Trump delivered the longest State of the Union in history and ran out of steam | Ted Widmer

"At an hour and 47 minutes, this was the longest State of the Union address in history. As he has so often done in the past, Trump bobbed and weaved impressively (the weave is his own term for his meandering speaking style). He zigged and zagged, taunting Democrats for much of the speech (he called Zohran Mamdani a communist and took pot shots at Democrats throughout the night), while claiming to be a unifier when the mood struck."

"Trump's approval ratings have cratered in recent weeks, due to outrage over killings of American citizens by federal immigration agents, and an incoherent foreign policy that has confused his Maga base and alienated most of our traditional allies. A president who once swore to avoid forever wars is now deeply enmeshed in Iran, where a US flotilla is prepared to launch airstrikes, and in the Caribbean."

"His tariff policy is deeply unpopular, among Republicans as well as Democrats, and there are signs of a Trump slump coming in, dragging down the economy. A recent report stated that the US has lost 108,000 manufacturing jobs in the last year, despite Trump's promises that his tariffs would bring factories roaring back."

Donald Trump delivered a record-length State of the Union address lasting 1 hour and 47 minutes. Throughout the speech, he alternated between animated performances and detached teleprompter reading. He taunted Democrats repeatedly while occasionally claiming to be a unifier. The address came at a critical time, as Trump's approval ratings have declined significantly due to controversies surrounding immigration enforcement actions, inconsistent foreign policy, and unpopular tariff policies. His administration faces mounting challenges including military tensions with Iran, strained international alliances, and economic concerns, with the US losing 108,000 manufacturing jobs despite promises that tariffs would revitalize domestic manufacturing.

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