also described as the “SAVE America Act”), aimed at preventing “illegal aliens” from voting in U.S. elections.
- Demanded that all voters show ID and proof of citizenship to vote, and said there should be “no more fraudulent‑in ballots,” allowing mail voting only for illness, disability, military service, or travel.
- Cited a figure that “89% of Americans, including Democrats” support his proposal, presenting it as overwhelmingly popular.
Crime, fraud, and “war on fraud”
- Linked blue states to “fraud and corruption,” saying many are “rampant with fraud.”
- Singled out “members of the Somali community” in Minnesota, accusing them of having “pillaged” what belongs to U.S. taxpayers through fraud.
- Announced that Vice President J.D. Vance will lead a “war on fraud,” promising that Vance will “get it done.”
- Tied fraud enforcement to defending taxpayers and reinforcing trust in government programs.
Foreign policy, wars, and security
- Said his administration is “working hard” to end “the killing and slaughter between Russia and Ukraine,” claiming 25,000 soldiers are dying every month in the war.
- Argued that Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine “would have never happened if I were president,” casting it as a consequence of prior leadership.
- Claimed to have “ended eight wars” in his first ten months back in office, stressing his desire to “make peace wherever I can” but to never hesitate to confront threats.
- Said the U.S. is restoring “security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” acting to protect against violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference.
- Described large parts of Mexico and other areas as controlled by “murderous drug cartels,” arguing that his policies were aimed at rolling back cartel influence.
Broader themes: revolution, patriotism, and culture
- Framed U.S. history as an ongoing revolution: said “The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues,” and that the flame of liberty “still burns in the hearts of every American Patriot.”
- Cast his presidency as restoring national “spirit,” saying “our spirit is restored” and the country has undergone a “turnaround for the ages” in a single year.
- Positioned his agenda (on immigration, security, and regulation) as defending traditional American values and “patriots” against elites and the “radical left,” a theme emphasized across major analyses.
Closing declaration and “we’re winning” refrain
- Reiterated that “for all these reasons” the “state of our Union is robust,” asserting that the country is “winning once more.”
- Used his familiar line that Americans tell him, “Mr. President, we’re winning too much. We can’t handle it,” and answered that the country will continue to “win even bigger.”
- Closed by inviting legislators to “stand with my administration” on border security and citizen protection, arguing that the State of the Union gives Americans a clear view of “what their representatives really believe.”
If you want, I can now turn this into a left‑column / right‑column table with his claim on the left and fact‑check/contest on the right.
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/give-me-a-point-by-point-summa-guZp4ZLaQvSW7ckm9piwyw
How Did Dems Respond?
The answer: Not great.
- Hakeem Jeffries warned Democrats just to watch the SOTU and not say anything. That didn’t work out.
- They refused to stand when they should have again.
- Ilhan Omar and Rashida Talib decided to start cussing out the president.
- Most Democrats did not show up to the SOTU to go to their own counter rally, which was an embarrassment. Only about 75 people showed up and most were media.
How Does Trump Win in November?