Fact-checking Trump's claims in his State of the Union address

President Donald Trump delivered a record-long State of the Union address at the United States Capitol on February 25, 2026, touting economic achievements and immigration policies as the White House seeks to convince Americans to 'stay the course' despite plummeting approval ratings ahead of midterm elections. The speech lasted one hour and 48 minutes, making it the longest in history, as Trump presented his second-term agenda as a 'turnaround for the ages' while claiming 'the state of our union is strong,' despite polls showing six in ten Americans believe the country hasn't worsened compared to a year ago. The president focused heavily on affordability issues, citing positive economic data on inflation, gas prices, mortgage rates, and the stock market while blaming Democrats for previous high prices. Trump made several policy promises during the address, including a new retirement account with government matching contributions of up to $1,000 annually. He also addressed foreign policy, particularly tensions with Iran ahead of diplomatic talks in Geneva, drawing bipartisan applause when he vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The ceremony featured numerous ceremonial moments, including welcoming the Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team and awarding medals of honor and Purple Hearts to service members, including posthumously to National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom. The speech was marked by intense partisan divisions, with Democrats staging protests, wearing 'Redacted' pins regarding Jeffrey Epstein files, and boycotting the event. Tensions escalated when Trump defended his immigration crackdown, chastising Democrats for not standing during his remarks, prompting shouts from Rep. Ilhan Omar about Americans killed in Minneapolis. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response, accusing Trump of 'lying, scapegoating, and distracting' while offering no real solutions. Fact-checking revealed inaccuracies in Trump's claims about gas prices (which aren't below $2.30 in most states) and his assertion that eliminating government fraud would balance the budget (even eliminating all fraud would only reduce the $1.8 trillion deficit by a third).