US President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2026. KENNY HOLSTON / AFP
Of all the records Donald Trump claims to be breaking, there is one he can legitimately claim: that of the longest televised State of the Union address in history, clocking in at one hour and 47 minutes. The hands of the Republican lawmakers were red from applauding the American president on Tuesday, February 24, as he launched into his classic routine: a mix of self-congratulation and fierce attacks against the Democrats. The divider-in-chief took his time, relished his performance and orchestrated a confrontation, less than nine months before the midterm elections.
Trump began by painting a glowing picture of the country since his return to the White House. He highlighted the complete closure of the border with Mexico, declining inflation and lower gas prices. "Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages. (...) And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago." The caricatured vision presented by the Republican – not only on Tuesday night, but every day of the week, at every microphone – is that of a country that was "dead" under Joe Biden, his predecessor, and now turned into the "hottest country" under his leadership.
