State of the Union updates: Trump spars with Dems, touts economy and immigration
ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso
Last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 5:16AM GMT
President Donald Trump declared during Tuesday's marathon State of the Union that "we're winning so much," saying he'd sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad - hoping that offering a long list of his accomplishments can counter approval ratings that have been falling.
For the president, the high-profile speech was a chance to make the case directly to millions of Americans ahead of November's midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Fact check of President Trump's State of the Union address
Just over a year into his second term, President Donald Trump is delivering the State of the Union address, making his case for sweeping policy changes and executive actions that have come to define America's current moment.
ABC News is live fact-checking some of the president's statements that may be exaggerated, need more context or are false.
Go here for a look at the full fact check from ABC News.
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
BySenior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott
Feb 24, 2026, 7:10 PM GMT
How Trump prepared for SOTU and what to expect
President Trump spent time over the weekend and on Monday preparing for his State of the Union address, including going through the draft of his speech and making edits, according to a White House official familiar with the president's preparations.
The speech's theme will be "America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected," which is a reference to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to proclaim "Angel Family Day" in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Washington.
Trump is expected to roll out several new measures to address affordability, including a program to require technology companies to pay for increased electricity costs related to artificial intelligence data centers, the official said.
ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott
Feb 24, 2026, 7:00 PM GMT
Erika Kirk among guests invited to attend Trump's speech
Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will attend Trump's State of the Union address as a guest, according to the White House.
The president will use Kirk's attendance to say there has been a "tremendous revival of faith, Christianity, and belief in God in our country" and to call on Congress to "firmly reject political violence against our fellow citizens," the White House confirmed.
Erika Kirk arrives with Pres. Donald Trump as he posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to her late husband, Charlie Kirk, on Oct. 14, 2025 in Washington.
Kirk was named the new CEO and chair of the board for Turning Point USA after her husband was shot and killed while speaking at a campus event in Utah last September.
Other guests include the parents of Sarah Beckstrom, the West Virginia National Guard member who was killed in an ambush in Washington last November. First lady Melania Trump will bring two guests who will help highlight her AI and foster care initiatives, her office said.
ByMichelle Stoddart
Feb 24, 2026, 6:30 PM GMT
Trump to deliver 1st State of the Union of his 2nd term
When President Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term, it will be a chance to make the case for his sweeping policy goals directly to millions of Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump speaks during the 'Angel Families Remembrance Ceremony' at the White House in Washington, February 23, 2026.
One year ago, Trump proclaimed "America is back" as he laid out his plans for the economy, immigration, foreign diplomacy and more. He's since taken some unprecedented, often highly controversial, steps to achieve his agenda -- but at a political cost, with polls showing a growing number of Americans displeased or opposed.
Read more about tonight's speech, set to begin at 9 p.m. ET, here.
