NationalWatch

Republicans were pleased when President Donald Trump spoke during the State of the Union address Tuesday about his plan to continue imposing global tariffs after the Supreme Court dealt him a setback, according to live reactions from a panel of voters.

The panel, assembled by polling group Maslansky & Partners and made up of 29 Democrats, 30 independents and 41 Republicans, gave real-time reactions as Trump spoke. The responses were displayed on a line graph, with higher values indicating positive reactions and lower values indicating negative reactions.

Trump called the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the tariffs “unfortunate” as four justices sat stone-faced in the front row of the House chamber.

It is customary for justices to be invited to the address, though not all typically attend. Chief Justice John Roberts and justices Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh attended Tuesday.

Trump touted the tariffs, which he unilaterally imposed last year under an emergency law, as a key negotiating tool, saying they helped him broker peace deals between other countries and generated billions of dollars in revenue. The Supreme Court found that Trump illegally bypassed Congress by invoking the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

But “just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, it just came down, a very unfortunate ruling,” Trump said, as the dials on the line graph showed Republicans reacting approvingly and Democrats and independents responding negatively.

SPEECHWRITERS FROM REAGAN TO BIDEN AGREE: TRUMP’S SOTU IS A CRITICAL TEST FOR HIS SECOND TERM

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“The good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made … knowing that the legal power that I as president have to make a new deal could be far worse for them. And, therefore, they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court’s unfortunate involvement,” Trump said.

Trump said he had “time-tested” alternatives to the IEEPA that he planned to use so he could again sidestep Congress’ role in authorizing tariffs, which the Supreme Court said functioned like a tax and therefore required congressional approval under the Constitution.

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Fact-checkers delivered a mixed verdict on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, backing some immigration and crime claims while disputing others on voter fraud, Medicaid and foreign conflicts.

Reviews from PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, The New York Times and others found that Trump’s assertion that “zero illegal aliens” were admitted into the country was an accurate characterization even though illegal crossings have continued at low levels. 

The fact-checkers also confirmed his claim that the national murder rate is at a historic low but labeled his statements about “rampant” voter fraud, Medicaid and the number of wars he ended as misleading.

The fact-checks underscored how Trump’s address was a blend of verifiable points and broader claims that grabbed headlines but could be misleading to voters, who Trump is hoping will keep Republicans in power in Congress as he stares down a tough 2026 midterm election cycle.

Immigration

When Trump said Tuesday that “zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States,” he was referencing U.S. Border Patrol detaining or deporting migrants attempting to enter the country illegally or by using asylum claims, rather than following the Biden administration’s protocol and releasing them into the country.

Fact-checkers acknowledged the reversal in illegal immigration policies under Trump. They pointed out that illegal border crossings are still happening, but at a far lower pace.

“Encounters with people trying to illegally cross the U.S. southern border have dropped significantly during Trump’s second term,” PolitiFact noted, adding that authorities encountered about 10,000 migrants in January compared to more than 60,000 in January 2025. 

Trump’s comments about illegal immigrants committing crimes were more disputed, fact-checkers found, noting that the Department of Homeland Security’s figures did not reflect that the Biden administration allowed nearly 12,000 murderers to enter the country illegally, as Trump claimed during his speech.

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

NPR noted that Trump called Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska’s killer an immigrant, despite lacking evidence of that. The outlet noted that local media have reported that the suspect, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Brown was seen in grisly surveillance footage repeatedly stabbing Zarutska, 23, while she was riding the light rail home from work in August 2025. Her murder has become a national example of local prosecutors’ lax policies toward repeat offenders.

When Trump said more broadly that the nation’s murder rate is the lowest it has been in 125 years, fact-checkers found that was true.

‘Eight wars’

Several fact-checkers took issue with Trump touting that he ended “eight wars.”

Trump gained widespread praise for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that led to a return of Israeli hostages, and the president has been credited with establishing a truce between Israel and Iran after carrying out damaging airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The New York Times said that eight wars, though, was “exaggerated,” and FactCheck.org called the figure “inflated.”

The fact-checkers pointed to Trump’s disputed involvement in India’s ceasefire with Pakistan. Trump also “counts some international disagreements that weren’t wars,” FactCheck.org said.

Trump was involved in mediating a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, and brokered peace agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan and also Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Trump also has referenced wars between Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia, but some have said those involve tense disagreements and do not amount to war.

Voter fraud

A top flashpoint for fact-checkers was Trump’s assertion that “cheating is rampant” in federal elections.

“Trump made a rapid-fire series of false claims about US elections,” wrote CNN reporter Daniel Dale.

Trump made the comments while demanding Congress pass the SAVE America Act, which would impose a physical proof of citizenship requirement on anyone registering to vote in federal elections.

It is illegal for noncitizens to vote, and voters must declare under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens as part of the registration process. State officials are required by federal law to practice voter roll maintenance to make sure voters who are registered are valid. 

State and federal prosecutions of noncitizen voting have been exceedingly rare, but Trump and his base have contended that noncitizen voting is prevalent and simply going undetected.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS MURDER RATE PLUMMETED TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1900 UNDER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

NPR pointed to observations by election expert David Becker, who runs the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research.

“Even states that are looking everywhere to try to amplify the numbers of noncitizens … when they actually look, they find a surprisingly, shockingly small number,” Becker said.

The New York Times said the number of noncitizens casting ballots is “infinitesimally small,” noting a Trump DHS study that found up to 0.2% of registered voters could potentially be noncitizens.

Jobs

Fact-checkers labeled Trump’s assertion that more Americans were working than ever before as true, but they said the president’s claim about job growth was misleading.

Job growth remained steady under Trump while the population was the largest it has ever been, meaning labor force participation has not kept up with the population, the New York Times noted.

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Protecting Medicaid

Fact-checkers swatted down Trump’s claim that he would “always” protect Medicaid, noting that the “big, beautiful bill,” his signature tax and spending plan enacted in July 2025, cut nearly $1 trillion from the program by changing its eligibility requirements.

“With fewer people on Medicaid, the program costs less,” FactCheck.org noted.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

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FIRST ON FOX: In exclusive comments to Fox News Digital, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem threw her support behind President Donald Trump’s proposed “Dalilah Law” after Tuesday’s State of the Union, arguing the legislation is needed to prevent more tragedies like the crash that left a young girl unable to walk or talk.

The Dalilah Law is named after Dalilah Coleman, a young girl who sustained life-changing injuries in a June 2024 California crash allegedly caused by Partap Singh, an illegal immigrant from India.

The legislation would bar all states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to illegal immigrants.

Singh is accused of causing a multi-car pileup while driving a commercial tractor-trailer in the sanctuary state of California. His CDL was issued by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

According to Dalilah’s father, Marcus Coleman, the crash resulted in her inability to walk, talk, eat orally and attend kindergarten as planned.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we have worked to deliver justice for the families impacted by illegal alien crime, and have ensured that the tragedies they endured will no longer continue,” Noem told Fox News Digital. “What happened to Dalilah Coleman is a tragedy that could have been PREVENTED if California did not grant commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens who should have never been here in the first place.”

“DHS is working every single day to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens who are unlawfully in the U.S.,” she continued.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents obtained an arrest warrant and took Singh into custody in Fresno, California, on Aug. 29.

He will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.

Echoing the president’s message during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, DHS said allowing illegal immigrants, many of whom do not speak English, to obtain commercial driver’s licenses — operating tractor-trailers and transporting hazardous materials on American roads — is “reckless and incredibly dangerous to public safety.”

Earlier this month, ICE arrested illegal immigrant and Kyrgyzstan national Bekzhan Beishekeev, 30, who allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic on Feb. 3 and struck a van head-on, killing four people.

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Beishekeev, who illegally entered the country under former President Joe Biden, was issued a CDL in Pennsylvania.

In December, DHS and the Department of Transportation announced that a 54-year-old Chinese national by the name of “Huang” caused a Tennessee crash that killed Kerry Smith and injured two other Americans.

He illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico in 2023, but was released into the country, given work authorization papers and a social security card, and issued a CDL.

Huang failed the English proficiency test after the crash, according to DHS.

SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER HELD ON ICE DETAINER AFTER 4 KILLED IN HEAD-ON CRASH

In August, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for illegal immigrant Harjinder Singh, who is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after allegedly attempting to make an illegal U-turn through an “official use only” access point in St. Lucie County, Florida, blocking all lanes of highway traffic with his truck and causing a wreck that killed three people.

Video obtained by Breaking911 from inside the tractor-trailer showed the moment Singh turned his truck into traffic, with DHS claiming “his face shows no shock or remorse for his actions or the lives he destroyed.”

He was issued a CDL in California, despite having no legal right to be in the U.S.

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“DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family,” DHS said. 

Victims of illegal immigrant crime can receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by calling 1-855-488-6423.

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A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to so-called “third countries” without first giving them notice and an opportunity to challenge their removal, in a high-stakes case that is likely headed to the Supreme Court.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden appointee, comes months after lawyers filed a class-action lawsuit in Boston challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s process of deporting illegal immigrants in the U.S. to so-called “third countries” — countries that are not their home country and were not previously designated in their removal orders.

Murphy ultimately sided with the migrants Wednesday, ruling that DHS’s third-country removal policy is unlawful and violates due process protections under the U.S. Constitution. 

“This case is about whether the government may, without notice, deport a person to the wrong country, or a country where he is likely to be persecuted, or tortured, thereby depriving that person of the opportunity to seek protections to which he would be undisputedly entitled,” Murphy said.

The Department of Homeland Security “has adopted a policy whereby it may take people and drop them off in parts unknown — in so-called ‘third countries,’ and, ‘as long as the Department doesn’t already know that there’s someone standing there waiting to shoot . . . that’s fine,’” Murphy continued.

“It is not fine, nor is it legal,” he said.

Neither DHS nor DOJ immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the case or whether it plans to appeal the ruling. 

Murphy also rejected the Trump administration’s claim that certain migrants living in the U.S. illegally lacked due process, noting that the clause applies to all “persons” within the U.S., regardless of immigration status.

“These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nation’s bedrock principle: that no ‘person’ in this country may be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,'” Murphy said.

Murphy stayed the ruling from taking force for 15 days to allow the Trump administration time to appeal the case to the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, given what the judge acknowledged was the “importance” and “unusual history” of the case in question. 

The ruling comes after Murphy presided for months over a class-action lawsuit filed by migrants challenging deportations to third countries, including South Sudan and El Salvador, as well as Costa Rica and Guatemala, which the administration has reportedly eyed in its ongoing wave of deportations.

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He has sparred with the Trump administration while overseeing the case, including in May, when he accused the administration of failing to comply with a court order requiring it to keep in U.S. custody six migrants who were deported to South Sudan without due process or notice.

Murphy previously ordered that the migrants remain in U.S. custody at a military base in Djibouti until each of them could be given a “reasonable fear interview,” or a chance to explain to U.S. officials any fear of persecution or torture, should they be released into South Sudanese custody.  

The judge’s order is the latest attempt by federal court judges to rein in the Trump administration as it continues to deport migrants to third countries, including El Salvador and South Sudan.

Murphy previously acknowledged the criminal histories in question after Trump officials blasted the individuals removed as the “worst of the worst.” 

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“The court recognizes that the class members at issue here have criminal histories,” Murphy wrote in an order last year.

“But that does not change due process,” he wrote. “The court treats its obligation to these principles with the seriousness that anyone committed to the rule of law should understand.”

White House officials, meanwhile, have blasted so-called “activist” judges as attempting to enact a political agenda, and have repeatedly rejected the notion that illegal immigrants are not entitled to due process. 

Lower court judges have repeatedly ruled that the Trump administration has violated due process by failing to notify migrants of their imminent removals, or afford them the opportunity to challenge their deportations in court — a view reiterated, albeit narrowly, by the Supreme Court four separate times since Trump took office. 

The Trump administration, for its part, succeeded in a separate Supreme Court case last year that narrowed the ability of federal courts to issue so-called nationwide injunctions blocking executive orders from taking force.

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Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger was widely panned by conservatives on social media over her rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, with many calling out the governor for labeling herself as a “moderate” during the campaign but changing her tune.

Spanberger’s speech contained several examples of supporting far-left causes that drew criticism online, including school walkouts over ICE, touting “affordability” despite pushing to raise taxes, and slamming Trump.

Her overall speech quickly drew heat from conservatives online over her policies and her tone. 

“This Spanberger speech can basically be summed up as ‘I AM A DEMOCRAT WHO IS MODERATE AND NORMAL. PLEASE BELIEVE I AM MODERATE AND NORMAL,’”  Mark Hemingway, senior writer for Real Clear Investigations, posted on X.

“Abigail Spanberger comes off like the radical psychopath she is,” Matthew Boyle, Washington Bureau Chief for Breitbart News, posted on X. “Anyone who claims she is a ‘moderate’ is a liar. Plain and simple.”

“Abigail Spanberger campaigned as a moderate but governs as a left-wing activist,” GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn posted on X. “There is no room for moderates in today’s Democrat party.”

“It’s despicable to hear Abigail Spanberger speak so plainly like a supposed moderate when she’s governing with a legislature that’s more akin to Gavin Newsom in California or, say, Maura Healy in Massachusetts,” Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Houck posted on X.

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“Spanberger passed exactly one test,” Ruthless podcast co-host Josh Holmes posted on X. “A year from now you’ll have absolutely no idea who gave the Democrat response.”

“Abigail Spanberger tanks,” Trump-Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell posted on X. “She’s so nervous. It’s like she didn’t practice the actual speech.”

“The focus of Abigail Spanberger’s rebuttal is ‘affordability’ as her party proposes sweeping tax hikes on nearly every sector of the Virginia economy,” Daily Caller senior editor Amber Duke posted on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger’s office for comment.

A top Republican told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Spanberger would never have been given airtime in the Democrats’ official response to Trump’s State of the Union if it weren’t for her support of the commonwealth’s controversial redistricting and adherence to the party line.

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“Our president has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities, where they have arrested and detained American citizens and people who aspire to be Americans,” Spanberger said during her speech. “They have done it without a warrant. They have ripped nursing mothers away from their babies. They have sent children — a little boy in a blue bunny hat — to far-off detention centers, and they have killed American citizens in our streets.

“And they have done it all with their faces masked from accountability,” she continued. “Every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not spent investigating murders, crimes against children or the criminals defrauding seniors of their life savings.”

At one point in her speech, Spanberger appeared to briefly lose her place on the teleprompter:

“But as the President spoke of his perceived successes tonight, he continues to cede economic power and technological strength to Russia … bow down to … China …to bow down to a Russian dictator, and make plans for war with Iran,” she said, as her prepared remarks cited China as the technological rival.

Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.

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Democrats were not happy with President Donald Trump‘s State of the Union remarks implementing voter ID requirements and the SAVE America Act.

A dial test administered by Lee Carter, the president of maslansky+partners, showed Democrats taking a serious dive when the president spoke about the issue. During his speech, Trump asked lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act in order “to stop illegal aliens and others who are unpermitted persons from voting in our sacred American elections.” He decried allegedly “rampant” cheating in American elections.

“It’s very simple. All voters must show voter ID. All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote. And no more crooked mail in ballots except for illness, disability, military or travel. None,” Trump said.

“Why would anybody not want voter ID? One reason, because they want to cheat,” Trump added, referring to Democrats. “They make up all excuses. They say it’s racist. They come up with things. You almost say what imagination they have! They want to cheat, they have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat.”

While Democrats reacted negatively, Republicans had a positive response to Trump’s call for the passage of the SAVE America Act. While Independents did not react as positively as Republicans, their line in the dial test remained above the Democrats.

The group monitored by Carter, which included 29 Democrats, 41 Republicans and 30 Independents, had mixed reactions to a number of moments in Trump’s speech. Carter found that the most polarizing issue of the night was gender policy. One of the president’s special guests was Sage Blair, a young woman whose family filed a 2023 lawsuit alleging that Appomattox County High School staff socially transitioned her and treated her as a boy without her parents’ knowledge.

“But surely we can all agree no state can be allowed to rip children from their parents’ arms and transition them to a new gender against the parents’ will,” Trump said. “We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately.”

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When the president saw that Democratic lawmakers in the chamber did not stand at that remark, he ripped them as “crazy.”

Supporters in the focus group reacted mostly positively to the gender policy remarks, saying things like “Protect children. Crazy people there” and “If someone wants to change gender, they should do it as an adult. Period.” Meanwhile, critics in the group slammed the president, with one saying that it was “a bold-faced lie” and that Trump was taking “every opportunity to divide the country.”

Despite the disparate reactions on the issues of voting and gender, there were some moments in which people of opposing views overlapped, both in favor and against the president. 

Many supporters and opponents expressed concerns about Trump’s tone during the speech, the dial test showed. Carter noted that some supporters were unhappy with the president’s jokes, remarks about the Supreme Court and mentions of former President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the president’s critics said the tone was “embarrassing,” “divisive” and “selfish.”

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While there were many moments that caused disagreement among American across the political spectrum, there were points of unity in the speech. Republicans and Democrats had positive responses when Trump awarded the Purple Heart to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and deceased Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. Wolfe and Beckstrom were shot by a gunman who ambushed them last year in Washington, D.C. Wolfe was critically injured in the attack, while Beckstrom was fatally shot. Beckstrom’s parents accepted the award in their daughter’s honor.

Another unifying moment came when Trump brought out the U.S. men’s hockey team, which just scored a historic overtime victory against Canada in the Olympics. Carter noted that the president’s critics were pleased with the recognition of the Olympians, with one calling it a “nice moment.”

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Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., announced that he left President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address before it ended on Tuesday night, claiming the speech was riddled with lies.

“Walked out of the State of the Union because I couldn’t sit through hours of Trump’s lies,” the senator wrote in a post on X. “Americans know the truth: he’s spiking prices and wrecking our economy. We’re a better country than this.”

Warner posted about 17 minutes before the end of the president’s remarks. Trump concluded his State of the Union speech at approximately 10:59 p.m., breaking the record for the longest State of the Union address in recent history. 

Warner had already suggested before the speech that the president would lie while delivering the address.

“Buckle up for hours of lies tonight from the President. Americans know the truth: he’s wrecking our economy, spending tens of billions on an out-of-control secret police, and lining his own pockets with grift after grift,” Warner declared in a post on X ahead of Trump’s speech on Tuesday.

Then, during the president’s speech, Warner asserted in a post, “We’re hearing more of the same from Trump tonight… endless lies.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Wednesday.

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Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., also noted that he walked out of the president’s speech.

“Like last year, I gave myself 5 bald-faced lies before I walked out of Trump’s joint address. Less than one hour into his speech, I’m out,” he noted in a Tuesday night post.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said in a video that she “had to leave” the address “early.”

“After hearing him make light of the healthcare crisis that he created, and then to not even be serious about prescription drugs, acting like TrumpRx is some real solution, give me a break. It’s outrageous. And I couldn’t stay in there a moment longer,” she declared.

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Other lawmakers also walked out, reports indicate, while many opted to skip the event entirely. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who held a sign that read, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!,” was ejected from the chamber.

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A panel of U.S. voters from all parties showed strong reactions when President Donald Trump began listing his administration’s economic policy achievements during his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The panel, assembled by polling group Maslansky & Partners, was composed of 29 Democrats, 30 Independents and 40 Republicans. Their live reactions to Trump’s comments were displayed as lines on a graph, with high values representing positive reactions and low values indicating negative reactions.

Democrats’ reactions were represented in blue, Republicans in red and Independents in yellow.

Trump started off strong with both Republicans and Independents as he touted a steep drop in inflation compared to when former President Joe Biden left office.

“In 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation to the lowest level in more than five years, and in the last three months of 2025 it was down to 1.7%,” Trump said as lawmakers applauded.

Even support among Democratic viewers hovered just below the 50% mark as Trump discussed falling inflation.

Support among Republicans reached its maximum as Trump listed off a drop in gasoline prices, saying some regions of the U.S. were paying just $1.85 a gallon.

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Independent support remain high as he talked about gas, but it reached its highest point as the president was discussing mortgage rates.

“Mortgage rates are the lowest in four years and falling fast,” Trump said. “And the annual cost of a typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000 just since I took office. In one year.”

The general finding from the Maslansky poll found the speech largely reinforced existing beliefs for all voters, rather than persuading.

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“There was almost no evidence of movement. Instead, voters expressed strong affirmation or strong rejection,” the group said in a statement.

“It did not soften opposition. It did not significantly broaden appeal. But in a turnout-driven environment, reinforcement may be the point,” the statement continued.

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President Donald Trump’s decision to rip Democrats as “crazy” during his State of the Union address on Tuesday — after they remained seated while he demanded a ban on socially transitioning minors without parental consent — drew sharply divided reactions from a live panel of voters.

The panel, assembled by polling group Maslansky & Partners, included 29 Democrats, 30 Independents and 40 Republicans. Their real-time reactions were displayed as colored lines on a graph, with higher values representing positive reactions and lower values indicating negative ones.

“But surely we can all agree no state can be allowed to rip children from their parents’ arms and transition them to a new gender against the parents’ will,” Trump said. “Who would believe that?… We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately.”

As Trump delivered the remarks, the Republican line, shown in red, climbed sharply into positive territory. Independents, represented in yellow, also ticked upward, while Democrats, shown in blue, trended downward into negative territory.

The comments drew applause from Republicans in the chamber, but the president became incensed when he realized that Democrats refused to stand.

“Look, nobody stands up,” Trump said.  

“These people are crazy. I’m telling you. They’re crazy,” Trump said, pointing his finger at Democratic senators and House members who remained seated. 

Republican reactions stayed elevated during the remarks, while Democratic responses remained negative and independent voters held relatively steady.

Trump made the remarks as he called on Sage Blair, a Virginia teenager whose family filed a 2023 lawsuit alleging that Appomattox County High School staff socially transitioned her without parental knowledge.

According to a lawsuit filed by her family, Blair began identifying as male at school, where staff used male names and pronouns and allowed her to use male facilities without informing her parents.

WATCH: Trump highlights teen whose family says school hid her gender transition during State of the Union

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

The family alleges the situation escalated after Blair ran away from home and later became a victim of sex trafficking, with the lawsuit alleging she was kidnapped and raped in multiple states.

Highlighting the case during his address, Trump said Blair was 14 when school officials sought to socially transition her “to a new gender,” treating her as a boy and hiding it from her parents.

“But today, all of that is behind them because Sage is a proud and wonderful young woman with a full-ride scholarship to Liberty University. Sage and Michelle, please stand up,” Trump said as Republicans in the chamber cheered.

“Thank you for your great bravery,” he added.

The gender policy segment generated some of the strongest reactions of the night from the panel.

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Among supporters, several comments focused on protecting children and parental involvement, including: “Protect children,” and “Parents should be informed.”

Opponents pushed back on the scope of the proposal, writing comments such as: “Every case is unique,” and “A total ban is not good.”

The issue appeared to trigger deeply personal reactions on both sides.

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Immigration enforcement and border security were front and center in President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, with the commander in chief touting zero illegal border crossings over the past nine months.

Of the words Trump mentioned most, “border” was tied with “tax” for first place at 16 mentions. He also spoke extensively about national security and immigration. One of the most impactful moments of the night came when Trump challenged every lawmaker in the chamber to stand if they believed their first duty is to protect American citizens rather than illegal immigrants.

“One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe,” Trump said. “So tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle: if you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

As Trump said this, the Republican side of the chamber stood, while Democrats remained seated, prompting condemnation from the president.

“Isn’t that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up. You should be ashamed of yourself,” Trump repeated.

He then called on Democrats to end sanctuary policies across the country, saying, “That is why I’m also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who blocked the removal of criminal aliens, in many cases, drug lords, murderers all over our country.”

“They’re blocking the removal of these people from our country, and you should be ashamed of yourselves,” he said.

He also slammed Democrats for having “closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers,” referring to the Department of Homeland Security. He said, “Tonight, I’m demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for border security and homeland security of the United States.”

Trump knocked former President Joe Biden, saying, “After four years in which millions and millions of illegal aliens poured across our borders, totally unfettered and unchecked, we now have the strongest and most secure border in American history, by far.”

“In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States,” he said, adding, “The flow of deadly fentanyl across our border is down by a record 56% in one year.”

Despite these successes, Trump acknowledged the impact crimes committed by illegal immigrants have had on American citizens. He honored several “Angel Families” in the gallery whose children or loved ones were killed by illegal immigrants.

“These are the angel moms and families that for decades our government betrayed and our media totally ignored,” he said.

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He paid tribute to Jacqueline Medina, whose daughter, Lizbeth Medina, was murdered by an illegal immigrant in Texas.

“In 2023, a 16-year-old high school cheerleader named Lizbeth Medina was supposed to perform in her town’s Christmas parade, but she never arrived. Her mother, Jacqueline, went home to look for her, and she found her lying dead in a bathtub, bleeding profusely after being stabbed 25 times,” said Trump. “Her heartbroken mother is in the gallery to remind everyone in this chamber exactly why we are deporting illegal alien criminals from our country at record numbers, and we’re getting them the hell out of here fast; we don’t want them.”

He also honored Dalilah Coleman, a child in the gallery who, at age 5, was paralyzed in an auto pileup in California caused by an illegal immigrant.

“The driver was an illegal alien let in by Joe Biden and given a commercial driver’s license by open borders politicians in California,” he said.

“Most illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger, or location,” he went on. “That’s why tonight I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’ barring any state from granting commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.”

DEMS TAP ICE DETAINEES, SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS GUESTS FOR TRUMP’S SPEECH: DHS

Trump also blamed “unrestricted immigration and open borders” for the massive fraud schemes uncovered late last year in Minnesota, which he said were tantamount to “plundering” by members of the state’s Somali community.

“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering it, really, it’s plundering America, there’s been no more stunning example than Minnesota, where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer,” he said. “This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation.”

Though he said the administration has already been “working on it like you wouldn’t believe,” he announced he is appointing Vice President JD Vance to lead “the war on fraud.”

“So tonight, although it started four months ago, I am officially announcing the war on fraud to be led by our great Vice President JD Vance. He’ll get it done, and if we’re able to find enough of that fraud, we will actually have a balanced budget overnight. It’ll go very quickly. That’s the kind of money you’re talking about. We’ll balance our budget,” he said.

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“The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception,” he concluded. “Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the U.S., and it is the American people who pay the price in higher medical bills, car insurance rates, rent, taxes and, perhaps most importantly, crime.”

“We will take care of this problem,” he vowed, adding, “We are not playing games.”

Presidential speechwriters sharply split late Tuesday after President Donald Trump delivered a record-breaking State of the Union address, drawing praise from allies and prompting early exits from some Democrats.

During his address, Trump focused on immigration enforcement, economic concerns and global trade issues as he occasionally sparred with Democrats like Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who along with fellow Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan left the chamber early, while Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was booted after waving a sign condemning a recent Trump social media post.

Gene Hamilton, a former deputy White House counsel who has written speeches, told Fox News Digital that Trump delivered a “resounding speech” and “could not have been more clear about the current state of our great nation.”

“A vision of hope, prosperity, and strength, driven by strong borders, a strong economy, and a love of country.”

Hamilton said the speech was “juxtaposed” against a swath of the Democratic caucus in the chamber that “wouldn’t even stand for the provision that the government’s first duty ‘is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants’.”

“Donald Trump saved this country with his election in 2024. His administration will keep working every day to deliver real wins for the American people,” said Hamilton, who worked in the first Trump administration and now works with America First Legal.

On the other side of the political spectrum, former Biden speechwriter Dan Cluchey told Fox News Digital that Trump did “less than zero to dispel the notion that he is living in his own reality.”

Asked if Trump succeeded in addressing the immigration crisis and affordability criticisms well enough, Cluchey said that while Americans endure “skyrocketing grocery, energy, and health costs, rising unemployment, and an economy that is growing more slowly today than in any year under President Biden, his only play is to tell families not to believe their own pocketbooks.”

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

“[That] doesn’t work,” said Cluchey, who co-hosted a SOTU watch party and speechwriting workshop across town at Georgetown University during Trump’s speech. 

Asked about Trump’s ability to convey what he believed to be his administration’s successes, Cluchey said that dynamic “doesn’t really work when the claims you fabricate don’t square with people’s real lives.”

“A willingness to lie brazenly about anything and everything has some utility when you’re campaigning, but it doesn’t hold up when you’re governing — and people are actually living through the constant stream of chaos, cruelty, and ineptitude,” Cluchey said.

Cluchey added that Trump did not do enough to combat his critics, saying he instead came across as “self-obsessed and delusional as he always does.”

Unlike Hamilton, Cluchey believed Trump failed to change any minds in America with his remarks.

Hamilton separately countered that Trump did indeed reiterate that he has delivered on campaign promises.

“For all the haters and ‘black-pillers’ who run their mouths incessantly, just one year of President Trump’s successes has dwarfed the accomplishments of entire administrations that preceded him,” he said.

Michael Ceraso, a Democratic strategist with a background in speechwriting who worked with presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders, offered a slightly different perspective, saying that as a Democrat, he wants a president who works toward collaboration and not someone who “speaks in monologues.”

DOUG SCHOEN: ONE BIG WINNER, ONE GIANT LOSER AND ONE BIG PROBLEM AFTER TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION

“As a voter, I may not like him. I may find his long form exhausting. But when he speaks, he never wavers from American exceptionalism,” Ceraso said.

“I see someone protecting our cities against those he deems a threat to democracy, revving up the economy, managing global partners, and defeating terrorism.”

Ceraso said, however, he misses former President Barack Obama and his message of intellectualism, curiosity and togetherness.

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“As a voter, I believe both parties are bad for this country.”

“So I go with the guy who entertains me,” Ceraso said.

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Many conservatives quickly took to social media to praise President Trump’s State of the Union speech, which lasted just under two hours, energizing Republicans and riling Democrats.

“It’s not just an excellent speech, it’s mostly POTUS himself,” conservative radio host Mark Levin posted on X. ” He’s a truly historic leader. I know it drives DC nuts. Who cares.”

“Trump is a colossus; an amazingly patriotic speech,” FOX Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino posted on X. 

“This is the best State of the Union Address I’ve ever seen,” conservative commentator Buck Sexton posted on X. “Not just by Trump. By any President.”

“President Trump’s State of the Union put America’s greatness on full display—celebrating our war heroes, everyday heroes, and Olympic champions,” former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy posted on X. 

“The President delivered a home run State of the Union tonight,” GOP Rep. Chip Roy posted on X. 

Democrats on social media struck a different tone, with many prominent faces of the party bashing the president as the speech developed, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom who accused Trump of “destroying the country” and posted “that was boring.”

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

“That State of the Union speech by Trump was humiliating for both him and the Republican Party,” liberal influencer Harry Sisson posted on X. “He rambled incoherently and Republicans clapped like seals the whole time no matter what was said. I’m glad military heroes were honored, but he lied the entire time.”

Trump’s speech, which was the longest State of the Union in history, focused on what he called a “turnaround for the ages” in the United States during his second term. 

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Trump invited a swath of various guests to the speech, including everyday Americans, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, the U.S. men’s hockey team fresh off their gold medal win, military members who acted heroically in the time of crisis and families who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants.

Trump’s speech came as the GOP prepares to defend its majority in the House and Senate as the November midterms loom, and also as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250 years of independence.

“This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth. And you’ve seen nothing yet,” Trump said. “We’re going to do better and better and better. This is the golden age of America.”

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report
 

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President Donald Trump recounted the heroic rescue of an 11-year-old girl, Milly Cate McClymond, from the vicious floodwaters that tore through Texas in July 2025, reuniting the young girl with the Coast Guard hero who saved her during his primetime address to the nation. 

“You all remember that one as the waters threatened to sweep her away … 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God – she thought she was going to die,” Trump said Tuesday during his State of the Union address. “Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above. Nobody knew where he came from.”

Deadly flooding tore through Texas’ Hill Country over the Fourth of July in 2025, killing 135 people, including 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic for Girls in Hunt, Texas. 

United States Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey, Scott Ruskan, was lauded as a hero for saving 165 people as the only triage coordinator at the scene of the floods.

Trump reunited the young girl and Ruskan during the State of the Union.

“It was Scott’s first ever rescue mission,” the president said, describing him as young, but very brave. “He lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety. People watched Scott from a distance and they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.” 

WHITE HOUSE APPROVES MEDAL OF HONOR FOR FALLEN ARMY STAFF SGT MICHAEL OLLIS AFTER YEARS-LONG PUSH

“The winds were blowing, the rain was pouring, everything was going. And that rapid water, nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” Trump continued. “Tonight, Scott and Milly Cate are here together, reunited for the very first time.”

AUSTRALIAN TEEN SWIMS 2.5 MILES FOR HOURS TO SAVE FAMILY SWEPT OUT TO SEA

Trump continued that he was awarding Ruskan the Legion of Merit for extraordinary heroism in the rescue effort. The award is a military decoration for outstanding services and achievements. 

Ruskan, who was 26 years old at the time of the rescue operation, repeatedly has been praised for his heroism, including Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem calling him an “American hero.”

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“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin (Ruskan), directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,” Noem’s posted to her social on X in July 2025. “This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin (Ruskan) is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.” 

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday touted “historic progress” under President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, highlighting nearly 3 million illegal immigrants who have left the United States and what officials call “the most secure border in American history.”

The statement, released as Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since returning to office, credited the administration’s policies with producing record-low border crossings, expanded immigration enforcement and billions in taxpayer savings, while criticizing congressional Democrats for shutting down DHS funding.

“Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations,” Noem said in a statement.

Noem added that total border apprehensions under the Trump administration “were lower than a single month” under the Biden administration, and DHS has saved taxpayers more than $13.2 billion.

“Countless lives have been saved, communities have been strengthened, and the American people have been put first again,” Noem stated.

DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and removed more than 1,500 known or suspected terrorists over the past year.

Nationwide immigration operations also led to nearly 8,000 gang-related arrests, including members associated with Tren de Aragua and MS-13, the department said. DHS added that it launched a new web page, “Worst of the Worst,” tracking criminal illegal immigrants arrested during federal enforcement operations under the administration.

NOEM TOUTS TSA SUCCESS AFTER THOUSANDS WITH TERROR LINKS BARRED FROM FLIGHTS AT MAJOR US AIRPORT

The department also reported an increase in drug seizures by Customs and Border Protection compared to the prior 12-month period, including 617,648 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year — an 8% increase over the previous year.

The Coast Guard separately seized roughly 550,000 pounds of illegal narcotics worth more than $3.9 billion through counter-drug operations and prevented more than 206 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. communities, DHS said.

DHS said it and the Department of Health and Human Services have located 145,000 unaccompanied children lost under the Biden administration.

“Too many of these children were exploited and abused before, during, and after being trafficked over our borders,” DHS said.

TRUMP’S OPERATION METRO SURGE LOCATED 3,000 MISSING MIGRANT CHILDREN IN MINNEAPOLIS, EMMER SAYS

The department echoed comments made by Trump during his address, blaming Democrats for the partial government shutdown after Senate Democrats again blocked Republicans’ attempt to fund the department before the prime-time speech.

“Despite our historic successes, Democrat Politicians on Capitol Hill have shut down DHS, depriving many of our brave men and women who protect our national security of their paychecks—putting the livelihood of them and their families in jeopardy,” DHS said.

During his remarks, Trump criticized Democrats for failing to reach a funding deal.

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“As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security. It’s all cut off, all cut off. They have instituted another Democrat shutdown, the first one costing us two points on GDP, two points we lost on GDP, which probably made them quite happy actually,” Trump said during his speech. “They have closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers.”

Trump said he was “demanding” a full and immediate restoration of funding for the department and efforts to protect the border.

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to reignite his high-profile clash with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., on Tuesday, appealing a federal court ruling that blocked the Pentagon from punishing the Democratic lawmaker over a video urging U.S. service members to defy “illegal orders.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on behalf of Hegseth, the Department of War, the U.S. Navy and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

The filing follows a ruling earlier this month by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who determined the Pentagon likely violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights, and those of “millions of military retirees,” when it formally censured him on Jan. 5.

Leon blocked the Pentagon from demoting Kelly’s retired rank of captain or reducing his military retirement pay, prompting Hegseth to swiftly vow an appeal.

Kelly reacted to the latest move while reposting coverage of the appeal on X.

“These guys don’t know when to quit,” he wrote. “A federal judge told Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth that they violated my constitutional rights and chilled the free speech of millions of retired veterans.”

“There is only one reason to appeal that ruling: to keep trampling on the free speech rights of retired veterans and silence dissent,” Kelly continued. “I went to war to defend Americans’ constitutional rights and I won’t back down from this fight, no matter how far they want to take it.”

KELLY FIRES BACK AT HEGSETH OVER CENSURE, SAYS HE’S NEVER BACKING DOWN

Hegseth previously fired back on X following the district court ruling, writing: “Sedition is sedition, ‘Captain.’”

In November, a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds found themselves in hot water after posting a 90-second video urging service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

The video, which was first posted by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., also included military veteran Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.

MARK KELLY PRESSED ON WHETHER HE WOULD REFUSE ORDERS IF HE WAS STILL IN UNIFORM

Hegseth previously said an investigation was launched into Kelly’s actions because he was the only lawmaker formally retired from the military and under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction.

A grand jury in Washington, D.C., rejected a DOJ effort to indict the group, further escalating tensions between the administration and its critics.

In his ruling, Leon wrote that Kelly is “likely to succeed” on the merits of his free speech claim and found he demonstrated irreparable harm.

President Donald Trump previously accused the group of lawmakers of “sedition at the highest level.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of War and Department of Justice for comment. Sen. Kelly’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump used part of his State of the Union address on Tuesday to spotlight American military heroism, awarding U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover and U.S. Navy Captain E. Royce Williams with the nation’s highest military honor. 

Recounting what he described as a high-risk January raid targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump detailed Slover’s role in leading the mission. He said Slover was piloting a Chinook helicopter transporting U.S. forces into heavily fortified enemy territory under the cover of darkness. As the aircraft approached the target, it came under intense machine gun fire from multiple directions.

“There were many heroes on that January raid to capture Maduro. Really great heroes. It was very dangerous,” Trump said, describing the perilous mission.

“He absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces,” the president continued, telling lawmakers that “the success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinge on Eric’s ability” to keep flying as blood “pour[ed] down the aisle.”

Slover, still recovering from his wounds, attended the address with his wife, Amy, as he was presented with the nation’s highest military award.

TRUMP SHATTERS CLINTON’S 26-YEAR-OLD RECORD FOR LONGEST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

Trump also presented the Medal of Honor to Williams, a 100-year-old Korean War veteran and retired Navy captain, for his extraordinary combat valor during a long-classified 1952 aerial dogfight over the Sea of Japan. 

Flying a single F9F Panther jet from the USS Oriskany, Williams engaged and shot down four Soviet MiG-15 fighters during a 35-minute battle despite being heavily outnumbered and flying an aircraft considered inferior in speed and climb rate. 

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At the time, the U.S. government kept the encounter secret to avoid escalating tensions with the Soviet Union, which was not officially acknowledged as a combatant in the war. Decades later, after the details were declassified, Williams’ actions were formally recognized with the nation’s highest military honor.

The back-to-back Medal of Honor ceremonies underscored the administration’s emphasis on military service, drawing extended applause from lawmakers and guests in the chamber.

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America has made a “turnaround for the ages,” President Donald Trump celebrated from the U.S. Congress Tuesday evening as he delivered his first State of the Union address for his second term. 

“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump declared from the dais Tuesday evening. 

Trump delivered a lengthy address that broke records as the longest in recent history, as the president celebrated snuffing out diversity, equity and inclusion policies, securing the border, unleashing U.S. energy, and most notably, bolstering the economy and aiding everyday Americans. 

Trump’s speech focused on how his administration turned a new page on a stagnant economy under the Biden administration that saw inflation skyrocket to 40-year highs, pointing to savings in the one “big, beautiful bill” for working families, such as no tax on tips or overtime. 

Trump pointed to one invited guest of the speech, a homeschooling mom and waitress whose family has benefited from Trump’s tax plans. 

“I met Megan Hemhauser, a devoted mom who homeschools her children,” Trump said during his speech. “Waiting tables at night as her husband works overtime operating very heavy equipment. Megan is here this evening, and she’s happy to tell you that she is so, so much richer because, with no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and our expanded child tax credit done again by Republicans, Megan and her husband will take home more than $5,000 extra just for the year, cutting her tax bill in more than half.”

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

The economy and savings took center stage in the speech, with Trump celebrating that his administration was ushering in lower prices for Americans following the Biden administration. 

“The Biden administration and its allies in Congress gave us the worst inflation in the history of our country,” he said. “But in 12 months, my administration has driven core inflation down to the lowest level in more than five years. And in the last three months of 2025, it was down to 1.7%. Gasoline, which reached a peak of over $6 a gallon in some states under my predecessor. It was, quite honestly, a disaster, is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states, and in some places $1.99 a gallon. And when I visited the great state of Iowa just a few weeks ago, I even saw $1.85 a gallon for gasoline.”

Tariffs have played a key role in Trump’s economic plan for the nation, with the Supreme Court delivering a blow to his tariff policies Friday when it invalidated his use of an emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs on most U.S. trading partners. Four of the nine justices were present for the speech, including John Roberts, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett, who ruled against Trump in the decision.

Trump called the ruling “unfortunate” amid his speech, before looking toward the future and navigating separate legal avenues to usher in the tariffs. 

The speech included a few outbursts from Democrats, most notably when Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was once again removed from the chamber, as he was in Trump’s 2025 primetime speech. Green was spotted holding a sign reading, “Black people aren’t apes!”

‘USA’ CHANTS BREAK OUT IN HOUSE CHAMBER AS US MEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALISTS ATTEND TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION

Trump invited a swath of various guests to the speech, including everyday Americans, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, the U.S. men’s hockey team fresh off their gold medal win, military members who acted heroically in the time of crisis and families who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants. 

Trump took shots at Democrats throughout the address, including for the lawmakers refusing to stand to affirm they believe the “first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

AL GREEN RETURNS TO HOUSE CHAMBER FOR TRUMP SOTU AFTER DRAMATIC 2025 EJECTION

“Isn’t that a shame?” Trump said as Democrats remained seated. “You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.” 

The president’s speech spotlighted the illegal immigration crisis under the Biden administration, including inviting guests who have suffered tragedy at the hands of illegal immigrants. 

One guest, Dalilah Coleman, was just five years old when she was left with serious injuries after a multi-car pileup in California in 2024. The crash involved an illegal immigrant who was operating a truck. 

“The driver was an illegal alien, let in by Joe Biden and given a commercial driver’s license by open borders, politicians and California doctors said Dalilah would never be able to walk or talk,” Trump said. “She wouldn’t even be able to eat again. But against all odds, she is now in the first grade, learning to walk. And she’s here this evening with her dad, Marcus, a fantastic man.”

The speech included a handful of breaking news moments, most notably with the president awarding a handful of high-profile recognitions for heroism. Trump honored 100-year-old aviator and veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, Royce Williams, with the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

“In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime legendary dogfight flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes,” Trump recounted. “It was his first aerial combat of the war, and despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt. His story was secret for over 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew.”

Trump also honored Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover with the Medal of Honor Tuesday. Slover operated an Army Chinook helicopter during the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January and was injured by hostile fire during the mission.

Trump announced U.S. men’s Olympic hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after the U.S. team’s win over Canada at the Olympics. 

He honored U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was brutally attacked on the streets of Washington, D.C., ahead of Thanksgiving 2025, with the Purple Heart.  

FROM GRIEF TO GOLD MEDALS, TRUMP’S SOTU GUEST LIST TELLS A BIGGER STORY

He also honored Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 people during the wicked Texas floods in July 2025, with the Legion of Merit for extraordinary heroism. 

Trump’s speech comes as the GOP prepares to defend its majority in the House and Senate as the November midterms loom, and also as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250 years of independence. 

“The 250th anniversary of our glorious American independence. This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth. And you’ve seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better and better and better. This is the golden age of America,” Trump said. 

Trump wrapped up the speech looking forward to the future, while giving a nod to the nation’s founding 250 years ago. 

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“The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended,” Trumps said. “It still continues because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot, and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder, and more glorious than ever before. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.” 

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday blasted a Supreme Court ruling against his tariff policy as “very unfortunate,” insisting the trade measures fueled a historic economic surge.

“Just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court came down,” Trump said during his State of the Union address.

The president argued the tariffs generated massive revenue and strengthened the country’s economic and national security position. “Countries that were ripping us off for decades are now paying us hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said.

SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO TRUMP’S TRADE AGENDA IN LANDMARK TARIFF CASE

“I use these tariffs to take in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country, both economically and on a national security basis.”

Trump’s remarks come after the Supreme Court dealt a blow to his trade agenda, siding against him in a case challenging the legality of tariffs that have reshaped global markets and U.S. supply chains.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the law cited to justify the import duties “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion of the court, while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.

Despite the setback, Trump moved quickly to preserve the policy. Shortly after the ruling, he announced a 10% global tariff and vowed to pursue alternative legal avenues to keep the duties in place. The next day, he raised the tariff to 15%.

Tariffs are essentially taxes on imports, typically paid upfront by U.S. importers who then push the added expense down the supply chain to retailers and consumers. That can translate into higher prices for goods ranging from electronics to raw materials.

The administration has argued that aggressive tariffs are necessary to confront what it describes as years of unfair global trade practices, underscoring how central trade policy remains to Trump’s broader economic strategy.

Trump has also argued that tariff revenue can fund domestic priorities, including lowering the nation’s $38 trillion debt and potentially delivering a $2,000 dividend check to Americans.

‘WE WERE RIGHT’: HE TOOK TRUMP’S TARIFFS TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WON

Tariffs have been central to Trump’s economic agenda since his return to office, driving a sharp increase in federal revenue. 

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The government collected $30.4 billion in duties in January — a 275% increase from a year earlier — and $124 billion so far this fiscal year, roughly triple last year’s pace.

For Trump, the ruling is not the end of his tariff push but the beginning of a new legal battle to keep the duties in place.

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Several Democratic lawmakers are hosting State of the Union guests who have come under scrutiny from the Department of Homeland Security, including suspected illegal immigrants, Dreamers and citizens arrested for allegedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

A Fox News correspondent received the list when inquiring with the agency about a tweet released earlier Tuesday that said some Democrats are “planning to bring illegal aliens as guests to the State of the Union.”

“Once again, they are putting illegal aliens above the safety of American citizens. Yesterday alone our officers arrested pedophiles, rapists, and violent criminals from our communities. 

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have made it abundantly clear: if you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will never return,” the agency said in its tweet.

A Fox News Digital review of the list found guests with varied backgrounds and circumstances.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is reportedly hosting Aliya Rahman, who was detained during an operation targeting Ecuadorian national Jonathan Chachipanta-Pualacin Jan. 13.

“ICE executed an arrest warrant to arrest an illegal alien with a final order of removal in the Park Avenue area of Minneapolis. ICE officers apprehended four illegal aliens,” a DHS spokesperson said.

“As officers carried out their law enforcement duties, a significant crowd surrounded them and began impeding law enforcement operations — a federal crime. One agitator ignored multiple commands by an officer to move her vehicle away from the scene. She was arrested for obstruction,” the spokesperson added.

DHS further disputed claims from outlets such as the CBC that reported Rahman was denied medical care after being pulled from her vehicle and detained.

DHS SLAMS DEMS FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW: ‘IT IS QUITE LITERALLY THEIR JOB TO CHANGE IT’

Another Omar guest, Mary Granlund, is a local school board chairwoman who has taken action since the detention of a 5-year-old at Columbia Heights School, according to a statement from Omar’s office.

Granlund works with a group of faculty members who are “conducting daily patrols, working to connect detained children and families with legal assistance and coordinating food deliveries for families too scared to leave their homes,” Omar’s office said.

A DHS spokesperson said ICE does not go into schools and instead targets child predators to protect those same children.

Rep. Jesus Garcia’s guest is Marimar Martinez, who DHS alleged was part of an “ambush” of federal officers in October and whom the agency labeled a “domestic terrorist.”

Martinez, who was reportedly armed and “has a history of doxxing federal agents,” “took defensive fire” from CBP and was later taken into FBI custody after a hospital stay.

When asked about the criticism, Garcia told Fox News Digital, “I invited Marimar Martinez to be my guest to the State of the Union because her own government almost murdered her and is now covering it up by smearing her and failing to hold Charles Exum and other agents accountable.

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“This is their playbook,” the Chicago lawmaker added. “I’m proud that Marimar is my guest. Her courage stands in stark contrast to the cowardice and brutality of DHS and the rest of this lawless Administration.”

In a prior statement, Garcia said that a Border Patrol agent “brutally shot Marimar and bragged about it, and the Trump administration wrongly called her a ‘domestic terrorist’.”

Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the forefather of the DREAM Act, invited Tereza Lee, a pianist and daughter of Korean immigrants whom Durbin said is the inspiration behind the legislation he has put forth in each Congress since 2001. The latest version was introduced in 2025 and co-sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

In a statement Monday, Durbin announced Lee’s invitation, crediting her “bravery for sharing her story” and adding that President Donald Trump’s “animus towards immigrants is on full display in his second term.”

DHS noted the DREAM Act would “allow noncitizens without legal status who were brought to the U.S. as children and meet certain education, military service or work requirements — to earn lawful permanent residence.”

Another Illinois lawmaker, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, is inviting the daughter of a man detained by DHS during the height of Operation Midway Blitz.

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“Donald Trump can try to rewrite his record tonight, but communities across America are living with the consequences of militarized immigration operations that have terrorized families and left Americans dead,” Krishnamoorthi said in announcing that he invited University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student Jamie to join him.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., is inviting Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a man whom DHS said was detained in May 2024 while driving the car of his father, who was being sought by authorities.

Marcelo’s student visa had lapsed, and Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News that the “facts [of his case] haven’t changed.”

“[He] is still an illegal alien and subject to removal proceedings. The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and common sense to our immigration system and will continue to fight for the arrest, detention and removal of aliens who have no right to be in this country.”

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is hosting a Venezuelan immigrant whose son was detained during a May 2025 immigration court hearing and is now being held in Pennsylvania.

“Dylan Josue Lopez Contreras is an illegal alien from Venezuela who illegally entered the U.S. more than one year ago. Under the Biden administration, he was encountered at the border and released into the country,” a DHS spokesperson countered.

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“On May 21, 2025, Contreras was arrested and placed in expedited removal proceedings. Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. [Joe] Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

“ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.”

Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., is hosting Stephanie Quintino, whose parents, Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, have been deported to Colombia, according to the agency.

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., is hosting Carolina Dias-Goncalves, a Dreamer at the University of Utah who was temporarily held at an ICE detention center after a Colorado traffic stop.

Rep. Robert Menendez Jr., D-N.J., is honoring Adriana Quiroz Zapata, an asylum seeker from Colombia who reports said fled a violent and “politically connected” former partner with his choice of guest.

Zapata’s niece, Monica Van Housen, who has been working to prevent Zapata from being deported, will be joining Menendez in the chamber.

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“Adriana, Monica and their family deserve so much better from America than what Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and ICE have subjected them to,” Menendez told the New Jersey Globe.

Fox News Digital reached out to each member mentioned by DHS for comment.

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