In his second term’s inaugural State of the Union address, United States President Donald Trump opted for an extensive speech, covering a wide array of topics ranging from the economy to Iran. The address to Congress lasted one hour and 47 minutes, setting a record as the longest State of the Union speech ever delivered.
Here are five notable moments from the extended address:
– Dispute with the Supreme Court:
Upon arriving at the US Capitol, Trump greeted several Supreme Court justices present, three of whom had recently ruled against his global tariffs policy. Trump expressed disappointment during the speech, labeling the ruling “very unfortunate” as the justices observed from the front row. He briefly addressed the issue, mentioning that his administration was devising a legal workaround to maintain the tariffs.
– Team USA Unity:
Despite political differences between Trump’s Republican supporters and Democratic opponents, a rare moment of unity emerged when the gold medal-winning US men’s Olympic hockey team entered the chamber. The audience rose in applause, chanting “USA! USA!” in unison to honor the Olympians, who secured America’s first ice hockey gold in 46 years.
– Democratic Resistance:
Traditionally, Congress plays a visible role during the State of the Union, either applauding in agreement or remaining seated to show dissent. Numerous Democrats chose not to attend the event, while those present mostly remained seated, with a few exceptions. Some Democrats wore white attire to symbolize the suffragette movement advocating for women’s voting rights, or sported pins seeking accountability for individuals linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Notably, Democratic representative Al Green was escorted out after displaying a sign condemning racist remarks made by Trump.
– Congresswoman’s Outburst:
Tensions escalated when House Democrat Ilhan Omar, known for clashes with Trump, interjected during the president’s speech. Trump criticized Democrats for not standing, prompting Omar to accuse them of causing American deaths, referring to incidents in Minneapolis. Representing the city, Omar departed the event before its conclusion.
– Record-Breaking Speech:
Trump’s address, lasting one hour and 47 minutes, became the lengthiest State of the Union speech in US history, surpassing the previous record set by former President Bill Clinton in 2000. This speech even exceeded Trump’s own address to Congress from the previous year, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes.