By Logan Monteleone
News Editor
Moments like Feb. 24 make one wonder why President Donald Trump did not stick to reality TV. A vague, word-jumbled tangent early on in his record-breaking 1 hour and 47 minute address about how “we are winning” as a nation set up an evening of political theater, complete with audience interaction, special guests, award-giving, and many pauses for applause.
And then moments like the morning of Feb. 28, when the public awoke to news of the president’s non-Congressionally approved strikes on Iran, make one realize that the president’s performativity is more than distracting; it is an insult to the American people that the president can stand before the country with gilded, rambling remarks when behind-the-scenes plans for terrifyingly real action are beyond the public’s eye.
The State of the Union address is a tradition that dates back to George Washington wherein the president delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress that is expected to outline the accomplishments of the president’s first year in office and to inform legislators of policy agenda moving forward, according to Senate.gov.
Historically, the address has been an important moment ahead of midterms for the president to talk about what has been going well, or to explain why he has met goals set during his campaign and at the beginning of his term. In an era where the president’s voice is always accessible, unlike when the address was first televised in 1947, the State of the Union address is more of a formality than an important way for gaining the attention of the public, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Llamas said during a broadcast voiceover leading up to Trump’s address.
Looking back to before Trump, the Board of Peace founder, started a war last week, his address to the nation captured his well-known disregard for telling the people what they need and should hear. Iran was mentioned just 4 times throughout Trump’s speech; 4 days later, the U.S. launched attacks.
The most anticipated topic was how the president would discuss affordability, as polls by groups like Pew Research Center show how the public continues to feel negatively about cost of living during Trump’s second term.
Understanding affordability to be the top item on the list, Trump started off his address with non-comprehensive remarks about the economy. The president gave a laundry list with points about decreasing inflation, low gas prices, and mortgage rates, rising stock markets and increased oil production. He also rhetorically packaged failures as good economic policy, like describing the elimination of consumer protections as the cutting of “job-killing regulations,” and continuing to speak to the positive impact of his now-illegal tariffs, according to Politico.
Opening his speech by describing the nation as “bigger, better, richer and stronger” than ever before, Trump proceeded to ramble with his classic message of American exceptionalism, describing the present as a “golden age” for the country.
The U.S. public, however, is increasingly afraid, divided, financially insecure and disillusioned in a reality that is as golden as the once-gilded fixtures of the since-demolished Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City
Polls support the grim reality Americans perceive. About 71% of U.S. adults say they are very concerned about healthcare costs, 66% are concerned about the price of food and consumer goods, and 62% say they are worried about the cost of housing, according to the Feb. 4 Pew study. Additionally, even among voters who support Trump’s deportation goals, over 58% regardless of party disagree with his administration’s handling of immigration enforcement, according to a Reuters/Ispos poll published on Feb. 26. Only one in four Americans agree with the U.S. strikes on Iran, according to another Reuters/Ispos poll published on Mar. 1.
Among six takeaways from the speech outlined by the The New York Times that include the excessive theatricality and Trump’s desire to define the Democratic party in his own terms, one that stands out is Trump’s failure to acknowledge the economic hardship facing many Americans.
Trump instead talked about how great things are—an authoritarian move to deny reality and paint a different picture, as well as distract from past and near-future problems ranging from the Epstein files to strikes on Iran.
The State of the Union Address was, as is customary, followed by rebuttals from the opposing party. This year the formal rebuttal was delivered by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, whose message was primarily focused on the cost of living, according to Politico, which the president failed to adequately respond to in his address.
“There are just too many bad moments to choose from. Was the worst one of the many instances where he gave lurid descriptions of pain and suffering? Was it when he began to hand out awards like reality television prizes? Or was it when he tried to write Democrats out of the political community? If I have to choose, I’d say the braying racism against Somali Americans,” New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie wrote.
Though it seems like this action of choosing not to show up may unfairly show anticipation of partisan messaging and performativity, the 40 Democrats who opted out and decided to protest and speak outside of Capitol Hill assumed correctly that Trump’s speech would be insulting and divisive.
As for other responses from Democrats, before the President entered the House chamber, Texas Rep. Al Green was escorted out for holding a protest sign with messaging that referred to the racist post about the Obamas that Trump recently made on social media. Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar responded to Trump’s position on immigration and his teasing of Democrats at the address by shouting back that Trump is killing Americans.
In a night filled with few truths, Rep. Illhan Omar hinted at one: Trump’s policies both directly and indirectly kill Americans. From making it more challenging for people to afford the food, healthcare, and housing they need to deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who kill people on the street, America is dying while the president pretends that there is no reality behind the one he presents on TV.
Photo Caption: President Donald Trump gave a rambling speech at the 2026 State of the Union Address, leaving many Americans with more questions than answers.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons