Fact-checking Trump's longest ever State of the Union
BBC World
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
President Donald Trump delivered his longest-ever State of the Union address, lasting nearly two hours, during which he claimed that the U.S. "is winning again" and highlighted his administration's achievements. Key themes included the economy, affordability, and immigration policies. Trump made several claims about the nation's progress, including slowing inflation, falling gas prices, and increased employment rates. However, experts caution that while some improvements have occurred, they are not entirely due to Trump's policies. Additionally, Trump's claim of securing $18 trillion in foreign investments is overstated, as evidence supports only around $9.7 trillion in tracked investments.
The speech also addressed economic affordability, with Trump pointing to specific examples like falling egg prices and gasoline costs. While egg prices have dropped by 34% over the past year, overall grocery prices increased by 2.1% in the 12 months leading up to January 2026. Gasoline prices were highlighted as being below $2.30 a gallon in most states, but data shows only a few stations offering such low prices. Trump's tariffs have been linked to contributing to inflation, with Harvard economists estimating they added about 0.92 percentage points to the consumer price index.
employment statistics were another focus, with Trump claiming more Americans are working than ever before. While this is true in absolute numbers, the unemployment rate has slightly increased under Trump, rising from 4.1% in December 2024 to 4.3% in January 2026. This context is crucial for understanding the broader economic landscape.
Foreign investment was another key topic, with Trump boasting of $18 trillion in commitments. However, a White House tracker shows only $9.7 trillion in tracked investments, and experts warn that not all pledges will materialize. For instance, the EU trade deal has been delayed due to Trump's tariff threats. This raises questions about the sustainability of such claims.
Finally, Trump returned to his familiar claim of rampant voter fraud, urging stricter voter ID laws to prevent illegal aliens from voting. However, studies consistently show that such incidents are rare. The Brennan Center for Justice found only 30 suspected cases of non-citizens voting in 201
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/25/2026