Trump’s marathon State of Union: Big claims and the questions he left unanswered
France 24
by Joanna YORKFebruary 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union address, highlighting claims of domestic and foreign policy successes while leaving several major questions unanswered, including whether the U.S. is planning a military strike on Iran or addressing the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. In a lengthy speech, Trump boasted about a "turnaround for the ages" since the start of his second term, emphasizing economic achievements and border security. However, many of his claims were either false or exaggerated, with experts noting that most Americans experience a different reality—economic slowdowns and rising costs of living.
The address reflected deep political divisions in Congress, with Republicans cheering Trump’s every word and Democrats reacting with silence, occasional heckles, and walkouts. One rare moment of bipartisan agreement came when Trump proposed legislation to combat insider trading among politicians. With the midterm elections just seven months away, the speech was also an opportunity for Trump to rally his base and convince voters that Republicans should retain control of Congress. However, polls showed most Americans wanted him to focus on lowering costs of living, a priority Trump largely ignored in favor of夸耀 administration achievements.
Trump’s claims of economic success were particularly dubious. He
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Originally published on France 24 on 2/25/2026