President of the United States Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, focusing on domestic economic performance, immigration enforcement and legislative initiatives, while also addressing foreign policy matters, including relations with Iran. The speech was marked by interruptions and protests from Democratic lawmakers.
Warning To Iran On Nuclear Programme
President Trump issued a warning to Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions. “They were warned not to attempt again to rebuild their weapons programme, especially nuclear weapons, and yet they continue, starting it all over again,” he said.
“We eliminated it, and they want to start again, and right now they are once again pursuing their dark ambitions. We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we have not heard those secret words: ‘We will never acquire a nuclear weapon’,” he added.
He stated that his preference is to resolve the issue through diplomacy. “But one thing is certain: I will never allow the number one state sponsor of terrorism in the world, which is them by far, to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Economy And Immigration
The President opened his address by highlighting what he described as encouraging economic indicators, as his administration seeks to address public concerns over the cost of living.
He praised the situation at the United States–Mexico border and stated that the country would “always allow people to come legally”.
He also defended his administration’s economic policies and immigration enforcement measures.
President Trump pledged that he would always protect Medicaid. He referred to the extensive domestic policy package adopted last year, which included significant cuts to the federal programme supporting low income Americans.
He further stated that the White House launched a “War on Fraud” four months ago and formally assigned Vice President JD Vance to lead the initiative. The announcement was made as the President repeated claims of widespread fraud in Minnesota, referring specifically to the Somali American community in the state.
Legislative Proposals And Electoral Law
President Trump called on Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, which would require all Americans to prove United States citizenship in order to register to vote.
“Why would anybody not want voter ID? There is only one reason, because they want to cheat,” he said.
He also referred to New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani, whom he described as “the new communist Mayor of New York”, adding: “I think he is a good person. Bad policy, but a good person.”
The President received applause from some Democratic lawmakers when he called for legislation banning lawmakers from trading shares, referring to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, stood and applauded.
Artificial Intelligence And Energy Policy
President Trump announced an initiative called the “Rate Payer Protection Pledge”, aimed at requiring technology companies to provide their own energy for data centres that support artificial intelligence development.
The announcement follows voter concerns about the energy consumption of AI data centres and reported increases in electricity bills. A central element of the administration’s economic agenda is the rapid expansion of AI data centres alongside minimal regulation for technology companies developing artificial intelligence.
Governors, including Democratic Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, announced new efforts to limit electricity bill increases linked to data centres.
Reactions And Interruptions In Congress
Democratic Representative Al Green was removed from the House chamber minutes after the speech began for holding a placard that read “Black people are not monkeys”.
Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan interrupted the President, calling on him to release the Epstein files. “These people are crazy,” President Trump said, gesturing towards the Democratic side of the chamber. “Democrats are destroying our country, but we stopped it just in time, didn’t we?” he added.
Representative Tlaib continued to call out, asking: “What about the Epstein files?” Several Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Tlaib and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, wore badges reading “Stand with survivors, release the files”. More than a dozen Democratic members of Congress invited survivors connected to cases involving Jeffrey Epstein to attend the address.
Honours And Recognitions
President Trump announced that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour, to Olympic gold medallist Connor Hellebuyck of the United States men’s national ice hockey team. He also said that the United States women’s national ice hockey team, which won gold at the Winter Olympics in Milan, would soon visit the White House.
He announced that Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan would receive the Legion of Merit medal. Mr Ruskan and his team were recognised for rescuing 165 people during deadly floods in central Texas in July.
“It was 4 July last year when floodwaters swept through a girls’ camp in central Texas, one of the worst things I have ever seen,” the President said. He described how 11 year old Millie Kate McClimond prayed as floodwaters rose and was rescued by Mr Ruskan descending from a helicopter. Both were present in the chamber and acknowledged by the President.
President Trump also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing him as having done an excellent job and stating that he believed he would be remembered as one of the best. According to United States media, applause for Mr Rubio was among the strongest of the evening.