Trump State of the Union 2026 Speech Live Updates: Trump defends tariffs, repeats claim of averting India-Pak nuclear war

Trump State of the Union Speech Today Live News Updates: In his State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump again claimed that he had “stopped eight wars,” including India-Pakistan military conflict. He further asserted that India and Pakistan could have entered a nuclear war without his involvement, adding that Pakistan’s Prime Minister told him 35 million lives were saved. Trump also said he would not allow Iran, which he called the world’s biggest terror sponsor, to obtain a nuclear weapon. On tariffs, he described a recent Supreme Court ruling as “very unfortunate” and “disappointing,” while reiterating that his administration could use alternative legal mechanisms to impose similar tariffs. Trump spent relatively little time on foreign policy, despite his address coming as two US aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. The President has repeatedly recounted how US airstrikes last summer pounded Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, and laud the raid that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Nicolas Maduro, as well as his administration’s brokering of a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. Earlier, Trump began his first State of the Union address of his second term before a joint session of the 119th Congress, declaring the nation is “back — bigger, stronger and better than ever.” Taking a dig at former president Joe Biden, he said he inherited a country in crisis and claimed the United States is now in a “Golden Age of America.” Referring to the death of Charlie Kirk, Trump added, “America is one nation under God, and we should reject political violence.” Democratic boycott While the President spoke inside the US Capitol, a vocal group of Democratic lawmakers were notably absent. At least a dozen members of Congress are boycotting the event to attend a parallel “People’s State of the Union” rally at the National Mall, protesting what they describe as the administration’s “lawlessness”. Key Democrats skipping the address: • Senator Ed Markey (MA) • Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) • Senator Chris Murphy (CT) • Senator Tina Smith (MN) • Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) • Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ) • Representative Becca Balint (VT) Official response: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the formal Democratic rebuttal immediately following the President’s speech. Spanberger, seen as a rising pragmatic voice in the party, is expected to challenge Trump’s economic narrative and focus on the “rising costs and chaos” facing American families. Stay with our Global Desk for real-time analysis, fact-checking, and key highlights as the President begins his remarks. US President Donald Trump, during his State of the Union address, described Iran as the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism and vowed he would never allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. Trump’s remarks came as two US aircraft carriers were dispatched to the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Iran. He said he preferred a diplomatic resolution. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen,” he said. US President Donald Trump said that all countries which had signed tariff deals before the Supreme Court of the United States’ order striking down his policies want to continue “along the same path”. Trump said that one of the primary reasons that his country saw an economic turnaround was his tariff policies. He said “deals are all done”. “The big story was how Donald Trump called the economy correctly. Twenty-two Nobel Prize winners and economists got it totally wrong. And just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, it just came down. Very unfortunate ruling. While speaking at the living history museum in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger offered a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s depiction of the nation as being in a “golden age” during his State of the Union, arguing in her Democratic rebuttal that costs remain high for many Americans more than a year into his second term. She said that families are still struggling under Trump’s policies. "Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America," said Spanberger. “In the most innovative and exceptional nation in the history of the world, Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on addressing the problems that keep them up at night.” Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address, beating Bill Clinton's 2000 record of one hour and 20 minutes. The US has received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela since Washington's ouster of the South American country's leader Nicolas Maduro said Trump during his State Union address. "American oil production is up by more than 600,000 barrels a day," he said. US President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass strict new voter ID laws ahead of the November midterm elections, while repeating his unproven claims of widespread electoral cheating. “The cheating is rampant in our elections. It’s rampant. It’s very simple. All voters must show voter ID. All voters must show proof of citizenship in order to vote,” Trump said, continuing to assert without evidence that his 2020 election loss was illegitimate. During his 2026 State of the Union at the United States Capitol, US President Donald Trump claimed he had ended eight wars, including a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Trump asserted that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could have died had he not intervened. The remarks underscored Trump’s portrayal of himself as a global peacemaker during the high-stakes address. India and Pakistan would have been in a nuclear war if it was for his involvement, said Trump. He claims that Pakistan PM said 35 million lives were saved. “For years, large swaths of territory in our region, including parts of Mexico, have been controlled by murderous drug cartels,” Donald Trump said. He added that he designated the cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and classified illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. Trump claimed that a new military campaign has stopped record amounts of drugs from entering the US and has virtually halted trafficking by water and sea. Will not let the world's biggest terror sponsor, Iran, to have a nuclear weapon, said Trump In his speech, Trump again claimed that he had “stopped eight wars.” The US president said this included last year’s four-day India-Pakistan military conflict. Trump called the Supreme Court's ruling "very unfortunate" and "disappointing" during his speech, but reiterated his administration's longstanding position that alternative legal mechanisms can be used to impose similar tariffs. Donald Trump said that although it began four months ago, he was formally announcing a “war on fraud” to be led by the Vice President, adding that if enough fraud is uncovered, the US could achieve a balanced budget overnight. While talking about Charlie Kirk's death, Trump said, "America is one nation under god and we should reject political violence." Trump asserted that since he took office, the typical 401k balance is up almost $30,000 dollars and yet half of all working Americans still do not have access to a retirement plan with matching contributions from an employer. "To remedy this gross disparity, I am announcing that next year, my administration will give these often-forgotten American workers access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker, we will match your contributions with up to $1,000 dollars each year," he said. Democrats have blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Trump said. "Together, we're building a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go further—where government answers to the people, not the powerful—and where the interests of hardworking American Citizens are always our first and ultimate concern. That is the debt we owe to the heroes who came before us—and that is the promise we must keep to America for our 250th Year," said Trump Donald Trump said he had urged Congress last year to begin the mission by passing what he called the largest tax cuts in American history, adding that Republican majorities delivered while “every single Democrat” voted against the measures. He claimed Democrats wanted large-scale tax increases, but “we held strong.” "As time goes by, I believe that tariffs, paid for by foreign countries, will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love," said Trump Donald Trump said prices of popular prescription drugs would become the lowest anywhere in the world. He added the medicines would be available through a website, trumprx.gov, where the Trump administration will offer discounts. According to Trump, the impact will be immediate for millions of Americans who rely on common drugs often not covered by insurance. He also said more high-cost brand drugs from new companies will be added on a rolling basis as the administration pursues the best possible deals for Americans. Donald Trump claimed that in the past 12 months the US has secured investment commitments worth more than $18 trillion from around the world, contrasting it with the previous administration. “In four long years, the last administration got less than $1 trillion in new investment in the United States. In 12 months, I secured more than $18 trillion,” he said. Trump said that he inherited a nation in crisis. "Today, our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast, the economy is roaring, our enemies are scared, our military and police are stacked, and America is respected again, like never before," said Trump Talking about the private sector, Trump said that more Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country and 100% of all jobs created under his administration have been in the private sector. > .@POTUS: "More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country... and 100% of all jobs created under my administration have been in the private sector." pic.twitter.com/UmeFKAPSUj— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 .@POTUS: "More Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country... and 100% of all jobs created under my administration have been in the private sector." pic.twitter.com/UmeFKAPSUj Speaking about inflation, Trump pointed out that the core inflation has been down to lowest level in more than 5 years and that gas has fallen below $2.30 in many states. He also said that the stock market is at 53, all-time record high. Talking about drug and crime, Trump said that the flow of fentanyl is down by 56 per cent and the murder rate has been at a 125 year low. Trump said that the US has the strongest border in the history of America. "Zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States," he said. He further added that the US will always allow people to come to the US legally, people who love our country and will work hard. During his State of Union address, Trump said that was inherited a nation at crisis, there was chaos but after one year achieved a tranformation. "A turned aroud for the ages," he said. First Lady Melenia Trump arrives at the Capitol for the State of the Union address > .@FLOTUS arrives for @POTUS' State of the Union address: pic.twitter.com/b1vtJxhIn6— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 .@FLOTUS arrives for @POTUS' State of the Union address: pic.twitter.com/b1vtJxhIn6 US President Donald Trump arrives at the Capitol > .@POTUS HAS ARRIVED AT THE CAPITOL FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION pic.twitter.com/0dArg4lJog— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 .@POTUS HAS ARRIVED AT THE CAPITOL FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION pic.twitter.com/0dArg4lJog US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have departed the White House — on their way to the Capitol, where he'll deliver his State of the Union address. > .@POTUS and @FLOTUS have departed the White House — on their way to the Capitol, where he'll deliver his State of the Union address at 9p ET pic.twitter.com/Q9M2cXJKy7— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 .@POTUS and @FLOTUS have departed the White House — on their way to the Capitol, where he'll deliver his State of the Union address at 9p ET pic.twitter.com/Q9M2cXJKy7 US President Donald Trump has arrived at the Capitol from the White House for the State of the Union address. Vice-President JD Vance and the leadership of both chambers of Congress are also at the Capitol. Trump will address both Houses of the Congress. He is expected to touch upon several points, including tariffs, Iran issue, alleged corruption and ICE excesses, etc Donald Trump is set to address lawmakers in his first State of the Union of his second term, but the annual tradition is already clouded by political friction. Several Democrats plan to boycott the speech and hold a parallel outdoor rally, highlighting mounting opposition to the president’s agenda.