Records and divisions: An American look through 1 hour and 47 minutes.
On the morning of February 25th (Vietnam time), US President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term to both houses of Congress. Breaking all previous records for its length, the speech not only painted a picture of a booming America from the White House's perspective, but also truthfully exposed the unprecedentedly deep political polarization in the world's largest economy, in the context of the upcoming midterm elections.
On the morning of February 25th (Vietnam time), US President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term to both houses of Congress. Breaking all previous records for its length, the speech not only painted a picture of a booming America from the White House's perspective, but also truthfully exposed the unprecedentedly deep political polarization in the world's largest economy, in the context of the upcoming midterm elections.
Record for length and economic focus.
According to AFP, this year's most important annual political event in the United States has set an unprecedented record. President Donald Trump delivered a speech lasting exactly 1 hour and 47 minutes, officially becoming the longest State of the Union address in US history.
This achievement broke the record of 1 hour and 20 minutes set by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, and also surpassed Trump's own 1 hour and 40 minute speech last year.
According to international observers, the 79-year-old leader displayed a disciplined demeanor, adhering closely to prepared texts and presenting messages systematically, minimizing impromptu remarks or personal attacks.
Opening his landmark speech, the White House occupant quickly focused on the most crucial theme to attract voters: the recovery and growth of the American economy.
In an effort to paint an optimistic picture ahead of the November midterm congressional elections, President Trump asserted that America is undergoing a epoch-making turning point. He declared that the nation is becoming stronger, wealthier, and more stable than ever before.
To substantiate his claim, the American leader skillfully incorporated financial data, particularly highlighting that the country's stock market had reached record highs 53 times since he officially began his second term.
Pension fund commitment
One of the most notable highlights of the economic strategy unveiled on Capitol Hill was the promise to directly target the working class.
The U.S. president has announced an ambitious plan, expected to be implemented next year, concerning the 401(k) retirement fund – a popular retirement savings and investment program in the U.S. that offers many tax benefits to workers.
Recognizing that many citizens lacked access to employer-sponsored retirement programs, Trump pledged that the federal government would act as a guarantor, providing a matching contribution of up to $1,000 for each eligible worker.
Although the White House has not yet released specific details about the mechanism of the aid package, financial analysts in the US consider it a strategic move. This action is not only aimed at consolidating support among working-class voters, whom Trump has called "the forgotten Americans," but the massive amount of government funding injected into retirement accounts is also expected to create a strong impetus, continuing the growth of the stock market in the coming period.
Parliament in turmoil
While the economic messages were optimistic, the reality unfolding in the House chambers revealed a different perspective on the internal situation in the United States. The atmosphere on Capitol Hill became a microcosm of a highly polarized political landscape.
In contrast to the enthusiastic applause and standing ovation of the Republican lawmakers, the attitude of the Democratic legislators was clearly one of resistance.
Dozens of opposition MPs decided to boycott the political event entirely. Those present in the hall largely chose to remain silent to express their disapproval of the current government's policies.
Differences in political views didn't just remain silent; they erupted into unprecedented acts of protest during a State of the Union address. Democratic Congressman Al Green from Texas was escorted out of the chamber by security after holding up a sign protesting racial discrimination. Green's action was a direct reaction to a controversial video involving former President Barack Obama's family that Trump had shared on social media.
In addition, the hall witnessed a rare direct exchange of words between the President and a member of Congress. When President Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers for not standing up to applaud, Representative Ilhan Omar loudly retorted in the middle of the hall. Following the tense confrontation, Omar decided to leave the hall before the speech ended.
Many other lawmakers also use their attire as a political message, such as wearing white to honor the feminist movement, or wearing badges demanding transparency in legal scandals that are attracting significant public attention in the United States.
A rare moment of unity.
Not only did the American leader demonstrate a tough stance against the opposition in Congress, but his message also touched upon rifts within the most powerful judicial body. Despite shaking hands with Supreme Court justices before taking the podium, Trump frankly expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent ruling by the court.
The Supreme Court's ruling to overturn the global tariff policy – one of his most iconic economic policies – has been publicly called a regrettable decision by the US President.
Mr. Trump also asserted that his legal team is actively seeking alternative solutions to maintain the tariffs that he deems necessary to protect U.S. economic interests against foreign partners.
However, amidst the tense political atmosphere, the American Congress witnessed a rare moment of unity. This was when the U.S. men's ice hockey team, the athletes who had just won the Olympic gold medal, entered the auditorium. All partisan boundaries were temporarily erased as the entire audience rose to their feet, chanting slogans of national pride, honoring those who had brought home the first gold medal for the sport after nearly half a century of waiting.
On this occasion, President Trump also performed the ceremony of awarding high honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Honor, to individuals with outstanding achievements and courageous servicemen in the armed forces.
Foreign policy profile and message regarding Iran.
Contrary to the initial predictions of many political analysts, international issues were not a top priority for Trump in his speech.
It wasn't until more than 90 minutes after the opening ceremony that the foreign policy agenda was officially addressed, amidst increasing US military presence in the Middle East.
The US president used strong language when referring to Iran, accusing the leadership in Tehran of continuing to pursue nuclear ambitions and attempting to develop ballistic missile systems capable of threatening US territory.
However, Washington's position remains open to peaceful solutions. Trump emphasizes that the U.S. will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, but the current administration's top priority remains resolving the crisis through diplomatic means and peaceful negotiations.
Beyond the Middle East hotspot, the speech highlighted several other national security achievements. The US leader announced the resumption of oil supplies from Venezuela following political turmoil in the South American country, and praised law enforcement agencies for their campaign to combat cross-border drug trafficking. Notably, major strategic issues such as relations with Russia or the situation in Ukraine did not occupy much time in this year's address.
Critique and challenges
Immediately after the record-breakingly long State of the Union address concluded, the Democratic Party exercised its traditional right to debate on national television.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, launched a strong criticism of the current administration's policies. The governor accused the President of ignoring the nation's real challenges and vehemently condemned the harsh immigration controls, which she argued had negative consequences for the freedom and safety of residents in major cities.
Analysts believe President Trump's record-breaking speech was a major effort to bolster voter confidence amid his overall approval rating stagnating at 40%, according to Reuters.
With the midterm congressional elections fast approaching, optimistic economic messages will face fierce competition from the realities of inflation and the rising cost of living. Leaders of the largest labor unions in the US have also voiced concerns that the economic picture painted by the President is completely detached from the daily realities of millions of ordinary workers. The road ahead for the US is expected to be turbulent as the confrontation between the two parties becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile.
