I went into this speech with low expectations. State of the Union addresses are typically long, policy-heavy hybrids that try to satisfy Congress in the chamber and viewers at home at the same time. They often end up pleasing neither. This one was different.
Trump leaned fully into showmanship. Instead of opening with legislative laundry lists, he layered in emotional, made-for-TV moments. A Venezuelan dissident reunited with a relative after political imprisonment. A decorated helicopter pilot honored in front of Congress. A 100-year-old veteran finally recognized for downing eight Soviet planes in a 45-minute dogfight that had gone publicly unacknowledged for decades. The speech moved in deliberate waves: heartwarming, patriotic, then cutting and combative. That rhythm made what became the longest State of the Union in history feel unusually brisk.
Policy was present but not dominant. With the House sitting on a razor-thin majority, sweeping legislative demands would have been largely symbolic anyway. Instead, Trump focused on narrative, using moments of celebration to cushion sharper attacks on Democrats over immigration and governance.
